The Project was implemented during the period October 2005 – April 2008 in direct partnership with Sida and Moldovan relevant authorities – Ministry of Interior (Bureau on Migration and Asylum), Ministry of Economy and Trade (Migration Policies Division and National Employment Agency), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (Department of Consular Affairs), also benefiting of other agencies’ contribution such as Ministry of Informational Development, Ministry of Social Protection, Family and Child, Border Guards Service, etc. A special project component on International Refugee Law trainings was implemented in close cooperation with UNHCR in Moldova and the Swedish Migration Board.

The Project established the main premises for the creation and functioning of the Integrated Informational Automated System "Migration and Asylum" according to the respective Concept approved by the Government. For ensuring a sustainable and efficient use of the new System, IOM Moldova organized specialized trainings and study tours in several EU countries to offer to representatives of the migration management agencies practical training and exposure to successful application of informational systems and data bases for migration case processing.

At the same time the Project contributed to enhancement of the relevant analytical skills of the state institutions’ staff for development of migration policies through involvement in various trainings on policies development, as well as for improving their knowledge of the country’s current migration trends through the results of two important studies conducted on migration and remittances and links with the Moldovan communities abroad.

Other important directions of the Project have targeted human resources development, improvement of the technical infrastructure, development of knowledge and skills in the field of International Migration and Refuge Law, as well as making some proposals for adjusting the Moldovan legal framework in the migration area to the international standards.

The Project also contributed essentially to the fostering of the negotiation of bilateral social security agreements between Moldova and EU countries by training Moldovan negotiators in this field and facilitating visits for concrete negotiation of such pilot agreements with three EU countries – Bulgaria, Portugal and Czech Republic.

Moldovan Government highly appreciated the Project results. All its activities have been aligned to the overall State’s efforts for implementation of the relevant provisions of the EU-Moldova Action Plan, as well as other relevant Moldovan policy documents such as National Action Program in the field of Migration and Asylum, National Program on Moldovan Diaspora Support, etc. which will certainly contribute to proliferation of the beneficial effects of migration over the economic and social development of the country.

For more information, please find attached the info sheet “Building Capacity for Better Migration Management”. You can also contact IOM Moldova Media Assistant, Rodica Okani, tel: 23 29 40 (ext. 131), e-mail: rokani@iom.int, and Project Assistant, Alexandru Mocanu, tel: 23 29 40 (ext. 132), e-mail: amocanu@iom.int