Expanding childcare services through women’s entrepreneurship development in Moldova. A case study

In 2023, the International Labour Organization (ILO) launched a pilot initiative in Moldova to address the low labour market participation of women with young children by enhancing access to childcare services. The project, implemented in partnership with the Association of Women Entrepreneurs in Moldova (AFAM), focused on introducing new childcare services in alignment with the recent legislation on Alternative Childcare Services, as established by Law No. 367/2022. The case study summarizes the results and findings of the ILO project, with a description of outcomes and future directions. As part of efforts to support the implementation of Moldova’s National Programme on Care Services for Children Under Three, the initiative trained 27 women in entrepreneurship and soft skills, and later provided three women with grants and coaching support. Additionally, the ILO and AFAM collaborated on a report analysing legal constraints affecting alternative family-type childcare services to contribute to further policy improvements and a more enabling environment for women entrepreneurs in the sector.