Analysis on extra cost for disability in the Republic of Moldova

About

Analysis of Extra Cost for Disability in the Republic of Moldova was developed by the Keystone Moldova research team under an institutional consultancy contract with UNICEF. The analysis was carried out under the technical coordination of Iuliana Stratan, Social Policy Officer at UNICEF, and under the overall guidance of Artiom Sîci, Social Policy Specialist at UNICEF. This study/project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the German Development Bank (KfW). The research team extends its sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the National Bureau of Statistics, the UNICEF Moldova team, as well as to the experts and parents of children with disabilities involved in the study, for providing the information and expertise necessary for the preparation of this report.

This report provides an analysis of the additional costs borne by persons with disabilities in the Republic of Moldova, using data from the Household Budget Survey (hereinafter HBS) for the period 2022-2024, as well as the results of the study on the goods and services necessary for persons with disabilities. Its purpose is to assess the relevance of current support programs and to quantify disability-related expenditures, highlighting the systemic disadvantages faced by this population in terms of income, health, participation, and living standards. The report also presents an overview of the essential goods and services required for the integration of persons with various types of disabilities, including children, detailing the associated costs and how these are shared between the state and families.