UNICEF launches digital platform in Moldova

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in partnership with the “Nicolae Testemițanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, the Mother and Child Institute, and the National Early Childhood Intervention Institute “Voinicel,” under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, has launched the Guide “Recommended Practices in Early Intervention” and the digital platform LearnECD—tools designed to support early childhood development and strengthen early intervention services in the Republic of Moldova.

The event took place at USMF and gathered over 100 participants, including representatives of authorities, academia, partner organizations, international experts, and professionals from the fields of health, education, and social protection, CE Report quotes MOLDPRES.

The launch of these two resources took place in the context of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2024 between UNICEF and USMF, a document that outlines cooperation for strengthening the competencies of students, residents, and medical workers in child development. The LearnECD platform will be integrated into initial and continuous training programs, contributing to diversifying educational tools dedicated to specialists.

Dorina Savoschin, head of the Mother and Child Health Service within the Ministry of Health, stated that the authorities continue to develop early intervention services in accordance with Government Decision No. 816/2016 and are investing in opening new centers so that specialized support becomes accessible to all families.

The “Recommended Practices in Early Intervention” guide, developed by the European Association “EurlyAid” and adapted by UNICEF together with INITC “Voinicel” specialists, provides practical guidelines for professionals and promotes transdisciplinary collaboration between the health, education, and social protection sectors.

The LearnECD platform, developed by UNICEF’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia and adapted to the national context with support from the Mother and Child Institute and the Pediatrics Society, offers 32 free evidence-based online training modules for specialists in health, early education, and child protection.

“Families must know that support is available, and professionals must feel prepared and confident to collaborate across sectors, because early intervention works only when systems act together around the child and the family,” said Maha Damaj, UNICEF Representative in the Republic of Moldova.

The guide and the LearnECD platform align with the 2024–2027 National Plan for Expanding Early Intervention Services and contribute to creating a coordinated, family-centered system in which institutions in health, education, and social protection work together to ensure specialized support for young children and their families.