Building a society where every girl and boy can reach their full potential with dignity, funded by the eU delegation
(February 2021 – January 2024)
Goal:
Children are treated with respect and dignity as full right holders in line with the UNCRC in Moldova.
Objectives:
(1) Foster synergies and coordination across sectors to ensure the protection of children’s rights and their wellbeing by the end of 2023;
(2) Enable 4 local authorities to strengthen their social protection system to timely address the child’s wellbeing concerns & risks and to provide sustained assistance to children and families, by the end of 2023.
The project played a pivotal role at the national level, particularly influencing the National Child Protection Program for 2022-2026, through its active participation in the WG initiated by the MLSP. It successfully integrated crucial aspects such as child participation, primary well-being risk prevention, strengthening of family-type social services and psychosocial support programs into the National Program’s Action Plan. Noteworthy advocacy in collaboration with childcare civil society organizations (CSOs) led to the signing of an Interagency Order in November 2022 to support the Guidelines on the Mechanism of interagency cooperation for primary prevention of child well-being risks (Government Decree no.143), a collective effort of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, Ministry of Education and Research as well as the Ministry of Health.
At the local level, the project provided support in building the capacities of decision-makers and professionals from the social work, education, and health sectors to improve the quality childcare services. The project facilitated the implementation of the PANDA, Mellow Parenting, and Educational Assistance and Counselling Programs, targeting vulnerable children and those with pro-violent tendencies. To boost child participation, supported the local authorities in the 4 pilot districts to establish Advisory Boards of Children (ABCs). These ABCs actively monitored and evaluated childcare services, which impacted the situation of 215 children. Additionally, four local CSOs successfully implemented projects through the project-initiated small grant scheme. Starting with March 2022, the project encountered unexpected challenges due to the humanitarian crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine, particularly affecting the bordering districts of Taraclia and Stefan Voda. It required the engagement of child protection professionals in providing immediate support to affected families and children, prompting the project to adapt its activities to the emergent circumstances.
Outcomes in figures:
