Integration of the Ethnic Ukrainian Community into Moldova's European Future

     Ethnic Ukrainian communities in northern Moldova—mainly located in rural and economically disadvantaged areas—remain underrepresented in national development frameworks and largely excluded from key government and donor programs. Local public authorities often lack the institutional capacity and access to development financing to address community needs or engage in Moldova’s EU integration process.

     In 2024, NCUM conducted an assessment revealing that over 50,000 residents from Ukrainian-background communities lived in municipalities not integrated into national planning. In response, NCUM launched the project “Integration of the Ethnic Ukrainian Community into Moldova’s European Future”, targeting 17 mayors across 33 municipalities. The initiative focused on building their capacity to participate in regional development, access external funding, and align local priorities with Moldova’s EU accession agenda.

     The project catalyzed a coordinated and data-driven response to long-standing development disparities affecting Ukrainian minority communities. Historically oriented toward eastern markets and often excluded from Moldova’s modern reform and development pathways, these municipalities gained the tools to re-engage with national priorities and regional development opportunities. Through tailored capacity development and sustained mentoring, participating LPAs improved their ability to conduct needs assessments, draft development proposals, and navigate Moldova’s evolving funding landscape. For the first time, Ukrainian-background municipalities formally organized themselves through the Council of Ukrainian Mayors of Northern Moldova, creating a permanent platform for joint planning, advocacy, and engagement with national authorities and donors. The project enabled tangible improvements in local governance performance and laid the groundwork for advancing several community-led development initiatives, including rehabilitation of local infrastructure, establishment of economic partnerships and local value chains, as well as development of digitalization and green energy planning at municipal level.

     The initiative was implemented with the support of USAID Moldova, which provided both financial assistance and technical expertise. The European Union Delegation to Moldova also contributed to institutional capacity development, including the facilitation of expert-led training sessions. These partnerships were instrumental in integrating Ukrainian-background municipalities into national and EU-aligned development processes.

     The project was grounded in direct consultations with local authorities and community representatives from Ukrainian minority areas. A baseline study conducted at inception assessed disparities in access to services, infrastructure, and economic opportunities, informing the development of tailored local action plans.

     All development proposals supported under the project were co-developed with local stakeholders to ensure responsiveness to community needs. This inclusive approach strengthened accountability, increased local ownership, and contributed to enhanced trust between community members and public authorities.