Republic of Moldova

UN Resident Coordinator System

In May 1992, less than one year after the Republic of Moldova gained its independence and started on its way to prosperity and development, the country became member of the United Nations, the organization strongly supporting social progress. Since that time, various UN Agencies, programmes and Funds that launched their programmes in the country in order to assist it on this difficult way have achieved noteworthy successes in fighting against poverty, advancement of women, promotion of the processes of democracy and sound governance, development of the private sector, protection of children's rights, promotion of the health reform, assisting refugees and displaced persons and many other important areas.

The UN Country Team includes UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, UNFPA, WHO, ILO, WB, UNIFEM, FAO, IFAD, IMF, UNAIDS, IOM. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UNCHS), The United National Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), The United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations for Project Services (UNOPS) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are represented by the UNDP Resident Representative, who also holds the position of the Resident Coordinator of the UN System's Operational Activities for Development in Moldova. In Moldova, as well as in other countries, UN Agencies, Programmes and Funds that have formal resident representation are named Resident. Those which support the country through programme activities, but do not have resident representation are named Non-Resident.

UNDP is an active partner to the Government of Republic of Moldova, donors and other UN agencies in harmonization of development assistance. Through its work within the CCF, UNDP builds on the resources in Moldovan society, notably on national and local government capacities, civil society organisations and the private sector. UNDP also aims to attract more external assistance to help Moldova deal with these issues. UNDP houses the Resident Coordinator system for mainstreaming the UN country team. As a partner organization to UN agencies working in the country, UNDP participates in the implementation of joint UN programmes and joint UN Thematic Groups discussions and decisions.

The main strategies for inter-agency cooperation include the UN system-wide advocacy, information sharing and joint PI work, joint and coordinated programming and maintenance of common services. The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) is the operational framework, guiding the work of all agencies towards a common vision of human progress in Moldova, with an emphasis on reduced socio-economic disparities and exclusions, protection for the most vulnerable, and securing greater market, political and cultural ties with the European Union. UNDAF is the business plan for the UN system in Moldova for the period 2007-2011.

2011 will be an important year for the UN system in Moldova. Following the extension of the current United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the UN’s strategic business plan, by one year to 2012, the UN will formulate the next UNDAF for 2013 – 2017 with inputs from its partners, including government, civil society and donor community. There are high expectations from our partners to work together more closely as One UN and incorporate aspects of Delivering as One self-starter countries. In this context, further advocacy will be essential - both with our external partners and within the UN family. The upcoming UNDAF will aim to make UN assistance more effective, with increased national leadership, alignment with key national priorities and harmonization among UN Agencies and accountability - to further evidence-based policy making, strengthen government capacities and ultimately to improve the lives of the people of Moldova.

The Resident Coordinator Annual Reports is an essential element of the accountability and results framework for the UN operational activities at the country level. It provides an opportunity for UNCTs, under the leadership of the resident Coordinator, to report and highlight their collective results in supporting the national development plan and priorities, improve their planning process and identify the support they need. The format of the report is consistent with, and supportive of, developments led by the Secretary-General to strengthen the Resident Coordinator System and the impact of the UN's operational activities at country level. Results from their reports are fed into annual synthesis reports, as well as into the ECOSOC Annual Ministerial Review and Assessment Processes on the operational activities, and the General Assembly's debated and legislation.

UN in Moldova joint programmes and projects

Within the framework of the UNDAF, good progress was made towards joint project design and implementation and inter-agency work. Good practices of joined UN Agencies projects and programmes are 2007 UN Drought Response project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, design of the Joint Rural Development project, design and resources mobilization for the Joint Protection and Empowerment of victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, and implementation of the Leveraging Migrant Remittances for Entrepreneurial Growth project. The joint UN response to the drought brought together best practices from the theory and practice of humanitarian assistance and presents credible evidence that one UN is more effective than several UN agencies, underscoring the critical role that an effective RC’s office can play. The independent evaluation concluded that the response was highly cost effective as its economic impacts were multiplied many-fold. This was first ever joint UN undertaking involving so many UN Agencies (UNDP, FAO, UNFPA, WFP, and UNICEF). It was a very good example of one UN effort which showed that by working together the Agencies can achieve a greater impact. This experience served as an example for the elaboration and implementation of the 2008 Joint Floods Response Project. Ongoing projects: Project Title Agencies Involved Timeframe Strengthening the National Statistical System UNDP, UNIFEM and UNFPA 2007-2012 Electoral Support to Moldova UNDP and IOM 2009-2013 A Joint UNCT for Human Rights Protection and Promotion UNCT 2011-2012 Joint Integrated Local Development Programme UNDP, UN Women 2006 -2012