Republic of Moldova

UNDPs Project Better Opportunities for Women and Youth Won an International Award

Chişinău, 26 January 2009 – The project “Better Opportunities for Women and Youth”, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Moldova and funded by the Governments of the United States and Romania, was among the best 6 social projects in the world to receive awards as a result of a contest organized by UNDP’s Special Unit for South-South Cooperation. The award was presented during the Global South-South Development Expo (GSSD) which took place during December 16-19, 2008 at the UN Headquarters in New York.

As part of the fifth United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation, the GSSD Expo presented some of the most successful practices of cooperation, allowing leaders within the international community to learn first-hand the experiences of the countries of the global South. Over 60 organizations including NGOs, UN Agencies, regional and international organizations, and foundations participated in the contest. UNDP’s project “Better Opportunities for Women and Youth” received an award together with other six participating organizations in the contest. The panel selected the finalists based on several criteria: innovation and replication capacity, sustainability, fighting poverty and social marginalization, combating human trafficking and economic integration. „We are honoured to receive this award which is a recognition of the contribution and efforts of our team to reducing social marginalization of vulnerable people in the Republic of Moldova”, said Viorel Albu, Project Manager.

Through its activities, the project “Better Opportunities for Women and Youth” contributes to reducing the vulnerability of people at risk or crisis situations towards social phenomena such as domestic violence and physical abuse, unemployment, crime and use of drugs. Thanks to the project, nine Social Reintegration Centres have been created which provide shelter and conditions similar to family conditions to graduates of boarding schools - orphans or children without family care, mothers with children and expectant mothers at risk. Apart from shelter services, the Centres provide psychological and social care, education for independent life skills, activities aimed at facilitating beneficiaries’ access to labour market and financial and material support. Through these 9 Centres, the “Better Opportunities for Youth and Women” project aims at reducing the number of vulnerable persons, living on the fringes of society, physically or psychologically abused or exploited.

Thus 4,136 socially vulnerable people benefited from the services of the Social Reintegration Centres including 992 young people being trained of which 642 have been employed. With project’s support, 7 social enterprises and 131 new jobs were created. Also, partnerships were developed with 25 private entities which provide employment to the beneficiaries of the project. 
        
“This award is an opportunity to congratulate all our national partners and donors for the successes achieved and pledge for further promotion of best practices and joining our efforts for a prosperous Moldova”, said Kaarina Immonen, UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Moldova.

For more information, please contact: Viorel Albu, Project Manager, tel. 29-47-71; E-mail: viorel.albu@undp.org