Macroeconomic response and multilateral collaboration

To strengthen the capacity of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) of Moldova to produce reliable and timely data to strengthen and accelerate the evidence-based decision-making processes around COVID-19 recovery.

An initial rapid assessment of the impact of the pandemic on the most vulnerable populations and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises has shown that the pandemic is as much a health crisis as it is a social and economic crisis that is disproportionately affecting those in already disadvantaged and extremely vulnerable situations as well as certain sectors of the economy. Furthermore, the crisis is resulting in new vulnerabilities for the existing vulnerable groups and is also creating an environment conducive to the emergence of new vulnerable populations.

• City Disaster Resilience Scorecard and its health addendum rolled out to identify gaps in selected cities’ resilience capacity;
• Good practices in risk reduction measures disseminated at local level to enhance peer learning and lessons learned in responding to COVID-19 at the local level;
• City resilience reinforced through support to local authorities for conducting resilience assessments, including a dedicated track on the health dimension, and promoting the integration of biological hazards and pandemic risks into local disaster risk reduction plans or strategy

Implementing UN entity: UNFPA

Government Counterpart: NBS, Demographic Research Centre

Timeframe for impact: Long (6 months or more)

Project outputs:

• 35 rayonal demographic profiles are developed based on the latest population and migration estimates from NBS
• A Population Platform on COVID-19 Preparedness to map COVID-19 implications for each rayon is developed and operational
• The NBS is supported to improve data exchange between different data holders to provide accurate and timely data in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in various sectors
• Global population platform updated with the latest Generations and Gender Survey data.

Implementing UN entity: IOM

Government Counterpart: MHLSP, MoI, GIBP, NBS

Timeframe for impact: Long (6 months or more)

Project outputs:

• Data are regularly updated and analysed on the numbers and profiles of returning migrants and vulnerable families affected by the loss of remittances, for a duration of up to two years, through the use of rapid surveying solutions, based on IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix methodology
• Evidence is provided for policymaking and programming concerning up to 350,000 Moldovan migrants returning by mid-2022 as a result of COVID-19-induced restrictions and economic hardship in destination countries

Implementing UN entity: UNICEF (lead), IOM, UNFPA

Government Counterpart: NBS, MHLSP, LPAs

Timeframe for impact: Long (6 months or more)

Project outputs:

A mid-term mitigation plan is developed with authorities at central and local levels based on the recommendations of the impact assessment, including necessary simulations and pilots, to help prevent families directly or indirectly impacted by the pandemic and the economic crisis from falling (further) into poverty

mplementing UN entity: UNWOMEN

Government Counterpart: NBS, MHLSP

Timeframe for impact: Long (6 months or more)

Project outputs:

• A set of necessary indicators to support emergency responses are supported with qualitative and timely administrative data
• A user-friendly platform for dissemination is in place and granulated data are published in timely fashion
• Data users have skills and capacity to use data for better policy responses
• SDG gender-related indicators have the methodology and collection capacities within the data producers

Implementing UN entity: UNDP

Government Counterpart: MEI, ANTA, Environment Agency, LPAs, MARDE

Timeframe for impact: Short (1-3 months) to medium (3-6 months)

Project outputs:

• In the context of the COVID-19 crisis, air quality has proven to be a catalyst leading to higher incidence of severe and critical cases, and this is likely linked to higher incidence of respiratory diseases in highly polluted environment
• An extensive network of air quality monitors is developed around cities and in the country
• New policies, fiscal instruments and incentives are promoted to nudge transformations in the transport sector (including the promotion of vehicles with low or zero emissions)
• More efficient transport routes and schedules are established
• Development of a digital map of the existing transport system is supported
• Infrastructure benefiting alternative means of urban transport – such as bicycles, carpooling and electric car sharing – is improved

Implementing UN entity: UNDP (lead), IOM, UNFPA

Government Counterpart: State Chancellery

Timeframe for impact: Medium (3-6 months)

Project outputs:

• A concept for the EWS, structured datasets and triangulation algorithms are shared and co-designed
• EWS infrastructure and environment are developed, including required partnerships with the Government, the private sector and the European Space Agency (some MOUs are in place)
• Country-specific use cases on food, energy and mobility poverty and dynamic maps of insecurities are built; existing COVID-19 Dashboard and to visualize use cases is used and upgraded to also reflect aspects related to the socio-economic impact of COVID-10 (return migration, the impact of the reduction in remittances on vulnerabilities, and harnessing the skills and capital of returning migrants)
• Capacity building sessions are organized for key stakeholders on the use of services, use of open algorithms and testing (machine learning/artificial intelligence) for future services and use
• Thematic policy papers are developed around the specific use cases and how these are useful for tacking policy decisions; key use cases are used for sector strategy development processes, in line with the SDG Agenda

Co-founding: $ 370,000 (with a potential contribution from the private sector and European Space Agency)

Implementing UN entity: UNDP

Government Counterpart: MEI, MoF

Timeframe for impact: Long (6 months or more)

Project outputs:

• National capacities are enhanced for a more systemic and coordinated approach to macroeconomic policy
• Additional or alternative data of shorter lead time is generated to complement the conventional statistics in Moldova
• Rationalization of capital investment expenditures and continuation of the capital investment programme are supported

Implementing UN entity: UNDP (lead), UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO

Government Counterpart: MoF, MEI, MHLSP

Timeframe for impact: Long (6 months or more)

Project outputs:

• An in-depth development finance assessment with a human-rights focus is conducted
• An integrated national financing framework (INFF) and an integrated finance strategy for the Moldova 2030 National Development Strategy are developed and implemented
• The INFF is developed and implemented in the areas of early childhood development and waste management, including in-depth analyses of financial flows and financing incentives and policies in the respective areas