Overview of the Safety Assessment of Refugee Accommodation Centers in Moldova
The Safety Assessment of Refugee Accommodation Centers (RACs) is part of the Moldova Joint PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) Risk Assessment. It was conducted by UNHCR on behalf of the aid community in Moldova. The aim of this safety assessment was to evaluate various PSEA safety measures within the RACs. Based on the collected data, each RAC was assigned a safety index that measures overall compliance with PSEA safety measures. This index serves as a tool for planning and prioritizing interventions. It also guided the development of a plan for the consolidation of RACs, prioritizing the closure of RACs with a higher risk of SEA. Data collection took place in May and June 2023.
Prior to visiting the facilities, data collectors were trained in the use of the assessment tool. The data collection teams were comprised by UNHCR Protection, Field and Inter-Agency/PSEA colleagues, all previously trained on PSEA, including assistance to survivors/referrals and PSEA reporting mechanisms. The assessment tool contained 69 indicators covering a range of areas, including access control, information availability, disability inclusion, safe disclosure and reporting procedures, staffing protocols, lighting, privacy settings and service accessibility. To validate the results, some facilities were assessed twice by different team members. The assessment covered 39 RACs, with the following geographical distribution: 12 in the north, 7 in the south, 8 in the center and 12 in Chisinau. The total capacity of the assessed RACs is 2,470 places. The methodology used for collecting information was safety/observational walks in assessed RACs.
The safety index was calculated by summing the scores for the above areas (covering all 69 indicators) and assigning a composite safety score to each RAC. This approach facilitates comparison and benchmarking between different facilities.
The scoring mechanism was based on assigning a weight between 1 and 3 to each indicator based on its importance to the overall safety of the facility. Answers were categorized as 'yes', 'no' or 'could not be observed' during the site visits. The safety index was calculated by summing the weighted scores for each area and converting them into a percentage relative to the highest possible score. A higher percentage indicates a safer facility. This quantitative measure, combined with qualitative feedback from UNHCR teams, provides a comprehensive view of the safety profile of each facility.
The assessment revealed regional disparities in safety levels, with RACs in the South region scoring the highest safety index of 67%, above the national average of 55%. This was primarily due to strengths in staffing, information accessibility and service availability. Conversely, the RACs in the Central region had the lowest Safety Index at 47%, largely due to weaknesses in staffing and child protection capacities. Below is an overview of the thematic areas assessed, which will help to prioritize efforts to prevent and reduce the risk of SEA in refugee accommodation centers.
Methodological limitations: The findings were primarily based on observation walks and interviews with RAC management and staff. While these methods provide valuable insights, they are also subject to bias and may not fully capture the experiences and perspectives of the refugees residing in these centers. The results should therefore be interpreted with caution, and complementary methods such as direct interviews with residents could enhance the validity of future assessments.