UNICEF Donates Assistive Technologies to Support Children with Disabilities in Moldova
On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, UNICEF, in partnership with the Global Partnership for Education, announced the procurement of a lot of nearly 500 assistive devices for children with visual and hearing impairments. The initiative aims to strengthen support for children with special educational needs across Moldova.
Children with sensorial disabilities—whether visual or hearing impairments—are in a unique position, as technology offers practical, effective solutions that can fully integrate them into educational and social environments.
The lot, with a total value of $180 thousand (more than MDL 3 million Moldovan) includes advanced tools for children with hearing and visual impairments, such as Braille typewriters, video magnifiers, screen-reading software, and adapted keyboards. These devices are part of the “Digital Innovations in Moldova’s Educational System” Program, designed to enhance inclusivity in education and funded by the Global Partnership for Education.
“Ensuring that children with disabilities have access to education is key to unlocking their potential and advancing societal progress,” said Mohamed Yassine, Education Specialist at the Global Partnership for Education.
The European Union is a significant contributor to the Global Partnership for Education, collectively providing over half of its contributions through “Team Europe,” which includes the EU and its member states.
“The EU and its Member States is the largest contributor to the Global Partnership for Education Fund. We pledged €700 million for the 2021–2027 period to contribute to a more inclusive education, particularly for girls, refugees, and children in fragile contexts,” said Jānis Mažeiks, the Ambassador of the European Union in Moldova. “As Moldova progresses on its path toward EU integration, fostering a resilient and inclusive education system is essential. By investing in education, including for children with disabilities, we are not only promoting individual potential. Also, we are empowering Moldova’s future workforce to contribute to the green and digital transitions that will define Europe’s collective future.”
Moldova has committed to the principles outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which marked its 35th anniversary this year. This donation also reflects the nation’s dedication to fulfilling these obligations and advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which emphasises leaving no one behind.
The procurement of the assistive technology follows a detailed assessment of the needs of educational institutions supporting children with special educational needs, including Republican Center for Psycho-Pedagogical Assistance, Psycho-Pedagogical Assistance Services, Inclusive Education Resource Centers, and general schools.
About Global Partnership for Education (GPE)
GPE Multiplier is the largest global fund solely dedicated to transforming education in lowerincome countries, and a unique, multi-stakeholder partnership. GPE works to deliver quality education so that every girl and boy can have hope, opportunity and agency
About Team Europe
Team Europe (TE) brings together the EU, its Member States and their diplomatic network, finance institutions and implementing organizations, as well as the EIB and the EBRD. The Team Europe approach is a way of strengthening coordination, coherence and complementarities of actions to scale up European impact and raise Europe as partner of reference.
