About 1/3 of Moldova’s able to work population emigrated permanently or temporarily during the last decade, depriving the country of vital forces and leaving children and elderly people affected by migration behind. At the same time, the diaspora invests a lot in the country, the Republic of Moldova being at the top of the countries that benefit from migrants’ remittances that represent about 22% of the GDP, IPN reports.
In a press release, UNDP Moldova says that these financial resources sent from abroad determined a rise in consumption and contributed to the empowerment of the vulnerable groups, poverty reduction, higher school attendance rate and stimulation of local businesses. However, the population from the rural areas remains the most vulnerable one, with limited access to the main services, such as education, healthcare, water and sewerage, and in conditions of absence of jobs. All these aspects increase migration.
“The savings of Moldovan migrants represent an unexplored resource of private capital, reaching figures of billions of euros, which could be invested in improving public services. This will be possible on condition that the local development policies take into account the potential of the diaspora and engage the migrants so that these contribute to developing their native communities,” it is said in the press release.
The UNDP channels its technical and logistic support to increasing local authorities’ capacities to involve the local population and migrants in the planning and decision-making process. With the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, over 30,000 Moldovan migrants who live abroad will be able to take part in the local development of their native communities.
The Migration and Local Development Project is part of the Country Project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in migration and development and is implemented in synergy with other two projects carried out by the International Organization for Migration, Mission in Moldova (IOM), and by the International Agency for Source Country Information (IASCI/NEXUS).
