Multi-country evaluation of the UNICEF Early Childhood Development response to COVID-19 in Europe and Central Asia region: Moldova Country Case Study

The evaluation’s overarching purpose was to provide UNICEF Country Offices (COs), UNICEF ECA Regional Office (RO), and national governments and partners with a critical assessment of the key adaptations made in UNICEF’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes in the Europe and Central Asia region to meet the needs of young children and families in the context of COVID-19. The secondary purposes were to: (i) generate insight to inform further development of the evaluated ECD activities and (ii) provide evidence to inform future ECD efforts in similar emergencies. The evaluation was carried out in four countries, including Moldova.

The evaluation focused on interventions that were introduced directly in response to COVID-19 or adapted to its realities; entailed capacity building or information support for frontline workers; and were viewed by a given UNICEF CO as useful to have feedback on for future programming. The evaluation entailed an in-depth assessment of three interventions: 1. COVID-19 response for women and their children in 12 perinatal centers from the Republic of Moldova; 2. Strengthening capacities of preschool staff, parents, and LPAs to ensure a state of preparedness and response to COVID-19 pandemic; 3. Social Inclusion of Roma Children and Children with Disabilities in the Western Balkans. Desk research-based assessment concerned two additional interventions: 1. Development of Early Intervention (EI) Services for young children with developmental delays and disabilities at the regional level; and 2. Preventing and Responding to COVID-19 in selected countries in Europe and Central Asia (with hygiene-related supplies, prevention awareness-raising and capacity building activities for children, teachers, frontline workers, parents, caregivers, and LPAs’ representatives). All selected interventions were assessed with the view to their relevance, effectiveness, and sustainability.