The Government of the United Kingdom has announced an additional £3.4 million contribution to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Moldova to sustain gender-based violence prevention and response services for Ukrainian refugees and vulnerable women and girls. This new funding builds on support provided since 2022, when the war in Ukraine heightened protection risks and placed added strain on Moldova’s services. The expanded partnership will help maintain frontline assistance while strengthening national systems, referral pathways, and civil society partnerships to ensure survivor-centered protection is accessible and sustainable.
UK Ambassador Fern Horine emphasized the country’s commitment to supporting Moldova’s resilience, highlighting the priority of protecting women, children, and vulnerable communities. With UK support, UNFPA will continue to expand community-based services, including static and mobile Women and Girls Safe Spaces, which have already reached more than 150,000 women and girls with confidential psychosocial counseling, legal information, referrals, and case management.
UNFPA Moldova Representative Karina Nersesyan noted that the UK has been a steadfast partner since the start of the refugee response, and this new contribution allows life-saving support to continue while investing in long-term national systems. The next phase will see Safe Spaces gradually transition into government-led day centers for survivors of violence, embedding services into Moldova’s protection system while preserving accessibility and trust built during the emergency response.
The program will also strengthen crisis and shelter services, provide targeted assistance for survivors facing urgent risks, and create specialized pathways for women and girls with disabilities. At the national level, UNFPA will work with authorities and civil society to enhance governance, case management, data systems, workforce capacity, and referral pathways, aligning with Moldova’s priorities and European standards.
Emerging challenges such as technology-facilitated gender-based violence and cross-border referral pathways for Ukrainian refugee women will also be addressed. UK support will contribute to the joint UNFPA-UNICEF “Breaking the Cycle” program, which links violence against women and children through parenting support, community prevention, and engagement of boys and men.
Since the war began, the UK has been a key partner in ensuring women and girls affected by the crisis in Moldova can access protection and dignity. This expanded partnership will sustain essential services while advancing long-term reforms to strengthen Moldova’s protection system for both refugees and host communities.
