The model of engaging diaspora in local development is successfully adopted by the Government of the Republic of Moldova at the national level thought Diaspora Succeeds at Home “DAR 1+3” Program. Implemented in 2020 by the State Chancellery, through the Bureau for Diaspora Relations (BDR), it focuses on mobilising diaspora’s human and financial potential for the local socio-economic development of the country.

With funding of Switzerland, UNDP helped establish the first hometown associations since 2015, which proved that diaspora can contribute to the development of their home communities. This pilot served as a basis for the adoption of the Government Decision No 801/2018 on the approval and implementation of the Diaspora Succeeds at Home “DAR 1+3” Program.

“Adopting a model related to Diaspora, Migration and Development by the Government of the Republic of Moldova is a national success given that about a quarter of the country's population is abroad. DAR 1+3 Program provides an opportunity for thousands of Moldovans to contribute to the development of their home communities and to create better living conditions for those back home,” says Caroline Tissot, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in the Republic of Moldova.

To continue supporting hometown associations and local authorities in engaging diaspora in local development, UNDP and Switzerland, as development partners, will support 12 out of those 42 projects submitted, based on 1+3 formula (Government + local public authorities + development partners + hometown associations).

"With this invaluable partnership with Switzerland and the Government of Republic of Moldova, we succeeded to create an impactful model of engaging migrants in local development of the country and enhancing social cohesion. It is a milestone to see that this is now scaled up at the national level, through the DAR 1 + 3 Program. With this continued collaboration, we are delighted to support 12 additional initiatives meant to improve livelihoods, create decent jobs and instill a sense of hope, so much needed as we strive to contain the pandemic and its unprecedented impacts," stated Dima Al-Khatib, UNDP Resident Representative for the Republic of Moldova.

Those 12 projects supported under “DAR 1+3” National Program have a total budget of more than MDL 7.9 million. The financial contribution of UNDP and Switzerland is of MDL1.3 million, accounting for 16% of the total amount offered by development partners for all DAR 1+3 projects. The initiatives target interventions in areas such as waste management, street lighting, public infrastructure for sport and leisure.

“The Government of the Republic of Moldova, through the Bureau for Diaspora Relations, is pleased to provide MDL 10 million as support for the initiatives of diaspora representatives and local authorities. Thus, we thus bring diaspora closer home through tangible and useful things done for 42 communities in the country,” says Valeriu Turea, head of BDR.

During 2015-2019, UNDP’s project “Migration and Local Development”, funded by Switzerland, supported over 80 hometown associations that contributed to local projects with over $331,000, as well as by transferring knowledge, technologies, skills and know-how accumulated abroad. Currently, there are over 200 hometown associations in the Republic of Moldova that aim to develop their communities in partnership with local public authorities.

For more information, please contact: Tatiana Solonari, Communications Specialist, “Migration and Local Development” UNDP Project, tatiana.solonari@undp.org, phone: 0693 77 215,  022-820-840.