The Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection (MSMPS), in partnership with the UN Populations Fund (UNFPA), has restarted the data collection within the most complex demographic survey in Moldova – Generations and Gender (GGS), launched in January 2020 and temporarily suspended due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19.

This survey is conducted for the first time in the Republic of Moldova and will provide disaggregated statistical data about the main demographic processes in the country. Based on GGS results, rights-based policy scenarios in addressing demographic issues will be developed, including: infertility prevention, intention of having children, number of desired children, aging, migration, low life expectancy, especially among men, and other aspects.

The data collection process takes place in a new format, taking into account COVID-19 protection measures and the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). During the month of July, 100 field operators involved in the survey have been trained online by an expert in public health from the National Agency for Public Health on how to use the protective equipment and how to collect data during the pandemic period. The field operators have received COVID-19 protection equipment sets, which include face masks, gloves and disinfectant.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection, a new methodology guideline on collecting data during pandemic was developed. According to the guideline, the survey will take place outside and respecting the recommendations of WHO and of the Extraordinary Public Health Commission. Also, all survey participants will receive disposable protection masks and gloves.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, have been adjusted the research methodology of the study by integrating a module of questions related to COVID-19, which will allow to assess the COVID-19 impact on the society through a comparative analysis of the situation in the society before and after the outbreak of the pandemic.

The collection of the data will take place until October 2020 and will cover the entire country with a total of about 20,000 people to be interviewed.

Generations and Gender is a global survey, which has already been conducted in 24 countries. In the Republic of Moldova, the project is coordinated by the UN Population Fund in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection, the National Bureau of Statistics and the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute, being financially supported by the MSMPS, the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and UNFPA Moldova.

For more information about the survey, as well as the video of the campaign in Romanian and Russian, you can access: https://www.ggp-i.org/moldova/

Contact person: Diana Lungu, UNFPA Moldova Communication Consultant, dlungu@unfpa.org, 068156661.