Human Capital and Equity in Moldova

Project title: Human Capital and Equity in Moldova;

Implementation period: July 3, 2009  – November 30, 2010;

Client: European Training Foundation;

Project goal: Assess human capital development process in Moldova - lifetime education, training and employment opportunities - against the social and economic development trends, identify key factors impeding an equitable development of human capital and of its efficient utilization and suggest key policy areas for intervention;

Main activities:

• Collected and analyzed large set of statistical data;
• Developed survey tools and conducted survey on initial education with 130 people;
• Developed survey tools and conducted survey on adult learning with 30 people;
• Developed tools and conducted two focus-groups with teachers, policy makers, business leaders and NGOs to appreciate current and perspectives of the human capital;
• Compiled a report on the level of development of human capital;
• Participated in a workshop in Turin to summarize with the ETF staff members the work's main conclusions;
• Prepared Policy Options for addressing the human capital development problems in Moldova;
• Organized a National Conference to present and discuss the project findings within a wider audience;
• Assisted the ETF staff to film a promotion video on the subject of Human Capital in Moldova;

Main outputs and outcomes:

• Study “Overview of the Relationship between Human Capital Development and Equity in Republic of Moldova”, authors Alex Oprunenco, Ana Popa and Adrian Lupusor, in Romanian and English languages;
• Study “Policy Options to improve the Human Capital Development”, authors Alex Oprunenco, Ana Popa, Valeriu Prohnitchi and Adrian Lupusor, in Romanian and English languages;
• Presentations given at the National Conference  “Human Capital Development and Equity in Republic of Moldova”  (June 10, 2010);
• A database with surveys and focus groups data;

Project impact:

The project highlighted main drawbacks and constraints that have affected the human capital development throughout the period since independence. The project was centered on three dimensions, which are critical for understanding relationship between human capital development and equity: access, choice and quality. The identified constraints transcend from the sphere of basic education to that of adult training. The project offered a balanced set of policy options needed to deal with the constraints hindering development of human capital in Moldova.