A multidisciplinary team composed of representatives from the Economic Council to the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (MLSP), UCIP IFAD, the National Agency for the Prevention and Combating of Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (NAPCVDV), and the Women’s Law Centre carried out a visit to the village of Zolotievca, Anenii Noi district, within the framework of regional ecosystems for the economic empowerment of women – victims of violence and those in vulnerable situations.

At the beginning of the event, Aurelia Bulat, Head of the Gender Equality Policy Division at the MLSP, emphasized to the 15 women and local public authority representatives present at the discussion that “the economic empowerment of women is essential for strengthening their independence and for the development of rural communities. Women can benefit from support both from the state and through projects supported by non-governmental organizations.”

During the event, the Grant Programme for Climate Change Adaptation was presented, along with the identification of beneficiaries’ needs for the development of rural entrepreneurship initiatives. “The programme’s beneficiaries can access grants of up to 10,000 lei, designed to support entrepreneurial initiatives and adaptation to climate change. Our goal is to create concrete income opportunities for women in rural areas,” said Magdalena Rusnac, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Consultant at UCIP IFAD.

The participating women expressed their desire to find employment and build careers in various fields – such as drivers, hairdressers, or other professions – thus contributing to the development of their community. However, one major barrier to achieving these goals is the enrollment of children in kindergartens – currently, the village needs a nursery group. Another pressing issue is the lack of public transport passing through the locality, which affects residents’ right to mobility and access to essential services such as healthcare, childcare, and shops.

At the same time, women need assistance in addressing various challenges they face. In this regard, Lilia Borzin, social worker at the Women’s Law Centre, noted that the CDF can provide psychological and legal support to help protect their rights. Cristina Tîșcul, Gender Expert at the Secretariat of the Economic Council to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, emphasized: “The economic empowerment of vulnerable women cannot be achieved without an integrated ecosystem — financing, vocational training, access to social and legal services.

This contributes to strengthening the resilience of rural communities and unlocking the economic potential of women.” The session concluded with the development of an action plan to be implemented by the multidisciplinary team coordinated by the Secretariat of the Economic Council to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova.

The Secretariat of the Economic Council to the Prime Minister is supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, funded by the UK Government’s Good Governance Fund.