€10 million grant to be used to bolster essential services for children and families in Moldova
A €10 million grant to be used to bolster essential services for children and families in Moldova
28.01.2026
Article published on the moldpres.md/rus website
The Moldovan and German Governments, with the support of the German development bank KfW and UNICEF, have joined forces to improve and expand key services for children and families across the country, including Ukrainian refugees and host communities. The grant will be used to ensure that more Moldovan and Ukrainian children have access to child protection services, medical care, inclusive education, as well as safe drinking water and sanitation in their communities, MOLDPRES reports.
The grant has been provided as part of the second phase of the “Child Protection and Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), health and social protection services for Ukrainian refugees and host communities in the Moldovan Republic” project.
The new phase of the partnership will focus on facilitating children’s access to services and improving the ability to respond quickly to their needs. Support in 2026-2028 will be directed towards expanding child protection and justice services, strengthening early intervention programmes for young children with developmental difficulties, improving inclusion in schools and kindergartens, bringing health services closer to teenagers, and modernising water and sanitation facilities in early education institutions.
“In recent years, we have upgraded the infrastructure of a number of educational establishments in order to provide a more conducive learning environment for both children and teachers. In the coming years, we will continue to support these initiatives to develop the water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure in schools so that all children, including refugees, can enjoy a safe and healthy academic environment”, said Dan Perciun, Moldova’s Minister of Education and Research.
He added that thanks to new investment, resource centres will be set up in six regions of the country, providing preschool-age children with a friendly and inclusive environment to enhance their development.
Health services will be expanded for both young children and teenagers. Early intervention centres will be upgraded and equipped to support children with developmental disorders more effectively. Mobile, adolescent-friendly health services will reach more areas, including rural regions, providing mental and psychosocial support, sexual and reproductive health services and preventive information.
Water and sanitation provision in kindergartens will be improved, with particular focus on accessibility for children with disabilities and refugee host communities.
“This partnership means turning commitments into services that children can rely on every day. By investing in coordinated and sustainable services, we are ensuring that every child can grow up safe, supported and included”, said UNICEF’s Representative to Moldova, Mahan Damaj.
Expanding the Barnahus model is a key priority so that children affected by violence can receive support in a safe, child-friendly space. A new Barnahus centre will be established in the country’s central region, complementing the national network of three regional centres (in the north, centre and south), ensuring that no child will ever have to move between institutions to receive help.
“We remain committed to supporting services that bring real benefits to children such as protection and access to justice, healthcare, inclusive education, safe water and sanitation, as well as to children from both refugee families and host communities”, said the German Ambassador to Moldova, Hubert Knirsch.
Preventing violence at an early stage is also a central pillar of this phase of the project. Parental support programmes at the national level will be extended to help create a safer and more positive family environment, including refugee families and parents of children with disabilities.
During the first phase of this trilateral partnership, targeted support was provided in the areas of child protection, health, water supply and sanitation and social services. More than 100,000 parents and children in Moldova have benefited from these measures, laying the foundation for the current expansion of services.
The project is being implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Moldovan Government, with financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation via the KfW bank.
A €10 million grant to be used to bolster essential services for children and families in Moldova
28.01.2026
Article published on the moldpres.md/rus website
The Moldovan and German Governments, with the support of the German development bank KfW and UNICEF, have joined forces to improve and expand key services for children and families across the country, including Ukrainian refugees and host communities. The grant will be used to ensure that more Moldovan and Ukrainian children have access to child protection services, medical care, inclusive education, as well as safe drinking water and sanitation in their communities, MOLDPRES reports.
The grant has been provided as part of the second phase of the “Child Protection and Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), health and social protection services for Ukrainian refugees and host communities in the Moldovan Republic” project.
The new phase of the partnership will focus on facilitating children’s access to services and improving the ability to respond quickly to their needs. Support in 2026-2028 will be directed towards expanding child protection and justice services, strengthening early intervention programmes for young children with developmental difficulties, improving inclusion in schools and kindergartens, bringing health services closer to teenagers, and modernising water and sanitation facilities in early education institutions.
“In recent years, we have upgraded the infrastructure of a number of educational establishments in order to provide a more conducive learning environment for both children and teachers. In the coming years, we will continue to support these initiatives to develop the water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure in schools so that all children, including refugees, can enjoy a safe and healthy academic environment”, said Dan Perciun, Moldova’s Minister of Education and Research.
He added that thanks to new investment, resource centres will be set up in six regions of the country, providing preschool-age children with a friendly and inclusive environment to enhance their development.
Health services will be expanded for both young children and teenagers. Early intervention centres will be upgraded and equipped to support children with developmental disorders more effectively. Mobile, adolescent-friendly health services will reach more areas, including rural regions, providing mental and psychosocial support, sexual and reproductive health services and preventive information.
Water and sanitation provision in kindergartens will be improved, with particular focus on accessibility for children with disabilities and refugee host communities.
“This partnership means turning commitments into services that children can rely on every day. By investing in coordinated and sustainable services, we are ensuring that every child can grow up safe, supported and included”, said UNICEF’s Representative to Moldova, Mahan Damaj.
Expanding the Barnahus model is a key priority so that children affected by violence can receive support in a safe, child-friendly space. A new Barnahus centre will be established in the country’s central region, complementing the national network of three regional centres (in the north, centre and south), ensuring that no child will ever have to move between institutions to receive help.
“We remain committed to supporting services that bring real benefits to children such as protection and access to justice, healthcare, inclusive education, safe water and sanitation, as well as to children from both refugee families and host communities”, said the German Ambassador to Moldova, Hubert Knirsch.
Preventing violence at an early stage is also a central pillar of this phase of the project. Parental support programmes at the national level will be extended to help create a safer and more positive family environment, including refugee families and parents of children with disabilities.
During the first phase of this trilateral partnership, targeted support was provided in the areas of child protection, health, water supply and sanitation and social services. More than 100,000 parents and children in Moldova have benefited from these measures, laying the foundation for the current expansion of services.
The project is being implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Moldovan Government, with financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation via the KfW bank.
