The WIND “Work Improvement in Neighbourhood Development” programme aims at improving working conditions in rural areas through the initiatives of village families. WIND does not only improve the safety, health and working conditions of farmers and their families, but also their living conditions in general. The WIND programme relies principally on the initiative, knowledge and resources of farmers themselves. The development of “learning by doing” training courses helps the WIND programme to achieve fast and efficient implementation.

After many years of research and fundraising, the new WIND manual written in Moldavian was launched in December 2008. About 40% of the work force in Moldova are in the agricultural sector. Poverty in rural areas is increasing and occupational accidents are common. In April 2005, ILO experts went to Moldova in order to promote the WIND programme and to improve farmers’ safety and health conditions by means of training courses. These training courses enable agricultural workers to identify priority issues within the local context and to devise effective solutions at a low cost, using materials and skills available locally. The aim of the ILO in this region was to develop and implement safety and health management systems in agriculture through social dialogue at the national level.

At the international level, the experience of Moldova in adapting WIND materials is an essential contribution to the development of a product that is readily useable in other countries.

Further references to WIND:

• CIS News, July 2006
• WIND training programme