New Vienna Development Cooperation flagship project in the Republic of Moldova

The City of Vienna has been implementing a new flagship project on vocational training in the Republic of Moldova in cooperation with Caritas Austria since November 2024. The vocational qualification project will run for three years and will be funded with a total of EUR 1,200,000.00.

The project entitled "Your Job Moldova" is aimed at particularly vulnerable young job seekers in the greater Chisinau area. They are to be integrated directly into the labor market of the Republic of Moldova through various project activities. On the one hand, the beneficiaries are given individual advice, further training and support in the application process, and on the other hand, companies and their managers are motivated to hire people from the target group.

Field of action 1

The first target group are young job seekers from Chisinau and the surrounding area. 29 percent of young people between the ages of 16 and 34 are not in school, training or employed. Therefore, career guidance and advice will be provided for 1,500 people, including 60 percent women, 10 percent returnees, 10 percent people with disabilities and 10 percent Ukrainian refugees. The target group is therefore highly needy and diverse.

Further professional qualifications and vocational training measures will be provided for 750 people.

100 professional internship places and 180 internship places in companies will also be created. To ensure that there are no barriers to access to advice and qualification measures, childcare will be set up for 120 women with small children. A further 60 people will receive vocational training (e.g. IT training with a degree). A group of 73 participants will be provided with work equipment (e.g. tools) to enable them to pursue their profession independently.

Field of action 2

50 companies will be recruited as cooperation partners to enable young people to be trained. Capacity building, information events, mentoring programs, structural adaptations for people with disabilities and job fairs will be carried out together with the companies.

Field of action 3

As an investment in infrastructure, a Youth Empowerment Training Center will be set up to prepare young people for the job market through comprehensive vocational training and the teaching of soft skills. This center will offer young people targeted vocational training and skills development in the areas of information technology, cosmetics and health. In addition, three people will be financially supported and advised in founding a start-up company. This financial support comes from Caritas' own resources.