The Government of the United Kingdom is providing an additional £3.4 million to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Moldova to continue gender-based violence prevention and response services for Ukrainian refugees and vulnerable women and girls in Moldova.
The funding builds on UK support provided since 2022, when the war in Ukraine increased protection risks and placed additional pressure on Moldova’s protection services. The new phase of the partnership will help sustain frontline services, while strengthening the national systems, referral pathways and civil society partnerships needed to make survivor-centered protection more accessible and sustainable.
“Moldova continues to show remarkable solidarity and resilience in the face of ongoing regional challenges. The UK stands firmly alongside Moldova in supporting those most affected — particularly women and children, refugees, and vulnerable communities. Supporting women and girls remains a key priority for the UK Foreign Secretary. Our focus is on protecting dignity, strengthening local systems, and ensuring that support is sustainable and led by those closest to the needs. Together with trusted partners and the Government of Moldova, we are working to ensure that people feel safer, supported, and better equipped to rebuild their lives”, stated Fern Horine, the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova.
With UK support, UNFPA will continue to strengthen community-based services for women and girls, including static and mobile Women and Girls Safe Spaces. To date, these Safe Spaces have provided essential support to more than 150,000 women and girls, offering confidential access to psychosocial counseling, legal information, referrals and case management for survivors and women at risk.
“For a woman experiencing violence, the most important thing is knowing where to turn, being believed, and receiving support safely and confidentially,” said Karina Nersesyan, UNFPA in Moldova Representative. “The UK Government has been a steadfast partner to UNFPA Moldova since the start of the refugee response. This new contribution allows us to continue life-saving support for women and girls, while investing in the national systems that will protect survivors over the long term. Together, we are helping Moldova move from emergency response toward sustainable, survivor-centered protection.”
In the next phase, UNFPA will also support the gradual transition of Safe Spaces into government-led day centers for women survivors of violence. This will help preserve the trust, reach and accessibility built during the emergency response, while embedding these services in Moldova’s national protection system.
The programme will also support crisis and shelter services, targeted assistance for survivors facing urgent protection risks, and specialized pathways for women and girls with disabilities who may be unable to reach services on their own.
At national level, UNFPA will continue working with authorities and civil society partners to strengthen gender-based violence governance, case management, data systems, workforce capacity and referral pathways, in line with Moldova’s national priorities, the Istanbul Convention and European standards.
The partnership will also address emerging protection challenges, including technology-facilitated gender-based violence and cross-border referral pathways for Ukrainian refugee women moving between Moldova and Ukraine who may require continuity of care.
UK support will also contribute to the joint UNFPA-UNICEF “Breaking the Cycle” programme, which addresses the links between violence against women and violence against children through parenting support, community prevention, engagement of boys and men, and strengthened services for women and children experiencing violence.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the United Kingdom has been one of UNFPA Moldova’s key partners in ensuring that women and girls affected by the crisis can access protection, dignity and support. The expanded partnership will help sustain essential services while contributing to long-term reforms that strengthen Moldova’s protection system for refugees and host communities alike.
