Country Programme (2007-2011/2012) evaluation - UNFPA Moldova

Stakeholders highly appreciated the usefulness of the related training that UNFPA had so far supported.
The MLSPF would welcome extending gender-related training across the public service in Moldova,
particularly to staff in Ministries and with local multi-disciplinary teams dealing with DV cases in
communities. It is needed to also extend beyond training to changes in organizational structures, work
systems and the capacity of the organizations themselves. Changing attitudes regardinggender-related
issues is not easy. It will take time as patriarchal behaviour is likely to be entrenched and gender
promotion may be perceived as a challenge to traditional male roles.
While a needs assessment has not yet been undertaken, separate discussions with the MLSPF, the UNFPA
and members of the Government Counterpart Evaluation Group suggested that there are only a limited
number of government institutions and staff that already have knowledge and skills in gender equality
analysis and gender mainstreaming. Beyond supporting attitudinal change, it is obvious that capacity
development in Ministries is now needed to help build the necessary research, analytical and policy
development skills related to gender issues that will assist government in progressing all national
strategies and plans regarding UNFPA’s areas of concern.
It is important when supporting capacity development in gender to overcome any unfounded assumptions
regarding gender that policy-makers might have, for example, that the interests of women are always the
same as men. Policy analysis has to include analysis using a gender lens. This approach is crucial to
health policies, aging and pension system reforms, and education and poverty reduction.
The UNFPA CP has contributed considerably to strengthening the capacity building of its partners. This
evaluation found that in most partner institutions “gender change agents” are already in place and thus
their major task may become more explicit, with regard to influencing change towards the
institutionalization of theHuman Rights Based Approach and Gender (HRBA and GE). However, partners
still seem to not be fully acquainted with gender mainstreaming. This highlights the importance of the
next stepsof the CP, which have to be focused on capacity building in HRBA and GM out of the
accomplishment of their specific professional trainings. In some institutions, it was obvious that it must
begin with sensitization on gender as many representatives still have a stereotyped idea about this concept
(such as equating gender to women).
UNFPA Moldova has a good partnership with civil society in Moldova (NGOs, media and academic
groups), but the most fruitful collaboration is established with non-governmental organizations. Thus, up
to 10 NGOs(in Chisinau and the regions) are UNFPA’s partners on a systematic basis. NGOs enjoyed a
very friendly environment working within UNFPA and its activities have played a major role in
strengthening CSO’s capacities, especially those from communities (e.g. Law Centre in Causeni,
“Artemida” Association in Drochia, etc.), by facilitating a series of trainings and seminars and workshops
on many topics related to gender discrimination, and particularly on gender-based violence.
Box 3: CSO work on Gender
UNFPA Moldova Extended Country Programme (2007-2011/12)
Outcome Evaluation
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