Economic Independence – The Key to Surviving and Preventing Gender-based

Economic Independence – The Key to Surviving and Preventing Gender-based



A woman preparing food in a kitchen
Angela Țîgan, from Hagimus village in the Căușeni district, grew up in an environment marked by domestic violence, which she also experienced in her first marriage. She firmly believes that there is always a way out of difficulties, but it becomes much more challenging if a woman lacks financial independence.

For some women, financial independence represents much more than just an income; it is the key to overcoming challenges, including avoiding or surviving gender-based violence. Many women in at-risk situations require both immediate and long-term counseling and support to achieve financial independence, particularly those living in rural areas or coming from environments where violence is deeply rooted.

"It felt like a breath of fresh air," describes Mariana Grosu from Soroca, reflecting on her experience of securing a job after her childcare leave. Mariana never anticipated how difficult it would be to find employment. Her university degree in finance and previous work experience seemed irrelevant once she mentioned having three young children. "I spent a year and a half looking for a job. They would tell me: We don't have any vacancies. We don't hire mothers with three children. We might consider those with one, but three—no," Mariana recalls.

"A mother is the one who cooks, educates, counsels, and teaches. When a woman works and has an income, she steps into the world. Staying at home makes her dependent on her husband," Mariana adds.

Through social media, she discovered that the "Dacia" Center could assist her in finding employment. Shortly after receiving counseling, Mariana secured a position as a salesperson in a neighborhood grocery store, where she describes feeling like she found a second family.
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Assisting women into employment - "no easy task"
Mariana is one of the 77 women, including refugees from Ukraine, assisted by local NGOs in finding employment as part of a project supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the German Government. In just nine months, the team at the "Dacia" Center helped 35 women from Soroca secure jobs. "It's not an easy job," says Stela Babici, the Center's administrator, emphasizing the significant effort required in managing relationships with both employers and beneficiaries. "What is certain is that when a woman gains financial independence, the community benefits as well."

Stela Babici believes that women from rural communities are the most affected, as job opportunities and services for women facing violence are limited in villages.

To ease the transition, the "Dacia" Center provided salary supplements for the first months of employment during the probation period. "This support, even just a few hundred lei, really makes a big difference. It helps women cover at least their transportation costs, especially those commuting from villages," explains Stela Babici. "It's much-needed assistance when you're in need," confirms Mariana, who benefited from this supplement.

"Almost all graduates have been employed"
Women who lack formal education, practical experience, or who wish to retrain have attended digital literacy courses or professional training. Since most potential employers in Soroca indicated a shortage of cooks, the team at the "Dacia" Center decided to organize specialized training. They partnered with the local vocational school, resulting in 20 individuals becoming certified cooks. "Almost all the graduates have been hired, by both public institutions—kindergartens and schools—and private businesses," states Stela Babici.

Employment assistance, career counseling, entrepreneurship courses, digital literacy, and business start-up support are all activities carried out with the backing of UNDP and the German Government. The project was executed in collaboration with four other local organizations in different regions of the country, involving mobile teams. These teams, composed of a lawyer, a psychologist, and a social worker, organized meetings with groups of women from violence-vulnerable backgrounds in rural areas, providing them with information on overcoming gender-based violence and achieving financial independence.

"A small income and the assurance that they can cover their basic needs"
"The idea of income-generating activities has gained significant traction in our district. Information about this possibility has been shared with all the town halls in the district," states Ludmila Afteni, the administrator of the "Tighina" Psychologists' Association in Căușeni, where another mobile team, supported by UNDP and Germany, was active. As a result, 30 women participated in entrepreneurship courses, and 10 of them received assistance in starting small businesses.

Given that employment opportunities are not always available in every locality, income-generating activities—also known as household-level businesses—were explored as alternatives.

Women were encouraged to engage in activities they could manage independently. "This allows women to have even a small income initially and the assurance that they can cover their family's basic needs with that money," explains Ludmila Afteni.

This is also true for Angela Țîgan from Hagimus village in the Căușeni district. "When a door opens, you become braver and see that you can achieve something on your own and not stop," Angela, a mother of four young children, reflects on the assistance she received in turning her passion for baking cakes into a small business that ensures her family's financial survival.

Angela, who grew up in an environment marked by domestic violence and faced similar challenges in her first marriage, believes that there is always a way out of difficulties, but it becomes more complicated if a woman is not financially independent. "Women in our villages face financial difficulties; in rural areas, it is even harder to find a job, which creates a barrier to taking a step to leave a relationship—you feel, as they say, tied up with your hands and feet."

Angela received the necessary equipment for her business while participating in entrepreneurship courses. "I realized I needed equipment to achieve better results. I really wanted this machine, and I was so happy; I felt positive emotions. The advice and guidance matter. When you don't know, you might make more mistakes, but when you're informed, you can avoid them. Initially, I was also afraid, wondering if everything would go well, but now I've overcome that. This motivates me to keep going and not stop here," Angela states.

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Economic security helps limit the source of abuse
The results of these initiatives manifest quickly and are transformative not only for the women involved and their families but also for other women around them who are encouraged to follow their example, according to Viorica Boșcanean, a psychologist with the mobile team from the "Tighina" Psychologists' Association. "Women who have received comprehensive assistance—those who have found jobs, started their own businesses, or attended training—are now more determined, stronger, and have developed or strengthened their decision-making capacity. The fact that they started earning their own income has also helped them limit the source of abuse," explains the psychologist.

Empowering women economically is crucial for giving them the chance to claim their rights, build a safe and dignified life, and contribute to the creation of resilient communities, explains Vitalie Frecăuțeanu, Project Coordinator at UNDP Moldova. "Financially independent women have greater opportunities to overcome situations of abuse and break the cycle of violence. This economic security can make the difference between vulnerability and survival, which is why it must be a central component of dedicated services, especially for supporting survivors of gender-based violence," concludes Vitalie Frecăuțeanu.

Violence against girls and women remains the most widespread and pervasive human rights violation globally, and the Republic of Moldova is no exception.

Gender-based violence can be prevented, and there is more evidence than ever about what works, with the economic empowerment of women being one of these solutions. The economic empowerment of women and girls continues to be a priority for UNDP, along with the initiatives developed in Moldova. The effort focuses on increasing access to resources, reducing social inequalities, and strengthening inclusive institutions. Through collaboration with the private sector, the goal is to expand financing opportunities, training, and support the development of skills needed for the future labor market, adapted to new technologies.
Edited;BOSMAN


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