The Republic of Moldova obtained EU candidate status in June 2022 and in September 2022 the Government approved its national development strategy “European Moldova 2030”. As part of this, data and the national statistical system will provide the necessary information in tracking the progress towards EU accession and overall development of the country. Census is the main pillar of a national statistical system and the upcoming population and housing census, scheduled for 2024, will offer the latest and most comprehensive overview of Moldova’s status-quo and will form the foundation for moving towards a register-based data system. This is in alignment with the Law on Census approved by Parliament in July 2022 and Strategy for Development of Statistical System 2030.

Therefore, the Overall objective – Impact of this project is to improve institutional capacity of NBS in preparation and conducting of the 2024 census, with two Specific Objectives – Outcome, as follows:
1. The software and hardware ICT infrastructure of NBS is improved with innovative technologies in census mainstreamed.
2. Methodological, operational, technical and communication tools for preparation of the population and housing census are enhanced.

Overall objective – Impact: Institutional capacity of NBS in preparation and conducting of the 2024 census is improved.

Specific Objective – Outcome 1. The software and hardware ICT infrastructure of NBS is improved with innovative technologies in census mainstreamed.

Specific Objective – Outcome 2. Methodological, operational, technical and communication tools for preparation of the population and housing census are enhanced.

Outcome 1.
1.1. Software for field data collection and the census module of the Informational System on Demographic and Social Statistics are operational and able to use a mix of data sources for the population and housing census.
1.2. The hardware ICT infrastructure of NBS to facilitate field data collection is upgraded.

Outcome 2.
2.1. New statistical data collection methods tested and applied at pilot census and used at enumeration stage of the census, including in gender equality related topics.
2.2. The capacities of NBS staff, enumerators, and other census-engaged personnel on the use of administrative data, multimodal data collection and matching of different data sources, along with field data collection are improved.
2.3. Public awareness campaigns on pilot enumeration and full census data collection to increase population’s engagement in the population and housing census conducted.