Background

The purpose of the proposed project is to adapt and test an ILO Resource Guide on “Promoting Decent Work Opportunities for Roma Youth in Central and Eastern Europe” to the context of Roma youth in the Republic of Moldova. The 2004 Moldova census showed 12,271 Roma living in the country, around 0.4 per cent of the country’s population. Employment rates in Moldova are among the lowest in Europe and Central Asia, denoted at large by low labour force participation (LFP) rate in constant decrease from 53 to 41 per cent over the past ten years, slightly higher for men (44.1 per cent) than for women (38.6 per cent). A recent report concluded that Roma in Moldova are amongst the most vulnerable to discrimination or exclusion in Moldova, face a higher risk of marginalization as a result of their under-representation in decision-making, high levels of illiteracy and unemployment and the existence of social stigma and prejudices.

Anti-Roma sentiment is reportedly very high, with a 2012 survey finding that 49 per cent of Moldovans would not accept a Roma neighbour. Roma are twice more likely to live in poverty than non-Roma. They also face serious problems in accessing education and in educational attainment. Roma adults are more likely than non-Roma adults to be illiterate, for instance, and in general have reached a lower stage of education than non-Roma.

Main objectives

The project will

1. translate and adapt the ILO Resource Guide to the context and reality of Moldova;
2. promote awareness of Moldovan constituents, partners, Roma community leaders and Youth leaders on the need to develop policies and programmes addressing the labour market inclusion of Roma youth; and
3. develop and test selected training of trainers’ material based on the toolkit.

Ultimately, the project beneficiaries are young Roma women and men between the ages of 15-29 who would benefit from integrated, more effective and gender-sensitive policy responses as well as targeting mechanisms addressing their labour market integration. Targeted policies and programmes will be promoted to enhance employability and improve employment prospects of Roma youth with a focus on low-skilled youth and school dropouts, young workers in the informal economy and youth in poor communities.
In the context of the broader approach on equal opportunities and empowerment of Roma youth, special attention and emphasis is devoted to the situation of young Roma women, who experience interrelated forms of discrimination as women and as Roma.

Decision-makers, staff and trainers of national institutions involved in the formulation and implementation of Roma education and employment policies and programmes, as well as Roma organizations in Moldova will directly benefit from the project.