UNDP projects implemented with the support of the Swiss Government celebrated today the 15 years’ anniversary of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in the Republic of Moldova. Beyond its festive part, the event also aimed informing the large public on projects and impact of the Swiss support offered to Moldova. 

Hence, Migration and Local Development Project (MiDL), implemented by UNDP, is aiming to engage migrants in their native communities’ development. The MiDL team organized at SDC fair a number of interactive activities aimed to highlight the positive impact of migration on local development. Moreover, mayors and migrants shared their experiences of setting Hometown Associations and implementing joint initiatives, meant to enhance the development of their localities of origin.

”We are glad to be here and tell our local administration colleagues, and not only, the many things to be done with the help of those who left the village and the will of those who are still here.  We perceive MiDL as a crucial project for our village, which opens new opportunities in the communication and engagement of persons who left abroad. Though we have already managed to do beautiful things for our village, we are not stopping here, since the best is yet to come” said proudly Ion Dolganiuc, Mayor of Colibasi village.    

Children were also special guests. For them a “Children village – Migration brings color” was arranged, where the little ones enjoyed building their dream locality and color an improvised village. The same area delighted the visitors with an exhibition of drawings “Migration brings color”, illustrating migration seen positively through the eyes of a child. The most curious ones participated in the quiz on “migration and development”, meant to offer useful data and facts on this phenomenon in Moldova. Finally, all participants received gifts and souvenirs from the hosts, leaving convinced that migration can and brings benefits at local level.

Another SDC - UNDP Project, part of the anniversary event, is the Confidence Building Measures Programme in Transnistrian region - Health Sector. The project aims to ensure access of the population to comprehensive quality health services, with specific focus on maternal and child health and immunization. In this regard, the fair participants learned about the measures undertaken to provide left bank Nistru people with qualitative integrated perinatal services, especially targeting nutrition and vaccination. Having relatives and friends in this region, visitors were highly interested in the information provided. They welcomed the initiative, fully convinced on the benefic impact of this project.

The Swiss Government is cooperating with UNDP in at least two priority sectors for the Republic of Moldova, such as migration and health. Both UNDP projects are implemented in collaboration with development partners and public central and local institutions from the Republic of Moldova.