The project follows from a six-month gap project implemented in July-December 2024 on “Supporting the Republic of Moldova in improving treatment and care for people coping with addictions” and builds on results of 13 years of successful cooperation between the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe and the National Administration of Penitentiaries in ensuring a comprehensive drug treatment system in custodial settings and takes this cooperation forward by addressing non-substance related dependencies such as gambling disorders. At the same time, the Project assists the authorities of the Republic of Moldova in developing its first all-encompassing national strategy on drugs and addictions in line with European standards and good practices, as well as institutional capacity building of allocating responsibility for drug policy coordination and implementation.

The Project is implemented within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2025-2028 and reflects the 2021 revised mandate of the Pompidou Group, which expands its scope to include addictive behaviors related to licit substances and new forms of addictions.

What is the goal and objective of the project

The Project “Supporting the Republic of Moldova in addressing the risks and harms related to drug use and addictive behaviors (2025-2026)” aims at improving the wellbeing and mental health of people through applying a comprehensive approach to addressing risks and harms of drug use and addictive behaviours, including in custodial settings, by placing human rights in the centre of drugs and addiction policies.

Project objectives

• Professionals working on treatment and care of detained people, coping with or at risk of addictions, apply contemporary approaches and techniques in line with internationally recognised practices.
• Policy makers and specialists (law enforcement, prevention, health and social professionals) apply the acquired knowledge and tools to implement comprehensive national approaches to addressing substance use and related dependences at policy and institutional levels.

 Funding: The total project budget is 600,000 EUR funded through the Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova for 2025 – 2028;

 Duration of the project: 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026;

 Who benefits from the project?

Target group

• Policy makers working in the drug policy field and specialists (law enforcement, prevention, health and social professionals)
• Prison management and operational staff

End beneficiaries:

• Detained people with substance use disorders or other addictive behaviors;
• People who use drugs or experience substance use disorders and other addictive behaviors. 

Project partners

• Ministry of Health
• Ministry of Interior
• Ministry of Justice
• National Administration of Penitentiaries
• National Anti-Drug Council

 How does the action work?

The cooperation project will be carried out in line with the priorities laid down in the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova for 2025-2028.

The project is entirely based on the Council of Europe's project management methodology created to strengthen the link between co-operation programmes and strategy and values of the Council of Europe. The core elements of the project management methodology incorporate human rights and result-based approaches, field presence, the involvement of civil society organisations in the service delivery, the promotion of evidence-based practices, multidisciplinary action and intervention, communication, and visibility.

 What do we expect to achieve?

Project results

• Knowledge and skills of multidisciplinary national stakeholders on addiction prevention and treatment are enhanced.
• Treatment and rehabilitation programmes for people who are incarcerated and cope with substance use disorders or addictive behaviors are introduced or improved.
• A knowledge base for policy makers working in the drug policy field is provided for elaborating comprehensive approaches to addressing substance use and related dependences. 
• Policy makers and specialists enhance their knowledge and skills for implementing the national drug and addiction strategy.
• Policy makers and their governmental structures receive guidance for improving multiagency coordination and implementation of targeted interventions across all pillars of the national drugs and addictions strategy.