Organisers : UNICEF Moldova, Ministry of Labour and social Protection of the Republic of Moldova, United Kingdom (FCDO)
The European Child Guarantee initiative for EU accessing country represents a significant opportunity and milestone for Moldova. The country has recently launched a national dialogue on applying the European Child Guarantee and on transposing it into practical implementation of a comprehensive child package that breaks the cycle of poverty.
The event will be an opportunity to review the current achievements and to exchange best practices with EU countries on how to strengthen education, child and social protection, as well as healthcare services to better reach the most vulnerable children and their caregivers and improve their life and well-being on a long term perspective.
Venue : MAIB Park: 31 August 1989, 127 str., Main conference room
Registration here
Zoom link
Meeting ID: 948 8418 9306
Passcode: 594792
Programme
Moderator: Maha Damaj, UNICEF Representative in Moldova
09:30 – 11:30
Panel discussion on the operationalization of ECG at national and local levels, including funding, monitoring and reporting mechanisms, 80 min
Panelists:
- Natalia Plugaru, Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Moldova.
- Stella Avallone, Ambassador of Austria in Moldova (sharing the Austrian experience in implementing the ECG)
- Krešimir Makvić, Head of sector, Directorate for Social Policy, National Coordination for ECG in Croatia (joining online)
- Ludmila Adamciuc, Member of Parliament, Moldova
- Alla Fedorova, Member of the European Committee of Social Rights
Concluding remarks by the moderator, 10 minutes
Concept note
- Background and Rationale
Child poverty and social exclusion remain significant challenges in Moldova, particularly among rural children. While Moldova has implemented important reforms in social protection, education, health, and child protection, service fragmentation, inadequate coverage, quality issues, and uneven territorial coverage continue to limit their impact in ensuring that no child is left behind.
The European Child Guarantee (ECG), endorsed by the European Council in 2021, provides a unique opportunity to invest in essential, accessible and quality services to fight poverty and social exclusion, and to prioritize urgent measures for vulnerable children, such as Roma children, children in institutional care, children with disabilities and refugee and migrant children.
Moldova is taking important steps towards implementing the European Child Guarantee, within the framework of the Interministerial Groups created to this end, under the leadership of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, which is currently drafting the National Action Plan, in accordance with the National Program for the Accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Union for 2025-2029.
For Moldova and other EU pre-accession countries, advancing the child-focused social inclusion reforms is not only a social imperative but also aligned with their EU accession trajectory and commitment to social rights convergence.
This high-level side event will bring together government leaders, EU institutions, development partners, and civil society to accelerate implementation of the ECG through integrated, child-centred systems strengthening.
- Objectives
- Share EU-level perspectives related to putting the European Child Guarantee into practice.
- Discuss concrete tools for financing, monitoring and reporting on the ECG.
- Mobilize partnerships to support integrated, decentralized service delivery.
- Key Policy Questions
- How can Moldova operationalise the ECG as an integrated response to child poverty?
- How can national strategies support integrated service packages for children at the local level?
- How can the ECG be operationalised at the local level to reach the most vulnerable children?
- What financing mechanisms can ensure sustainable implementation?
- What monitoring and reporting tools are used by EU Member States?
- What good practices have been identified which can be used by accessing States in their pursuit of the ECG?
- Expected Outcomes
- Strengthened coordination and knowledge sharing among the Government and Development partners.
- Improved knowledge of integrated operational models, financing, monitoring and reporting tools.
- Commitments toward supporting the finalisation of the National Action Plan in line with best practices in the EU.
5. Target Participants
- European Social Policy Ministries
- Ministry of Labour and Social Protection
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Education
- Ministry of Finance
- EU Delegation to Moldova
- IFIs’
- Civil society organizations