Stronger women: stronger Republic of Moldova – factsheet

For sixty years, the European Union has worked tirelessly to defend women’s rights and to empower them to realise their full potential. Gender equality is at the heart of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative. It is vital to the individual lives of women as well as men, and essential for long-term democratic development.  In its cooperation with the Republic of Moldova, the EU is driving real change by strengthening women in business, providing opportunities for quality education and promoting a fair society.

WHAT IS BEING DONE

• Gender action plans
  Taking account of gender issues across public policies and generating statistics based on gender
• New and improved legislation
  Adopting and applying anti-discrimination and domestic violence laws
• More women in business
  Making loans via local banks available for women-led enterprises
• New study and career opportunities
  Offering a wide range of exchange programmes across Europe with Erasmus+
• Young women leaders
  Enhancing the active participation of young women through the EU4Youth programme

Women in business

The EU supports women entrepreneurs in the Republic of Moldova through the Women in Business programme, which is implemented by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Support provided by the programme includes business advice, training and mentoring to women-led companies, as well as finance through a dedicated credit line to partner bank Prime Capital.

A Women in Business programme implemented by ODIMM and also funded by the EU supports women who intend to launch their own business and women-led micro-enterprises.

“The financial help was vital, we couldn’t have succeeded without it.” Veronica Vidraşcu of the Litera Publishing House in Chişinău, which received support from EU4Business to take its bookshop online.

In 2019, 118 women entrepreneurs in Moldova received loans to a total value of €22.4 million under EU support programmes for SMEs, while 97 received grants worth almost €800,000. Almost 5,700 benefitted from consultancy services. Turnover among supported companies rose by almost €100 million, and 6,296 new jobs were created as a result of the support.

Find out how you can take part

www.ebrdwomeninbusiness.com

www.odimm.md/ro/femei-in-afaceri

Women entrepreneurs in the Republic of Moldova also have access to a range of other funding and advisory services provided under the EU4Business initiative, as well as under the EU-funded PARE 1+1 initiative implemented by ODIMM.

Find out more www.eu4business.eu/moldova, https://www.odimm.md/ro/pare

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG WOMEN

Erasmus+

Through its Erasmus+ programme, the EU offers young women and men in the Republic of Moldova a wide range of exchange opportunities across Europe.

Erasmus+ opportunities include:

• Scholarships to study in Europe
• Student exchanges
• Youth exchanges
• European Solidarity Corps
• Opportunities for youth workers
• Youth involvement in reform dialogue

“I met a lot of people with different backgrounds, I became more open-minded and learned to be out of my comfort zone.” Felicia Ivașcu worked as a volunteer at a library in Poland, carrying out activities for children, as part of an Erasmus+ project.

• From 2015-2019, EU funding enabled 1,842 students and academic staff from the Republic of Moldova to study or teach in the EU; 29 Master’s students from the Republic of Moldova have received full Erasmus scholarships.
• Over 3,000 young people from Moldova took part in EU funded non-formal education projects which organise short exchanges, trainings, common events and provide volunteering opportunities.

Erasmus+ in the Republic of Moldova: all your questions answered: https://www.euneighbours.eu/en/east/stay-informed/cards/erasmus-republic-moldova

EU4Youth

• EU4Youth supports young people to develop skills for jobs, and encourages and invests in youth entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.
• The EU has set a 75% target to support young women under the EU4Youth programme.
• EU4Youth funds 3 grant projects active in Moldova.
• In the period 2018-2020, 118 young women in Moldova benefited from training and workshops under EU4Youth grant projects.

www.euforyouth.eu

A FAIR SOCIETY

EU4Gender Equality

This regional programme, funded by the European Union across the Eastern Partnership, seeks to strengthen equal rights and opportunities for women and men by shifting social perceptions around gender roles, tackling gender stereotypes and increasing men’s participation in childcare and other domestic responsibilities.

In Moldova, the project is setting up eight Fathers’ Clubs dedicated to supporting men and the equal sharing of household and family responsibilities.

“I thought to myself that in my family everything would be different. I do not ask to be cooked for or to be served. I can also cook.” Wrestling trainer Alexandru Trohin took part in an EU4Gender Equality baking workshop for fathers. 

Find out more: EU 4 Gender Equality: Together Against Gender Stereotypes and Gender-Based Violence

EVA: for equality and against violence

The EU-funded EVA project (‘Strengthened Gender Action in Cahul and Ungheni districts’) aims to promote gender equality, women’s empowerment, and to combat domestic violence affecting women and children.

The project works to ensure that victims of domestic violence have greater access to effective support services, and promotes actions to mobilise society against gender-based violence.