Project Summary:

Moldova is facing a compound crisis of energy and food security, curtailed economic growth, growing inflation, limited institutional capacities and divisions in society, aggravated by the continuing socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The influx of refugees presents an additional challenge that requires sustained attention and support from the international community. Without urgent intervention, the deepening socio-economic, energy, food and human security crises has the potential to derail the trajectory of development, and drastically increase human suffering of people in Moldova, whether Ukrainian refugees, third country nationals, or Moldovan citizens (including those from minority ethnic groups). There are risks of massive outmigration and brain drain, as an immediate impact of the worsening of the socio-economic situation, depleting the country of its major asset: human capital.

With this project, UNDP ensures that immediate humanitarian assistance is complemented by development efforts across three core insecurities (energy, food, community) to protect and maintain vital systems, structures and a capacity to support Moldova’s resilience.

Objectives:

The overall objective of the intervention is to protect human security and enhance the resilience of the Republic of Moldova, in order to address the multifaceted and interconnected challenges of the current socioeconomic, food and energy shocks.

The three specific objectives are:

• To enhance people’s energy security through access to affordable energy that supports livelihoods and energy-efficient production;
• To enhance food security by supporting the government to implement its Food Security Strategy, thereby strengthening the capacities of agricultural producers affected by the compound crises;
• To enhance community security by strengthening the capacities of the police service and community actors to deliver on the principles of social cohesion and peaceful coexistence.

Expected results:

• 20,000 people will benefit of reinforced biomass heating activities;
• 10 MSMEs from non-agricultural sectors supported to reduce the environmental impact and improve their efficiency;
• 20 households with economic activities implementing energy-efficient technologies;
• Food poverty measurement and monitoring mechanism established;
• Farmers’ Digital Registry as a reliable information platform on farmers and their activity within the country;
• The Social Tension Monitoring Mechanism rolled out in at least 10 communities, especially in those where there is a high density of refugee population;
• 10 first response police teams in 5 districts with high number of settled refugees with enhanced mobility and rapid response capacities;
• At least 6 police teams across the country (north, centre and south districts) equipped and trained to use smart policing tools to address emerging public security threats.

Accomplishments:

Energy Access and Renewable Energy Promotion

• 33 women agri-producers received support to integrate renewable energy into their operations, increasing business sustainability and resilience;
• 557 participants, including household representatives and agri-businesses, enhanced their knowledge on clean energy through 10 information sessions and six study tours organized across multiple districts;
• 11 MSMEs in Cahul and Ungheni improved their energy efficiency and production capacity, leading to enhanced competitiveness and reduced environmental impact;
• 80 vulnerable households were equipped with biomass heating systems, improving their energy security during the cold season;
• 12 solid biofuel producers enhanced their production efficiency through energy-saving technologies, contributing to a more sustainable energy market;
• 173 biomass boiler remote monitoring units in public institutions were upgraded, ensuring improved oversight and operational efficiency;
• Over 150 biomass boiler operators benefited from specialized training, enhancing safety and technical capacity in public heating systems;
• An updated version of the national online trading platform (piata-biomasa.md) was launched to increase transparency and efficiency in the biomass market;
• The Association of Biofuel Producers was capacitated to actively engage in policy dialogue and successfully contributed to the adoption of the National Regulation on Solid Biofuels (HG778/2024);
• An analytical study examined the integration of biomass boilers into district heating systems to explore scalable renewable energy solutions;
• Over 3,800 children and young people participated in 113 thematic workshops held in summer camps and schools, raising awareness of renewable energy and biomass use;
• A nationwide awareness campaign on bioenergy reached over 42,000 individuals, including youth and local community members.

Agriculture and Food Security

• 11 small and medium enterprises from three targeted micro-regions in the agri-food sector were supported to enhance their harvesting, storage, and processing capacities to meet food safety standards;
• The digital National Farmers Registry (dNFR) was piloted with data from 20,000 farmers, establishing the foundation for nationwide implementation;
• Over 500 farmers and government staff were trained to use the dNFR system;
• AI and satellite technologies were piloted for land parcel identification and crop monitoring, enhancing planning accuracy;
• A Government-approved roadmap for the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) was developed to align agricultural systems with EU standards and institutionalize the use of the National Farmers Registry;
• The Strategic Agricultural Policy Programme 2025–2030 was formulated to guide long-term sector reform and investment;
• The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was institutionalized as a core tool for policy monitoring and SDG reporting;
• More than 100 civil servants were trained in data visualization, macroeconomic forecasting, and evidence-based policymaking.

Community Security and Institutional Capacity

• 250 police officers in more than 20 districts which host large numbers of refugees from Ukraine were equipped with body cameras to improve public order documentation and accountability;
• 15 hybrid fully equipped first-response police vehicles, 7 smart Police Intelligent Cars (PICar) solutions, and one 3D portable scanner for crash scene mapping were delivered to support rapid police response and traffic safety;
• A Social Tensions Monitoring Mechanism was rolled out in 10 refugee-dense communities, supporting early detection and mitigation of emerging sources of tensions, grievances and risks.