Moldova is a diverse and multi-ethnic country, with a sizeable Russian-speaking minority, making up approximately one-quarter of the population. Overall social cohesion in the country is considered weak, and the society remains divided, primarily along geopolitical and ethno-linguistic fault lines. The ongoing settlement process with the Transnistrian region continues to impact the internal stability of Moldova. The country faces challenging demographic issues, such as low fertility rates, low life expectancy, an ageing population and a brain drain.

In November 2016 SeeD began working with the UN system and a local partner, the Association for Participatory Democracy (ADEPT. Moldova is an example where different members of the UN Country Team have decided to support a SCORE project, bringing together the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women and UNFPA. Using the SCORE methodology, we explored five major thematic areas contributing to overall social cohesion in the country: fostering constructive civic engagement, reversal of brain drain and emigration tendency, sharing human rights ethos, prevention of estrangement tendencies in Gagauzia and support for gender equity and inclusion. Our work focussed heavily on adolescent development and we helped partners to use evidence to shape policies which could respond to the needs of Moldova’s young people.