Strong Markets for Empowered Moldova

Moldova is the poorest country in Europe. Poverty is especially widespread in Moldova’s rural areas, driving its inhabitants to capital Chisinau and abroad. Up to a quarter of Moldova’s active labor force is outside of the country!

The main problem is not the lack of jobs. There are jobs, but they are either low-quality or demand skills that job seekers don’t have. For example, agriculture, Moldova’s biggest sector and employer, offers low, often seasonal, wages. Jobs in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are on the contrary the highest-paid in the country, but the employers struggle to find competent workers.

Generating better economic opportunities and skills

The Improved Market Systems Project aims to stimulate Moldova’s market systems, with a focus on agriculture and ICT, so that they generate better economic opportunities for Moldovans in a sustained way. We are particularly targeting disadvantaged groups such as youth, returning migrants, ethnic minorities, and those living outside the capital Chisinau.

Firstly, we address the constraints that hold businesses back to create a stronger, better articulated and more sustainable demand for skills.

For example, in agriculture, we aim to develop a system that will allow agribusiness to comply with international quality standards and get access to new markets, therefore becoming more competitive, generating more income and better jobs.

Secondly, we address the constraints on the supply side of the labor market to make sure enough people with the right skills are able and willing to take up the available jobs.

For example, in ICT, we aim to, among other goals, to work with training providers to improve ICT courses to match the needs of the sector, and to expand their services to rural youth and women, who are now largely excluded from opportunities.

The Improved Market Systems project is the mandate of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) implemented by Helvetas in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Moldova and international think tank organization Mesopartner.