Moldova : Children's High Level Group

Moldova has long been known as the 'poorest country in Europe', partly because of its size and remote location. Having battled with economic troubles over many years, Moldova has recently made some significant reforms to deal with poverty.

However there is much work still to be done with 60 per cent of the population living below the subsistence level, estimated at around 1,400 Moldovan lei (approx £60).

In 2004 the Moldovan government adopted the Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EGPRSP) to address widespread poverty and many reforms have been actioned in the years since.

Recent statistics, however, show that there are still over 13 000 children in 68 state care institutions; the majority of these children have been abandoned or given up by their parents, only a very small proportion are actually orphans (2005 South-East Europe Review).

CHLG work in Moldova

In December 2006, CHLG signed a formal agreement with Vasile Tarlev, Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, to extend its work into Moldova.

With support from CHLG in London, a Moldova-based team is working to help improve the lives of thousands of children and strengthen families.

Much of this work will focus on building up social work support and national fostering and adoption programmes so that children in big institutions, who are often raised in unacceptable conditions, can instead grow up within loving families in Moldova.

The aim of the CHLG is to extend initiatives it already runs in Romania to communities in Moldova.

A Community Action pilot study, involving 2,000 volunteers and children, has already taken place and was a huge success. A National Strategy for Community Action has just been approved by the Moldovan Government and it is anticipated that over 10,000 volunteers and children from residential institutions will take part.