Assessment on Roma and Gender Issues Tender, Moldova - 108206653

Procurement Summary

Country : Moldova

Summary : Assessment on Roma and Gender Issues

Deadline : 03 Oct 2024

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Notice Type : Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 108206653

Document Ref. No. : 0002011461

Competition : ICB

Financier : World Bank (WB)

Purchaser Ownership : Public

Tender Value : Refer Document

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Tender Details

Expression of Interest are invited for Assessment on Roma and Gender Issues - MOLDOVA.

Publication Date: 09/23/2024 12:00 AM EDT

EOI Deadline: 10/03/2024 11:59 PM EDT

1.1 Roma vulnerabilities in Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia

Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine have made important strides in poverty reduction in the past decade. The share of the population below the upper-middle-income countries (UMIC) poverty line of USD 6.85 in 2017 purchasing power parity (PPP) dropped from 69 to 55 percent in Georgia, 27 to 14 percent in Moldova, and 12 to 7 percent in Ukraine.[i]

However, significant challenges persist, particularly exacerbated by Russia-s invasion of Ukraine. Economic and infrastructural disparities disproportionately affect the most vulnerable segments of the population in these countries. Ethnic minorities, rural inhabitants, and those economically disadvantaged often remain marginalized in development efforts. In Ukraine, the invasion has led to significant job and income losses, diminished purchasing power, and substantial asset losses, especially among the most vulnerable groups. The war has resulted in the displacement of 13.5 million people within Ukraine and across Europe, with millions losing their homes.[ii] In Moldova, the war has posed significant challenges to the economy, with projections indicating that over 11, 000 people may fall below the poverty line as a result.[iii] Meanwhile, in Georgia, the impact of the war has been somewhat offset by positive economic factors.

Available data confirms that Roma represent the most socially disadvantaged national minorities in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, facing similar challenges in all three countries. Roma communities face pervasive poverty, difficulties in accessing fundamental rights such as obtaining identity documents, and restricted availability of essential services. Many reside in substandard housing conditions, with insufficient access to healthcare and minimal social or administrative support. They frequently encounter educational discrimination, contributing to widespread illiteracy and diminished opportunities in adult life, compounded by discrimination on the labor market. In Moldova, for example, the employment rate among the Roma population is about seven times lower than in the general population (6.4 percent versus 40.9 percent).[iv] Persistent prejudice and stereotypes exacerbate these challenges, often leading to their broader discrimination and societal exclusion.[v] In both Georgia and Ukraine, the lack of proper documentation is particularly pervasive among Roma. In Ukraine, for example, an estimated 4 to 8 percent of the Roma population struggles with the absence of identification documents[vi] impeding access to essential services like education and healthcare due to challenges in obtaining legal documents such as identity cards and birth certificates.[vii]

Vulnerabilities experienced by Roma were exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees and host communities in Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine. As many as 100, 000 Roma could have left Ukraine as of June 2022, [viii] but about half may have returned. Roma displaced by Russia-s invasion of Ukraine and their host communities are encountering interconnected challenges. Ukrainian IDPs experience more significant hardships than the general populace or those who have returned, with a higher need for cash support (75 percent), greater food insecurity, and housing solutions (17 percent).[ix] Concurrently, Roma communities serving as hosts in Ukraine or in neighboring countries face increased strain on their already limited basic infrastructure and social services.

1.2 Roma women-s compounded vulnerabilities across three countries

Roma women in particular are confronted with multiple vulnerabilities because they face “double discrimination”: first, when women are discriminated against based on ethnic grounds in the society at large, and, second, when they face discrimination and exclusion based on patriarchal attitudes in their own Roma communities. Roma culture, while rich and diverse, has its own gender norms and dynamics that play a significant role in shaping the experiences of Roma women. Traditional roles and expectations within the community contribute to constraints on women-s opportunities, undermining their access to education, employment, and decision-making processes. At the same time, Roma communities consistently face socio-economic challenges that disproportionately affect women. Limited access to quality education, healthcare, and employment opportunities perpetuates a cycle of poverty and restricts the agency of Roma women. Finally, Roma women often contend with deeply ingrained negative stereotypes and prejudices perpetuated by mainstream societies in all three countries, which not only contribute to discriminatory practices but also influence the self-perception and opportunities available to Roma women.

In all three countries, lack of employment opportunities and economic hardship are more acute among Roma women than among Roma men. In Moldova, for example, the employment rate of Roma women is even lower (16 percent) being about 2.7 times lower than that of non-Roma women (43 percent) and about 1.8 times than that of Roma men (28 percent).[x] In Ukraine, pre-war estimates of the Roma employment rate in Ukraine range from 22 percent to 38 percent, with a lower employment rate among Roma women.[xi] Prior to the escalation of the war, Roma women and men experienced discrimination in the labour market. The lack of civil status documentation and low education levels particularly among Roma women diminishes their ability to secure employment, with the conflict only further exacerbating the existing discrimination. Given that men are traditionally the main breadwinners in Roma families, unemployment among men directly affects Roma women as well in terms of family income.[xii]



Roma women also encounter discrimination and low access levels to health care services across all three countries. They face discrimination in hospitals and other health care institutions.[xiii] In Georgia, Roma women report that they are mostly ignored at medical facilities and do not use them because they are being discriminated against. In particular, they report not being admitted to maternity wards.[xiv] In Ukraine, this challenge is exacerbated by the war which also negatively affects access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH), including family planning and maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH).[xv]



Educational attainment outcomes among Roma women are also low in Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia. Roma women face significant gender inequalities in education in Moldova.[xvi] According to the Council of Europe from 2018, there is a direct correlation between poverty and the low level of education of the Roma population. In Moldova, for example, it has been estimated that 47 percent of Roma children between the ages of 7 and 15 have not been enrolled in school. Roma girls are disproportionately affected, with the result that only 63 percent of Roma women aged 16 to 24 have an education, compared to 99 percent of non-Roma women in that age group. In Moldova, dropout rates for individuals 9 to 17 years old was 48 percent for Roma boys, 56 percent for Roma girls (7 percent for non-Roma boys and 16 percent for non-Roma girls)[xvii]. Detrimental social norms among Roma youth, financial deprivation, and lack of parents- encouragement in Roma communities may influence gender segregation in education and school retention that undermines Roma girls- retention in schools.[xviii] Roma women and girls from Ukraine who were already disadvantaged in terms of access to schooling face further challenges that will have long-term effects on their access to opportunities, including livelihoods and services.[xix] The majority of Roma women in Georgia are illiterate. Research on Roma women in Georgia highlighted that they would like to learn a profession to help them find better-paying jobs but have difficulties in accessing vocational education for various reasons related to location and financial constraints.[x]


Roma women-s voice and agency as reflected by their ability to make independent decisions, participate in public life, and be free of violence has also faced significant challenges. The Roma women in these countries have also faced difficulties in participation in decision-making structures, including in leadership roles. A rapid gender analysis in Ukraine revealed that women are key players in all activities related to conflict and humanitarian response in Ukraine, but they are not represented in decision-making structures relevant to conflict responses. Therefore, their needs, voices, and concerns are largely overlooked.[xi] Roma women in Georgia, for example, do not participate in public life due to very low levels of education and illiteracy. They also do not vote as they consider the state to be ignorant of their problems.[xii] Gender-based violence (GBV) among Roma women is pervasive in all three countries. In Moldova, for example, almost 40 percent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence, while the incidence of violence is even higher among Roma women and other vulnerable groups.[xiii] Roma women in Georgia recognize domestic violence but do not usually report cases to law enforcement or to the local authorities.[xiv]



Forced displacement caused by the war in Ukraine has compounded Roma women-s vulnerabilities. The data confirm that the impact of the war is particularly disproportionate for doubly marginalized groups such as Roma women.[xv] In October 2022, a Regional Gender Task Force found that Roma and stateless women along with pregnant and breastfeeding women, young single women, and women from minority groups are particularly vulnerable to prot

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