Moldova in the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine

Citeste articolul in romana.

Norwegian support to the Republic of Moldova has been stepped up as a result of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Since the full-scale invasion, Moldova has faced a refugee crisis, an energy crisis, high inflation, and a demanding security situation. In addition, the negotiations on EU membership place demands on the country's government.

Through the Nansen Support Programme, Norway supports the Moldovan state in handling these crises and contributes to good governance, reforms and closer cooperation with the rest of Europe.

The Nansen Support Programme for Moldova:

A total of approximately NOK 2.1 billion / approx. EUR 181 million allocated to Moldova through the civilian part of the Nansen Support Programme, excluding Norwegian EEA support. 2025 are still preliminary figures. This article will be continuously updated.

 

Between 2022 and 2025, Norway has allocated approximately NOK 1.3 billion in long-term support to Moldova to strengthen energy security, resilience, as well as progress in European integration, reforms, and good governance.

In addition, Norway contributed a total of NOK 746 million to the humanitarian refugee response in Moldova over the same period. The support has been developed in close dialogue with Moldovan authorities. In 2025, the total Norwegian support to the Republic of Moldova amounted to NOK 500 million. 

For 2026, Norway has allocated NOK 350 million to support a stable, secure and democratic Moldova, as well as the country’s efforts toward European integration.  

Priority areas in Norway's efforts:

Energy
Good governance, democracy and reforms
Civil society, independent media, and countering disinformation
Education
Humanitarian Support

Energy 

Previously, Moldova was almost entirely dependent on Russian energy. Although this dependence has been significantly reduced in recent years, there remains a need to further strengthen energy independence, both through improved energy efficiency, better transmission capacity for electricity imports from EU countries, and increased investment in domestic renewable energy production. Independence from Russian energy has also led to higher energy prices. In winter 2025, nearly 150,000 vulnerable households received support from Norway via UNDP to compensate for heating expenses.

Norwegian support for increased energy efficiency in public and private buildings helps to reduce consumption, so that municipalities, the state, and private households pay less for electricity and heating. Through GIZ, Norway supports energy efficiency measures in smaller multi-apartment buildings as well as the replacement of inefficient household appliances. Furthermore, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), with support from Norway, is establishing a credit line with Moldovan banks to improve access for households to loans for energy efficiency improvements. Norway also supports the multi-donor fund E5P, which promotes green development in the public and municipal sectors in areas such as district heating, waste management, and infrastructure energy efficiency.

In 2023, Norway, in cooperation with EBRD, provided NOK 400 million to Moldova for the purchase of gas. This ensured a stable heating supply by allowing the state energy provider Energocom to buy gas at more favourable prices during the summer, thus avoiding further price increases for consumers. The Norwegian support and the EBRD loan together accounted for 73% of Moldova’s annual gas consumption in 2024.

Moldova is among the countries in Europe most affected by climate change. Norway, together with Sweden and UNDP, supports the preparedness of Moldovan local communities for climate change and climate-smart solutions for women-led small businesses. Support also goes to establishing the first renewable energy communities in Moldova, which represent a sustainable and decentralised solution for energy sharing.

In total, Norway provided NOK 186 million to the energy sector in Moldova in 2025.

Good governance, democracy and reforms 

EU membership negotiations demand significant reforms from the Moldovan authorities. Through the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine, Norway supports good governance reforms in Moldova and closer cooperation with the rest of Europe.

In 2023–2025, Norway allocated NOK 180 million to the World Bank’s multi-donor fund Moldova Growth, Resilience and Opportunities for Wellbeing (M-GROW), which provides Moldovan authorities with support for critical investments, improved competitiveness, strengthened institutions, and increased energy efficiency. Norway also supports reform efforts through the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Moldova, focusing on rule of law, democracy, and human rights. This support amounted to NOK 10 million in 2025.

Norway supports free and fair elections in Moldova in cooperation with UNDP and other donors. Norwegian electoral support has strengthened legislation against electoral corruption, ensured that police officers receive training in uncovering vote-buying, increased voter education, and equipped the electoral commission to withstand major cyberattacks.Norway allocated NOK 21 million to election support in Moldova in 2024.

Civil society, independent media, and countering disinformation

Moldova is a target for Russian hybrid warfare and disinformation, seeking to undermine the country’s stability. In 2025, Norway provided around NOK 20 million to counter disinformation in Moldova through the partners Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) and International Media Support (IMS), who work with local civil society and independent media outlets. With a focus on coordination and collaboration, the local partners produce fact-based content aimed at prebunking disinformation before it gains traction.

From 2025, Norway is providing direct support to Moldovan civil society to strengthen organisations’ work on democracy and reforms in connection with Moldova’s path towards the EU. Through two agreements with East Europe Foundation Moldova and the CONTACT Center, totalling NOK 45 million over three years, organisations across the country will benefit from capacity-building and small grants for local projects on advocacy and participation.

Education

Education is an important sector for Norwegian support to Moldova in the coming years. Teacher shortages, emigration, and declining pupil numbers especially affect rural areas, with significant disparities in results between urban and rural schools. Despite Moldova investing more in education than the EU average as a percentage of GDP, the latest PISA survey shows that Moldovan students score below the OECD average in reading, writing, and mathematics. Many school buildings have not been renovated since they were built during the Soviet era and lack adequate hygiene facilities.

In 2024, Norway signed a four-year agreement with UNDP for a comprehensive effort to improve the quality of school education in Moldova, in close collaboration with Moldovan authorities. This is part of a larger reform, in which several schools will be upgraded with new infrastructure and outdoor areas, together with measures to improve the quality of teaching. This involves revising national curricula and strengthening teacher’s training and school management. In the initiative supported by Norway, five schools will be renovated, while mathematics and science in particular will be strengthened. A partnership has also been established with Tallinn University to strengthen school management and improving the overall learning environment. Norwegian support for this initiative amounted to NOK 75 million in 2025. In addition, part of the Norwegian support through the E5P and M-GROW funds goes to energy efficiency upgrades in schools and kindergartens to ensure a better learning environment for pupils and teachers in Moldova.

Humanitarian Support

Since February 2022, around 2.2 million Ukrainians have crossed the border into the Republic of Moldova. As of November 2025, Moldova was host to 137,000 Ukrainian refugees according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Half of these are children. With a population of 2.4 million, Moldova has taken in the most Ukrainian refugees per capita, despite being one of Europe’s poorest countries. Moldova is a special neighbouring country in the UN-coordinated humanitarian response, as vulnerable locals receive support alongside refugees from Ukraine.

Norway is among the largest humanitarian donors in Moldova, and provided a total of NOK 760 million to the humanitarian response in the country in the period 2022-2025. According to the UN, around 100,000 people received humanitarian support in Moldova in 2024.* The support included acute needs such as food, clothing and cash transfers, access to services like health and education, as well as assistance with legal matters such as residency and refugee status. Among others, 56,700 Ukrainian refugees and 27,400 Moldovan host families received cash transfers in 2024. 66,600 children received access to catch-up and support classes, and nearly 67,000 people received health assistance.

Key partners in the humanitarian response in Moldova under the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine include the UN via UNHCR UNICEF, UNFPA, and the Red Cross Movement, Caritas, the Norwegian Refugee Council and NORCAP.

*Figures not yet available for 2025

Read more about Norwegian support to Moldova:

2025:

• Strengthening civil society in Moldova - regjeringen.no
• Norway strengthens efforts for democracy and the rule of law in Moldova and Ukraine (Norwegian language only) - regjeringen.no
• Supporting vulnerable households affected by Moldova’s energy crisis (Norwegian language only) - regjeringen.no

2024:

• Norway provides new contribution to support Moldova's resilience this winter - regjeringen.no
• Norwegian support to strengthen Moldova’s resilience - regjeringen.no
• NOK 350 million in support to Moldova - regjeringen.no