Promoting the creation of quality employment and sustainable enterprises in the care and related sectors in the Republic of Moldova

The project addresses key barriers to women’s participation in the labour market, including limited access to childcare services, gender pay gaps, and entrenched gender stereotypes. It seeks to support women's employment creation by offering entrepreneurship training, fostering support networks, and generating quality job opportunities within the care sector. The initiative also aims to formalize and improve the care sector, advocating for better working conditions and inclusive policies that promote gender equality.

Target groups include low-income women jobseekers, workers, and women entrepreneurs with care responsibilities, as well as public and private sector stakeholders integral to the women’s employment and entrepreneurship framework in Moldova. Key partners include the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the National Employment Agency (NEA), the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA), the Ministry of Education and Research, the Technical Vocational Education and Training institutions, local authorities, and social partners such as the National Employers' Organization of Moldova, the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Moldova, alongside women's entrepreneurship associations like AFAM and BPW Moldova.

The project’s methodology involves a collaborative approach, engaging stakeholders in dialogue, conducting qualitative research, and promoting gender-responsive policies. The activities of the project focus on formalizing the care sector, advocating for improved working conditions, supporting women’s transition to the labour market through the Programme to Activate Women (PAW), and strengthening women entrepreneurs’ access to care services and support networks.

The envisioned impact is to create a more supportive and inclusive environment for women’s entrepreneurship and employment, enabling women to thrive in the labour market with access to decent work, particularly in the care sector. This will contribute to economic independence, enhanced job opportunities, and a more gender-responsive workforce, ultimately reducing gender inequalities and advancing women’s economic empowerment.