Moldova Child Protection Strategy

Over the last years, Moldova has made significant progress in advancing key child rights. Nevertheless, the most recent UNICEF Situation Analysis (SitAn) shows that there are several groups whose rights are still breached and who suffer of persistent deprivations and inequities. These vulnerable groups comprise children from poor families, especially from rural area, children with disabilities, Roma children, children left behind as a consequence of migration, and most at risk adolescents.

Beyond the vulnerable groups of children, there are several challenges more commonly faced by children in Moldova, particularly noticeable being immunisation; breastfeeding; enrollment in general education and academic performance; and child protection (violent disciplining at home, sexual abuse, children in detention).

This Final Evaluation Report is the fourth deliverable for the "Mid-term evaluation of implementation of the Child Protection Strategy 2014-2020 and its Action Plan for 2016-2020 for the Republic of Moldova". The evaluation was commissioned by UNICEF Moldova in order to inform further interventions in child protection  to be in line with “Moldova 2030” and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

LESSONS LEARNED: 

1. The influence of policy environment has been significant in achieving expected impacts. Staff turnover has to be acknowledged as one of the key elements in any risk assessment for future policy implementation. Specific lines of action for strengthening institutional capacity need to be included in the next programming documents.
2. Low participation level in the programming phase negatively affects subsequent policy cycles. Large consultation mechanisms put in place from the initial stage of programming would increase ownership and bring about magnified relevance to the needs of user. Participation has to be further ensured during implementation, monitoring and evaluation phases. Participation in all policy cycles has to be supported by a good communication campaign on the envisaged theory of change, results framework and complete Plan of Action (including budgetary estimations and responsible entities differentiated between first and second tier levels of local public administration).
3. A broad scope of actions does not necessarily result in increased coverage. Taking into consideration the limited available financial and human resources, a set of strategic interventions that can yield multiplier effects in other areas has to be identified in order to be included in the future Child Protection Strategy.
4. Monitoring for results is a complex endeavour, but it can start with simple elements. These include an exhaustive list of residential institutions and their current status in the process of deinstitutionalization as well as a mailing list of all municipalities (mayors and social community workers included) in the Republic. In order to create a sound M&E system, stakeholders that only contribute to monitoring results (and not to policy implementation), representatives of institutions such as the National Bureau of Statistics, the Ombudsman, and the Social Inspection, should also be included along the way in programming for policy results.

In a nutshell, at a challenging time for implementing chid protection policies, the Government of Moldova needs to prove that it stays committed to leveraging sound evidence and data to promote better policies for better lives of vulnerable children, including poor and marginalized children. This can only be achieved by listening the voices of rights-holders and working hand in hand with stakeholders across the board.