heks

HEKS began working in the Republic of Moldova in 2004. Initially the geographical focus was on the north of the country. In the meantime Moldova has become a HEKS primary-focus country. Since 2008 HEKS has been working in both the north and the south of the country.

Moldova is Europe's poorest country. Since Romania joined the EU. The traditional close contact with that neighbouring country has been under strain, and Moldova has been growing increasingly isolated. The Moldovan Government has been manoeuvring carefully between Europe and Russia in political and economic terms.

One of the biggest challenges facing the Republic of Moldova is the high level of labour migration abroad. Owing to the adverse economic situation at home, some 30 per cent of the population work abroad, often under poor and illegal conditions. This massive outflow of labour is confronting the country with a myriad of social and economic problems.

HEKS is striving to improve the social and economic lot of the population by means of selective interventions.

Aims, points of focus, initiatives:

HEKS is helping to improve the living conditions in rural areas in one southern and one northern region of Moldova. This calls for interventions at various levels: HEKS is supporting farmers in improving production and marketing by offering training and advice, encouraging better organisation amongst producers as well as improved access to investment loans. Support is also being provided for the social and economic integration of disadvantaged population groups and the strengthening of civil society.

The following priorities were laid out in the 2012-2015 country aid strategy:

• Promotion of farms and small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) by building agricultural schools, providing advice, building up producer organisations, promoting market access, and promoting access to loans.
• Improving access to investment loans, strengthening of rural savings and loan associations
• Integrating young people from rural communities into the local labour market
• Putting in place and developing a rural home care service
• Mobilising rural communities primarily in the north to improve their infrastructure such as schools and kindergartens.