10,000 people are being invited to participate again in the second wave of the "Generations and Gender" study, the most comprehensive longitudinal demographic study ever conducted in the Republic of Moldova. This global study, carried out in over 24 countries, is part of the International "Generations and Gender" Programme coordinated by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI). Respondents are contacted repeatedly, every three years, to update contact information and monitor demographic changes affecting them, such as fertility intentions, emigration plans, life satisfaction, and more.
The first wave of the study took place in the spring of 2020 and provided essential data on the country’s demographic dynamics. It involved 10,000 respondents aged 15 to 79 from 153 localities across the Republic of Moldova (excluding the Transnistrian region).
The results of the 2020 study revealed, among other findings, that people in Moldova aspire to have more children than they actually do and that many, particularly young people, intended to emigrate in the coming years. As a longitudinal study, the same individuals are repeatedly surveyed on these topics to monitor and analyze demographic and social changes in-depth over time.
The "Generations and Gender" study results are currently used by authorities to identify measures for mitigating demographic challenges and creating opportunities to support the country’s demographic resilience.
"The results of this study will support the development of evidence-based public policies, contributing to improving the population’s quality of life and promoting sustainable development. To date, five evidence-based policy documents have been drafted, and others are in preparation. Based on these documents, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, in collaboration with UNFPA, has created a regulatory framework to help families plan the number of children they desire. Among the approved measures are the introduction of new options for childcare allowances, flexible working hours for families with children, and extending the period during which paternity leave can be requested," stated Alexei Buzu, Minister of Labour and Social Protection.
The commencement of the second wave of the research marks a significant step in understanding demographic trends and social challenges in the Republic of Moldova.
Karina Nersesyan, UNFPA Moldova Representative, emphasized the importance of collecting such data to deeply understand population behaviors and develop targeted national policies to meet their needs: “The Republic of Moldova is undergoing significant demographic transformations, and the data generated by this study are crucial for understanding and addressing challenges associated with population aging, migration, and structural family changes. The results will help us create public policies tailored to current realities, contributing to social resilience and the country’s sustainable development.”
In the Republic of Moldova, the study is implemented at the request of the Government of the Republic of Moldova by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the National Bureau of Statistics, and NIDI, with financial support from the India-UN Development Partnership Fund.
For more information about the "Generations and Gender" Study and the results of the first wave, access this link. https://bit.ly/4g2YxTQ
