The European Union and UNDP are launching a €3 million project aimed at improving digital governance in the agricultural sector and promoting employment in Moldova’s rural areas
According to the press service of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the project has two complementary objectives: to improve access to employment services through the digital transformation of the National Employment Agency, and to support the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture in expanding the Digital National Farmers Register, which will be an important step towards creating an integrated administration and control system in line with the EU's Common Agricultural Policy. The National Employment Agency will receive support to create a modern, compatible information system that will replace outdated platforms and simplify citizens' access to employment services. The new system will provide online registration, automatic matching of candidates with vacancies, and improved coordination between employment and social assistance programs. It will integrate management tools to help employment counselors provide targeted support to vulnerable groups (women, youth, people with disabilities, and returning migrants) by connecting them to vocational training programs, job vacancies, and other forms of assistance. At the same time, the project will strengthen the agency's analytical and forecasting capabilities to ensure data-driven decision-making and improve cooperation with employers at the national and local levels. The project will also support the implementation of a Digital National Farmers Register, which will ensure more transparent and efficient management in agriculture. The institutional and digital capacities of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agency for Intervention and Payments in Agriculture will be strengthened, enabling the modernization of subsidy management and improved services for farmers. Small farmers, women, and young people in rural areas will receive assistance in registering and using the new digital systems. It is worth noting that the project builds on previous experience of the EU, UNDP, and other partners in the field of digital governance and social protection. Previously, UNDP, UNICEF, Germany, and Italy supported the Ministry of Labor in establishing the Digital Center for Social Innovation and the eSocial platform, which brings together social assistance and employment services. In addition, UNDP helped to establish the Energy Vulnerability Reduction Fund, which has provided tens of thousands of households with assistance in paying for heating, with the support of 10 EU countries. In the agricultural sector, UNDP and the Government of Japan provided technical assistance to the Ministry to develop and test a farmer register, including collecting data from more than 20,000 farmers and using artificial intelligence-based monitoring tools. These achievements lay the foundation for scaling up the register nationwide and for sustainable, inclusive agricultural management in line with EU standards. // 13.11.2025 – InfoMarket.
