An increasing number of local authorities in the Republic of Moldova are seeking solutions to expand nursery places, showing growing interest in the government program dedicated to this area. In total, 102 local public authorities have applied for funding under the third edition of the national program “Employed Parents – Children in Nurseries.”
The Government reports that planned investments for 2026 will be the largest in recent years for public nurseries. Project budgets range from 1.5 to 10 million lei, with total funding this year reaching 136.6 million lei.
The program targets municipalities with over 3,000 residents, as well as the cities of Chișinău and Bălți. Local authorities could submit separate applications for multiple nurseries, and officials are currently evaluating projects and verifying their eligibility.
The Government announced that a total of 385.7 million lei will be allocated in 2026–2027 for the development of nursery services—136.6 million lei this year and 249.1 million lei in 2027.
In 2025, authorities created 241 new nursery places, and they aim to establish approximately 5,000 additional places in the coming years by expanding existing groups, creating new ones, and constructing annexes to current institutions.
The program “Public Nursery Services – Employed Parents, Children in Nurseries” forms part of the Reform Agenda of Moldova’s Growth Plan for 2025–2027, supporting parents who wish to return to the workforce by providing them with more childcare options.