On 13 November 2025, the 5th edition of the Forum of the Alliance of Hometown Associations of Moldova ”#UnitedforHome - connecting people, ideas, and opportunities” took place. The event, dedicated to strengthening partnerships between local public authorities, locals and diaspora, so as development partners, brought together over 120 participants.

This year's edition of the forum was organized by the Alliance of Hometown Associations of Moldova, with the support of the Government of Switzerland of and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ Moldova).

”From an initiative group founded in 2022 with 44 members, the Alliance of Hometown Associations of Moldova has grown to 100 members and is already contributing to improving the lives of over 350,000 people in communities. This umbrella organization demonstrates that solidarity between those at home and those in the diaspora can transform migration into a force for development. With the constant support of Switzerland and other development partners, Moldova is becoming an example of smart collaboration between civil society, authorities, and communities – a national model in which every contribution counts toward a shared future and sustainable development”, mentioned Guido Beltrani, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in the Republic of Moldova.

”#UnitedforHome is more than a slogan – it is a call for social cohesion, action, and shared responsibility for local development. Tangible results are being felt in hometowns and villages thanks to the involvement of residents, including the diaspora. UNDP Moldova, together with the State Chancellery, the Diaspora Relations Bureau, and development partners, remains firmly committed to promoting and strengthening the new Diaspora, Migration, and Development (DMD) mechanism. Through structured dialogue, we can align migration policies with local priorities, leveraging the knowledge, experience, and resources of the diaspora to contribute to the sustainable development of the country”, said Seher Ariner, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative to the Republic of Moldova.

Participants also discussed the broader framework for attracting the diaspora to Moldova's development, with an increased focus on the DMD mechanism and the preconditions for its further development and improvement. The concept of the new mechanism was developed and consulted with local, national, and diaspora actors, with the support of UNDP Moldova, the Government of Switzerland, and the UN Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund. 

”The Republic of Moldova already has a genuine model for attracting the diaspora to local development: we have grant programmes for the diaspora; there are regions and localities that implement projects with the involvement of locals; there is a vibrant network of institutions, partners and the Alliance that together lay the foundations for an ecosystem. Now is the time to give it stability through coherent policies, consistent funding, professional diaspora networks, local partnership mechanisms, and, above all, trust”, said UNDP human mobility expert Oxana Maciuca.

At the event, the 30 beneficiaries of the capacity-development programme for hometown associations and local public authorities were awarded certificates of participation. Awards were also given to the organizers of summer camps held in six localities in the security zone with the support of the European Union's Confidence Building Measures Programme, implemented by UNDP Moldova. A total of 203 children participated in the camps, including 58 from the diaspora.

The forum culminated with the awarding of the three winners of the national photography competition ”Gates of Moldova”, which highlighted the cultural heritage that unites generations and people, regardless of where they live.

The Government of Switzerland and UNDP Moldova have supported the event since its first edition, through the assistance provided to the Alliance of Hometown Associations of Moldova. ”The Alliance is the actor that grows hometown associations as agents of change, but also connects them with the associations developed by Moldovans in the diaspora. Only in this way can we see the diaspora as part of the transformation of local communities and, respectively, of the country," said Tatiana Solonari, Secretary General of the Alliance.

The Alliance of Hometown Associations of Moldova was established in September 2022. Today, the network brings together 100 hometown associations that implement initiatives aimed at increasing social cohesion, local partnerships and the involvement of the diaspora in local sustainable development projects.

The forum came up with recommendations to ensure the sustainability of the Alliance of Hometown Associations of Moldova, inspired by international best practices and lessons learned.