Moldovan-German partnership with UNICEF will expand services for children across Moldova

The Government of the Republic of Moldova, the Government of Germany, through the German Development Bank KfW, and UNICEF will join efforts to strengthen and scale up key services for children and families nationwide, including for Ukrainian refugees and host communities. 

Chișinău, 27 January 2026 - Supported by a €10 million grant, the phase II of the project “Child Protection and Access to WASH, Health, and Social Services for Ukrainian Refugees and Host Communities in the Republic of Moldova” will help more children, both Moldovan and Ukrainian, access protection, health care, inclusive education, and safe water and sanitation in their communities.

In the first phase of this trilateral partnership targeted improvements were supported in child protection, health, water and sanitation, and social services, benefitting more than 100.000 children and parents in Moldova and laying the groundwork for the current expansion.

This next stage of the partnership focuses on making services for children easier to reach and faster to respond. During 2026-2028, the support will expand child protection and justice services, strengthen early support for young children with developmental delays, improve inclusion in schools and preschools, bring health services closer to adolescents, and upgrade water and sanitation conditions in kindergartens.

A key priority is the expansion of the Barnahus model so that children affected by violence can receive help in one safe, child-friendly place. A new Barnahus centre will be supported in the central region, completing a national network of three regional centres with centres in the north and south of Moldova and ensuring that children are no longer sent from one institution to another for support.

Preventing violence before it starts is also central to this stage of the project. Proven parenting support programmes will be scaled up nationwide, helping caregivers build safer and more positive family environments, including refugee families and parents of children with disabilities.

Health services will be expanded for both young children and adolescents. Early intervention centres will be upgraded and equipped to better support children with developmental delays, while mobile youth-friendly health services will reach more districts, offering mental health and psychosocial support, sexual and reproductive health services, and prevention information, including in rural areas.

For younger children, water and sanitation conditions will be improved in kindergartens, with attention to accessibility for children with disabilities and refugee-hosting communities. Furthermore, the project will strengthen inclusion by creating resource centres in preschools. 

In parallel, the initiative will help social services support families more effectively by linking financial assistance with the services families need and by strengthening the system’s ability to respond during crises.

The launch event brought together senior representatives of the Ministries of Education and Research, Health, Labour and Social Protection, Justice, as well as the German Embassy and development partners, underscoring the importance of a coordinated national effort to deliver real change for children and families across Moldova.

About the project 
The project is implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Moldova, with non-repayable financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through German Development Bank KfW. It supports essential services for vulnerable children, including Ukrainian refugee children and those in host communities, so they can grow up safe, healthy, and included.

Quotes:

Hubert Knirsch, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Moldova:  
“Germany is proud to continue its support for children and families in Moldova through this second phase of our trilateral partnership with the Government of Moldova and UNICEF. We remain committed to supporting services that make a real difference in children’s lives, from protection and justice to health, inclusive education, and safe water and sanitation, thus reaching children from refugee families as well as from host communities.”

Maha Damaj, UNICEF Country Representative in Moldova:  
“This partnership is about turning public commitments into services that children can rely on, every day. Together with the Government of Moldova and the Government of Germany, UNICEF is strengthening systems that bring protection, health care, education, and safe environments closer to communities. By investing in services that are coordinated and sustainable, we are ensuring that every child -Moldovan and refugee alike - can grow up safe, supported, and included.”

Dan Perciun, Minister of Education:  
“In recent years, we have modernized the infrastructure of several educational institutions to ensure better learning conditions for both children and teachers. In the coming years, we will continue to support these initiatives by further developing water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure in schools, so that all children, including refugee children, can benefit from a safe and hygienic learning environment. Early childhood development remains a priority for the Ministry of Education and Research, and through these investments, Resource Centres will be established in six districts across the country, providing preschool-aged children with a friendly and inclusive environment to support their development. We will continue to promote inclusive education, expand the use of assistive technologies, and strengthen support services, ensuring that all children have access to quality education and to an inclusive and child-friendly educational environment.”

Natalia Plugaru, Minister of Labour and Social Protection:  
“The second phase of this partnership allows us to scale up child protection and social services nationwide and to ensure that the most vulnerable children receive timely, coordinated support. With the continued support of Germany and UNICEF, we are strengthening services that place the child at the centre of every decision. By expanding Barnahus services, strengthening parenting programmes, and improving access to social assistance, we are building a more resilient system that protects children and supports families, including refugee communities.”

Ion Prisacaru, State Secretary, Ministry of Health: 
“An effective healthcare system is one that intervenes in a timely manner. By expanding early intervention and adolescent-specific services integrated into the public healthcare system, we are focusing on prevention and equitable access where needs are insufficiently met.”

Stela Braniste, Deputy Secretary General, Ministry of Justice:  
“With the support of the German Government and UNICEF, Moldova has made concrete progress in building a child-friendly justice system that protects children from re-victimization and places their best interests at the centre of judicial procedures. Integrated services for child victims and witnesses, strengthened legislation, and trained professionals are helping ensure that justice is not only delivered, but delivered with care. Through this partnership, we are further strengthening systems that respond better, faster, and more safely to the needs of vulnerable children.”