A project worth 4.5 million US dollars, funded by the Government of Canada, was launched in Chisinau by UN Women and UNDP. The initiative aims to support rural women in Moldova to become resilient to climate change and involved in sustainable management of natural resources, especially forests and pastures.
Robert Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, noted that in Moldova, high temperatures and phenomena such as fires reflect the severe impact of climate change. The dignitary emphasized that vulnerable people are particularly affected, and these realities demonstrate the importance of actions to combat climate change. He mentioned that the Government of Canada wishes to play a leading role both in terms of climate solutions and in supporting women, anywhere in the world, in all aspects of development. According to Oliphant, the involvement of women in these processes can have significant consequences.
Canada will invest 4.5 million US dollars in the new project, which aims to support women in sustainable agriculture and forestry initiatives. The initiative will contribute to increasing women’s income, supporting families in rural communities, as well as developing the country’s industrial capacity, protecting the forestry sector, the food industry, and preventing extreme situations caused by natural conditions.
Daniela Gasparikova, UNDP Resident Representative in the Republic of Moldova, stated that climate changes directly affect the systems and economic activities of rural communities. She explained that the launched project will support the implementation of concrete solutions through innovative technologies and learning programs that can be expanded and transformed into economic opportunities. Daniela Gasparikova specified that it is estimated to collaborate with over 5,000 women, who will be involved in the governance and sustainable management of natural resources.
In turn, Dominika Stojanoska, UN Women Country Representative in Moldova, said that for her, this project is the first to combine the dimension of climate change with the promotion of women’s roles. She noted that this initiative addresses gender gaps, the decline in agricultural productivity, and the impact of climate change on communities. According to her, although climate change profoundly affects women’s lives, they manage to overcome the challenges. Within the project, work will be done to improve women’s capacity to access more resources and develop their businesses.
Aliona Rusnac, State Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, stated that the authorities already have a framework plan for environmental actions, a program for adapting to climate changes, and a national program for forest rehabilitation. This includes the expansion of the forested area by 145 hectares by the year 2032.
Mihai-Gabriel Ciobanu, State Secretary within the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, noted that the Republic of Moldova is making progress in reducing gender disparities. He added that the institution he represents will remain an active partner in developing intervention models that can be replicated at a national level.
According to the data presented at the event, the Republic of Moldova has only about 13% of its territory covered by forests, a figure significantly below the European average. 40% of these forests require ecological restoration.
The project will unfold until the year 2029.
