Leveraging Cash Assistance in GBV Case Management as a Tool in Moldova’s Ukrainian Refugee Response

In 2023, as part of the Ukrainian refugee response in Moldova, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) conducted a pilot to integrate cash assistance into gender-based violence (GBV) case management. Targeting GBV survivors and those at risk, including Ukrainian refugees and vulnerable Moldovans, the program aimed to mitigate GBV risks and enhance GBV response by addressing economic barriers that hinder survivors from escaping abusive situations and accessing life-saving GBV services. Two modalities were utilized: one-off emergency cash assistance and recurring cash assistance for up to three months. The pilot, conducted from January to December 2023, benefited 224 individuals. Results were shared in a round-table discussion involving the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, civil society organizations, and UN agencies to advocate for continued use of cash assistance in GBV case management. Ultimately, 98% of respondents reported that the cash assistance helped them access necessary services for themselves or their children to recover from the disclosed incident of violence.