Market Systems Analysis for the honey and berry value chains in Moldova

Financed by the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the ILO is conducting two Market Systems Analyses (MSA) which actionable results aim to stimulate sustainable development in the honey and berry value chains in Moldova. The project’s overall development objective is to understand the market constraints that limit job creation, better incomes and business performance, and to identify a set of evidence-informed actions that address and remove those constraints. The project contributes to Moldova’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, with particular emphasis on SDG targets 8.2 and 8.5. In Moldova, agriculture is still an important source of income and a main driver of exports. According to a report by the World Bank, the country has only partially completed its structural transformation towards a higher productivity and skills intensive economy: In 2000, the agricultural sector contributed 23 percent of the country’s GDP and 50 percent of all jobs; in 2018, the sector accounted for only 10 percent of the GDP and still 32 percent of total employment. In Moldova, the honey and berry value chains offer promising opportunities for local employment development and talent retention for rural transformation. Honey demand is continuously growing, with the European Union being the largest consumer worldwide while reporting decreasing internal production. Also berry production has become more popular in the country, with the Government heavily subsidizing this value chain. Both honey and berry value chains have potential to grow but also constraints that hinder them from growing. Through the MSA methodology, the project team will explore the root causes that hinder growth in both these value chains. By understanding the constraints, the ILO will design interventions that help enterprises overcome obstacles and lead to more inclusive and sustainable growth. The goal is to create new employment opportunities for women, either through entrepreneurship, or through enterprises with additional capacities to employ new workers.

Project symbol

MDA/20/01/GBR

Admin unit

DWT/CO-Budapest

Start date

01/10/2020

End date

31/03/2021

Total allocation

64227

Total expenditure

Status

Closed

64041

Development Partners

United Kingdom/UK-Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office

Country/Countries

Republic of Moldova

Outcomes

Outcome 4: Sustainable enterprises as generators of employment and promoters of innovation and decent work