Success Story: Women Empowerment Project in the Republic of Moldova

• Europe
• 22 Oct 24
• 24 Oct 24

In Partnership With:

Ministry of Culture of Republic of Moldova; Invest Moldova Agency; Moldova State University, USAID Moldova

Context

The project on "Empowering Young Women: Sustainable Livelihoods through Tourism in the Republic of Moldova" was successfully completed in June 2024.  Project components included a rapid assessment on gender equality in tourism and the necessary training needs, a Training of Trainers course for 5 female trainers specialized in gender equality, the delivery of 11 tourism skills training to 256 female entrepreneurs on topics ranging from food safety and hygiene to financial management and digital marketing; and 4 online courses on tourism and gender equality to a group of 47 tourism stakeholders.

Highlights

International Recognition at Economic Conference
From October 24–25, 2024, the project's successes were showcased at the International Conference on Modern Paradigms in the Development of the National and World Economy, organized by Moldova State University. The event attracted over 120 participants from 17 countries, including representatives from 27 educational institutions and various tourism associations.

This platform allowed for the dissemination of the project's impactful results to a global audience, highlighting how empowering women in tourism can drive economic development and foster social progress. The conference underscored Moldova's commitment to sustainable tourism and gender equality, positioning the country as a leader in these fields.

Building Strategic Partnerships for Future Growth
Capitalizing on the project's momentum, UN Tourism engaged in strategic discussions with key stakeholders to explore opportunities for further collaboration:

• Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova: Meetings with the State Secretary reaffirmed the project's success as a robust foundation for ongoing partnerships. Plans were discussed to expand technical assistance and identify potential partners and donors to support future initiatives in sustainable tourism and women's empowerment.
• UN Resident Agencies in Moldova: Productive dialogues with UNDP, UNDRR, IOM, and the UN Resident Coordinator's Office revealed strong alignment with UN Tourism's mission. These sister agencies expressed enthusiasm for a holistic, multi-agency approach to future projects, aiming to maximize impact through collaboration.
• USAID Moldova and Chemonics International: Discussions with directors from Chemonics, a local contractor for USAID, highlighted numerous areas for cooperation in developing sustainable tourism practices, emphasizing community engagement and economic development.

Exploring Critical Collaboration Areas
Specific meetings identified key areas for future collaboration:

• Tourism Crisis Management with UNDRR: Recognizing the importance of resilience, key discussions were held to enhance tourism crisis management and strengthen responses to natural disasters, safeguarding destinations and communities in Moldova and the broader region.
• Diaspora Engagement with IOM: Leveraging the potential of Moldova's diaspora, strategies were discussed to involve diaspora communities in sustainable tourism initiatives. This includes supporting migrants and returnees through tailored training and livelihood programs, fostering a stronger connection between the diaspora and their homeland.

Looking Ahead

The success of the "Empowering Young Women: Sustainable Livelihoods through Tourism" project marks a significant milestone in Moldova's journey toward sustainable development and gender equality. By equipping young women with vital skills and fostering strategic partnerships, the initiative has set a precedent for future projects that can drive economic growth and social advancement.

Stay Tuned

UN Tourism is committed to continuing its collaboration with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova and other partners to formulate a series of proposals, creating good opportunities to expand UN Tourism's work in the field of sustainable tourism development and women empowerment in the country.

Category tags