Attachments
Overview
Key messages
- For the second consecutive year, WFP and UN partners have complemented national social assistance programmes through large-scale cash assistance, helping nearly 69,000 Moldova's vulnerable people meet their basic needs.
- During the remaining months of its two-year transitional interim country strategic plan, WFP continued to support the Government in addressing immediate needs of crisis-affected people while contributing to social cohesion and inclusion through the provision of unconditional assistance. In January and February, WFP assisted nearly 87,000 individuals in Moldova.
- WFP’s support has contributed to the enhancement of social protection systems as well as the capacity for Moldovan shock-responsive and emergency programmes.
The ongoing war in Ukraine continues to have a significant impact on the Republic of Moldova affecting both Ukrainian refugees as well as the Moldovan populations. The Moldovan Government has been leading the refugee crisis response, granting Temporary Protection Status to Ukrainian refugees since 2023. This status includes the provision of accommodation, healthcare, education for children and social assistance services as needed.
Moldova hosts the highest number of Ukrainian refugees per capita. The number of Ukrainian refugees in Moldova increased by 12 percent at the beginning of 2024, reaching almost 117,000 refugees, which represents 4.8 percent of the population. Support from relevant international stakeholders, including WFP, helps address the basic needs of refugees. WFP’s response aligns with Moldova’s broader commitment to the 2030 Agenda as articulated in its national development strategy - Moldova 2030. The country's progress is outlined in the 2020 Voluntary National Review and the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals progress report. Through its activities, WFP contributes to sustainable development Goals (SDG) 2 - Zero Hunger; and SDG 17 - Partnerships for the goals.
In addition to the refugee crisis, the spillover effect from the war in Ukraine, including uncertainties around energy supply and long-lasting economic impacts linked to import/export disruptions, has exacerbated the situation, disproportionately affecting already vulnerable host population groups. The Government continues to provide social protection to its population, supporting the needs of the most vulnerable groups. WFP’s activities complement this effort while contributing to its commitments to enhancing access to and quality of social protection. Throughout the two-month reporting period (January-February 2024), WFP reached 44 percent of its planned beneficiaries - the contingency assistance for refugees, based on inter-agency planning, was not required. Thanks to ample funding and carryover contributions from the previous year, WFP was able to reach 86,885 crisis-affected people during the January-February 2024 reporting period.
By February 2024, WFP successfully completed the implementation of its transitional interim country strategic plan (T-ICSP) 2022-2024, while preparing the next phase of its presence in the Republic of Moldova under an Interim Country Strategic Plan (ICSP) 2024-2026. These strategic plans are aligned with the Republic of Moldova - United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027 and support the implementation of the inter-agency efforts presented in the 2024 Moldova Refugee Response Plan.
Over two years, WFP has focused its efforts on scaling and providing timely assistance during the acute phase of the refugee influx, and on enhancing the response capacities of both the Government and the international community. During the reporting period and throughout the implementation of the T-ICSP, WFP’s activities achieved the expected outputs for Strategic Outcomes (SO1)- where targeted groups received unconditional transfers to meet essential needs. Additionally, under SO2 the Government received technical assistance and support to strengthen components of national emergency preparedness and response, social protection and food systems. While WFP remained prepared to support the Government and humanitarian and development partners in providing on-demand services to support vulnerable populations SO3, no requests were received during the reporting period and throughout the implementation of the T-ICSP.
Under SO 1, WFP continued to provide emergency transfers to crisis-affected populations, including both refugees and host population. Assistance included the distribution of 1,584 border snacks and hot meals for Ukrainian refugees arriving in Moldova as well as the provision of three hot meals per day to a total of 2,728 refugees in Refugee Accommodation Centers.
Cash was distributed to 5,288 Moldovan households hosting Ukrainian refugees as well as to 68,585 beneficiaries from vulnerable Moldovan groups identified by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MLSP). Supported by generous donor contributions, WFP revised transfer values for inflation and was able to provide an additional top-up following a request from the Moldovan Government.
Under SO 2, WFP Moldova continued to provide capacity strengthening to the Government, including the launching of a second round of training to MLSP staff on gender-based violence and case management as well as the provision of technical support in digitalization through evaluation of management information systems. This support contributed to the enhancement of social protection systems as well as a Moldovan shock-responsive and emergency programmes capacity. Additionally, WFP’s implementation of its humanitarian assistance activities through existing Government systems further contributed to capacity enhancement efforts. The capacity enhancement provided to the Government contributes to the reinforcement of a more transparent and accountable system structure. This alignment with Moldovan social sectoral reforms, particularly the social assistance system reform (RESTART reform): ensures fair access to quality social services. Additionally, it supports the Food Security Strategy of Moldova for 2023-2030, and the Country’s aspirations for European Union accession.
In close coordination and partnership with the Moldovan Government and relevant United Nations (UN) Agencies present in the Country, WFP Moldova contributes to the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus. This is achieved by implementing a diversified range of activities channelled through existing national structures and systems. WFP supports the Government in responding to the effects of the war in Ukraine on Moldova, offering a unique and balanced approach for country-wide distribution of assistance, reaching both Ukrainian refugees and vulnerable Moldovans.
WFP supports assistance programmes that contribute to socio-economic inclusion and enhanced social cohesion. WFP plays a key role in the coordination structures between the UN and MLSP, supporting the inclusion of Temporary Protection Holders in MLSP programmes. As part of these efforts, WFP co-leads the Inclusion and Solutions Technical Working Group under the Regional Refugee Response Plan and contributes to the Cash and Basic Needs Sub-Working Groups. Additionally, WFP supports the MLSP Social Protection Working Group within the Government’s Mechanism for Phased Integration of Foreigners initiative. This support is combined with capacity strengthening of the Government social protection structure and systems, enhancing the Government social protection shock-responsive capacity and promoting sustainability for long-lasting impact. WFP's overall contribution to strengthening social protection programmes and enhancing the economic capacity of the most vulnerable groups has had a positive impact on the local sustainability of food markets, indirectly contributing to economic growth and aligning with Government priorities. This economic support also contributes to the Republic of Moldova's poverty reduction and growth strategy (2023). Through its presence and support during the final two months of the implementation of the T-ICSP, WFP injected the equivalent of USD 12 million in cash-based and value transfer into the Moldovan economy.
Of the people supported during the reporting period, 65 percent of the Ukrainian refugees and 72 percent of the most vulnerable Moldovans were women and girls. It is also estimated that one-third of the beneficiaries from the Ukrainian refugee population are children. The majority of recipients from the vulnerable Moldovan population groups receiving top-up cash assistance were elderly (86 percent) as well as families with a child living with disabilities (10 percent). Overall, more than 27,500 beneficiaries were from households with a person living with disabilities.
In preparation for the initiation of the forthcoming ICSP, and considering the identified continued needs in Moldova, WFP will maintain similar objectives, with increased efforts towards the national capacity strengthening, with a focus on a responsible exit from and transition to the government-led initiatives.