Moldova is the only country in Europe where India supports data governance through an efficient partnership between the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and UNFPA". H.E. Rahul Shrivastava, Ambassador of India to Romania, Albania and Moldova
The Republic of Moldova, a small Eastern European nation, faces rapid demographic shifts, including low fertility rates, aging, and emigration. These trends are influenced by socio-economic challenges and geopolitical situation, particularly the ongoing war in Ukraine. In response, Moldova conducted the Generation and Gender Survey (GGS) in 2020, a groundbreaking initiative designed to provide comprehensive, data-driven insights into the country’s demographic dynamics. Implemented through a strategic partnership between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the National Bureau of Statistics, and the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI), the GGS surveyed over 10,000 individuals during 1st wave conducted in 2020 and 5,500 persons in the 2nd wave completed in 2024.
This case study explores Moldova’s innovative approach to implementing the GGS, highlighting its out-of-the-box strategies for data collection, analysis, and dissemination. Despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, resource constraints, and sensitive survey topics, Moldova successfully leveraged the GGS to inform key national policies, including the National Program on Active and Healthy Ageing, the National Programme on Childcare services, the National Program on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and the National Development Strategy "European Moldova 2030" and the development of family friendly policies. The GGS findings have been instrumental in addressing low fertility, promoting gender equality, and mitigating the impacts of aging and low fertility.
This study underscores the importance of investing in comprehensive demographic surveys like the GGS to drive sustainable development, inform long-term planning, and promote demographic resilience. Moldova’s journey with the GGS offers valuable lessons for countries seeking to harness the power of data to address pressing population challenges and achieve sustainable development goals.
