Scope and Objectives
This paper aims at providing of an account of the vulnerable groups and outlines how the process of
descentralisation can have potential consequences on them. The research develops a classification of
the vulnerable groups based on the vulnerability criteria. It systemases existing evidence from the
national and international sources on the factual existence of the groups, discusses the concerns led to
their vulnerability identification and reviews possible underlying causes behind these groups’ status of
vulnerability. It tries to make an expert assessment on the potential positive and negative implications
for the decentralization on these groups.
Background
Over the period 2000–2008 the economy of Moldova registered cumulative growth of 67.2%, although
this only represented 56.9% of total output in 1990. In 2009, deepest economic crisis experienced since
the beginning of transition—the GDP collapsed by 6.5%. The economic growth occurred by 2009, driven
by migration and remittances, contributed to a reduction in poverty and an increase in the population’s
income; thus helping to establish improved access to healthcare and education. With a per capita GDP
of 1800 USD, Moldova has the lowest incomes in Europe. The poverty trend realized in 2008, people
whose consumption was less than 4.3 dollars per day and the absolute poverty rate by 2010. In regards
to extreme poverty, in 2007 and 2008, Moldova succeeded in achieving a reduction in the level of
extreme poverty.
Moldova is paving its way towards European integration. EU and Moldova negotiate comprehensive
bilateral agreement that upon successful completion will open perspectives for Moldova institutional
integration. The decentralization of the power and bringing the decision‐making process closer to
citizens is one of the cornerstone principles of the European democracy. Social coherence and better
integration of the various groups of the society represents one of the pillars of the European inclusive
democratic societies.
European integration is the process for all citizens of Moldova, not for the groups that enjoy dominant
or privileged position in the society. Important processes such as the decentralization are deemed to be
evaluated against its possible impact on the vulnerable groups as part of the society.
Methodology and constraints
The key approach of the paper in identifying the vulnerable groups is the de facto, their real existence
and their real situations and problems of the segments and groups of population that are consequently
classified as vulnerable groups. The groups are further analyzed from the perspective of the causes of
the vulnerability, the existing current policies and the negative effects produced by these policies. We
also produce an account of the good practices and policies relevant to the existing situations and
provide some detailed recommendations that could be taken aboard in the process of the
decentralization.
The research is produced based on the thorough review of the existing trustful secondary sources. The
definition of the vulnerability and the recognition of the vulnerable groups are approached from the
practical and pragmatical terms. The existing evidence, information and data on the groups could not be
Vulnerability Study negated. Substantial amount of evidence produced by national and international sources make the
foundation of these findings.
The paper has not undertaken first hand collection of data and information, qualitative or quantitative.
