According to the second Impact Monitoring Survey of the NIAS, the level of intolerance to corruption has increased, but it is difficult to assess the extent of the UNDP contribution to this, as multiple factors and partners have contributed.73 Furthermore, corruption remains widespread, and the issues of trust in public institutions and perceptions of their independence persist and require systemic reforms.74 The sustainability of mechanisms and practices for youth, CSOs and other partners to engage with national and local authorities in anticorruption activities remains a point of concern, and additional external support is required.75 UNDP anticorruption work predominantly focuses on prevention, alongside the work of other partners to strengthen mechanisms for the investigation and prosecution of corrupt officials. As UNDP observes in its annual report, some NAC recommendations were not adopted, resulting in significant budget losses, but enforcing such recommendations requires strong political will.76 By prioritizing technical solutions to justice and anticorruption reforms, including infrastructure and equipment, UNDP missed opportunities to deepen and broaden the reforms and advance alternative justice solutions, pursue systemic crime-prevention and further strengthen a culture of rule of law and integrity by generating broader social support. This would require stronger civic education, awareness-raising activities and the empowerment of key non-governmental actors in justice system and anticorruption reforms.77
2.2 Sustainable and Inclusive Growth CPD Outcome 2. The people of Moldova, especially the most vulnerable, have access to enhanced livelihood opportunities, decent work and productive employment, generated by sustainable, inclusive and equitable economic growth.
Under Outcome 2, UNDP implemented 24 projects, one with an overall budget over $20 million, three of $10-20 million, one of $6-10 million, and two of $3-6 million. UNDP work within the sustainable and inclusive growth portfolio focused on the creation of sustainable, inclusive and green jobs, and the development of integrity-based business, transparent, accountable, efficient and inclusive service provision, and equal and equitable access to economic opportunities. By supporting the Government to implement its employment strategy, UNDP contributes to improving the enabling environment for formal, innovative employment and decent green jobs, catalysing investment for sustainable and resilient livelihoods throughout the country, including across the conflict divide. Some projects focus on enhancing the accessibility and quality of
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62 percent of the population (45 percent in 2017) and 83 percent of businesses (61 percent in 2017) consider any corruption situation to be unacceptable, see UNDP (2019) National Integrity and Anticorruption Strategy Impact Monitoring Survey: https:// www.md.undp.org/content/moldova/en/home/library/effective_governance/studiu-de-evaluare-a-impactului-strategiei-naionalede-integrita0.html. Ibid. 4.7 percent of businesses (3.6 percent in 2017) admitted to paying informal payments when interacting with public institutions. In 2019, UNDP provided a small grant to IDIS Viitorul NGO for shadow monitoring of the Anticorruption Sector Action Plan in Public Procurement. Currently IDIS is implementing the Project Increasing the Integrity of Public Procurement in Moldova through Cooperation with Civil Society funded by Partnership for Transparency Fund. Such additional support may be needed to promote the sustainability of extensive anticorruption efforts implemented by UNDP. UNDP (2021) Annual Report, “Curbing Corruption by Building Sustainable Integrity in the Republic of Moldova (NAC II)”. UNDP emphasizes the importance of transparency and social accountability as key elements in the fight against corruption and identifies a number of effective strategies that include improving citizens’ monitoring and government responsiveness, particularly through the use of ICTs and enhancing dialogue and collaborative efforts between citizens: https://anti-corruption.org/themes/ human-rights-transparency-accountability.
Chapter 2. Findings
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