Social

Moldova Digitizes Social Services for Faster Access

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Moldova has launched the Digital Center for Social Innovation with the aim of improving, unifying, and digitising social protection services.

facebook// Alexei Buzu
Sursa: facebook// Alexei Buzu

The Center, inaugurated today, will house a team of specialists and information technology experts. This initiative forms part of a broader digital transformation project designed to support the digitization of the social protection system, the development of human-centred policies, and the utilisation of data to inform decision-making.

According to Labor Minister Alexei Buzu, a primary benefit of digitising social services will be to streamline the workload of frontline ministry staff who currently manage cases for dozens of beneficiaries. He further highlighted that the digital transformation will also facilitate citizen access to social services and benefits by eliminating the need for them to submit extensive amounts of paperwork, a current obstacle to their interactions with government agencies.

Minister Buzu emphasised that the Center's current team of nine specialists will be expanded to 23 by the end of the year. "With this team integrated into the Ministry's broader workforce," he stated, "we'll gain a clearer understanding of our goals and be able to move forward with greater decisiveness and speed."

The project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), boasts a total estimated budget of $8.5 million and a three-year timeframe. UNICEF is contributing an initial $850,000 from funds provided by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and channelled through the German Development Bank (KfW). These funds will be used to establish and operationalize one-stop shops at the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection for the benefit of end users. This will involve the procurement of necessary digital equipment and the remuneration of staff during the first year of operation.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

Read more

Why Moldova’s 1% defense budget won’t meet future security demands
Social

Why Moldova’s 1% defense budget won’t meet future security demands

The gradual increase in the defense budget to 1% of GDP by 2030 is insufficient, given the National Army's needs for modernization and equipment, as pointed out by security expert Pavel Horea on the "Zi de Zi" program at Radio Moldova.

Moldova implements energy export restrictions starting January 2025
Economic

Moldova implements energy export restrictions starting January 2025

Starting from January 1, 2025, between 6:00 AM and 11:00 PM, electricity produced domestically will only be traded on the internal market.

Carolina Străjescu Carolina Străjescu

Carolina Străjescu

Moldova's SHS employees react to 2025 budget law salary increases
Social

Moldova's SHS employees react to 2025 budget law salary increases

The salary increases outlined in the 2025 Budget Law have sparked discontent among employees of the State Hydrometeorological Service (SHS), who had previously joined protests led by teachers demanding higher wages.