Volunteers bring valuable expertise and resources to civil society organisations, particularly grassroot initiatives. Engaging in volunteering activities can also help people find a sense of fulfilment and support young people's professional development. In many countries, unclear volunteering laws stand in the way of harnessing the full potential of volunteering. With the current initiative, Moldova will follow the path of other countries in the region which introduced supportive legal frameworks and catalysed positive social change through volunteering.
The Parliament adopted the Draft Law on Volunteering in first reading on 10 July 2025, aiming to replace the 2010 law with a more modern and inclusive framework on volunteering. The draft advances long-requested reforms, such as recognising informal volunteering, digitalising and simplifying volunteer registration, and ensuring dedicated entities are responsible for developing volunteering policies. The initiative is part of Moldova’s commitment to strengthening civic infrastructure and aligns with EU integration efforts and reflects government commitments under the Association Agreement. While civil society welcomes this initiative, the lack of prior consultation with CSO representatives raises questions. However, a significant public consultation for further refinement is expected under the mandate of the next Parliament to be elected in September 2025.
Parliament moves forward with awaited reform of volunteering framework
The necessity to review the existing legislation on volunteering was acknowledged in 2021, following an ex-post legal evaluation of Law No. 121/2010 on Volunteering conducted by the Parliamentary Committee on Culture, Education, Research, Youth, Sport and Mass Media. The assessment highlighted the need to improve the legal framework by introducing:
- measures to encourage volunteering among adults and the elderly;
- a mechanism for implementing the provision on recognising volunteering as work experience;
- adjustments to allow the retention of volunteering records in electronic format;
- legal recognition of financial contributions to voluntary work; and
- the establishment of a legal mechanism for the year-round collection of statistical data by the competent national authority.
According to the latest data, in 2024, there were 62 CSOs registered as volunteering host institutions, representing 59% of the total 106 registered host institutions, which also include public entities. While this marks a modest increase from 2023 (50 CSOs), the number remains significantly lower than in early 2019, when 100 CSOs held this status prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decline in CSO engagement is believed to be partly due to the burdensome administrative requirements associated with obtaining and maintaining host institution status.
New provisions recognise informal volunteering and institutionalise support mechanisms
The new draft law builds on the 2010 framework, introducing a series of important innovations aimed at encouraging, recognising, and better coordinating voluntary activities in Moldova. Key provisions include:
- Distinction between formal and informal volunteering. The draft classifies three forms of volunteering: informal, corporate and formal. It also provides for international volunteering inside and outside the country;
- Revised registration procedures for host entities, which will now be required to certificate volunteering programmes rather than certificate host institutions. Volunteering Programmes will be certified for up to three years duration;
- Clear division of responsibilities for the development and implementation of volunteering policy; The National Agency for Development and Youth Programmes and Activities will be mandated to oversee the certification and management of volunteering initiatives; A new coordinating authority, the Committee for the Coordination of Volunteering Policies, will be established with the inclusion of civil society representatives. The Committee will be an advisory body to ensure cross-sector cooperation between public authorities and civil society in the planning, development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of public policies in the field of volunteering.
- Certificates for volunteers to replace volunteer cards and registers for cards. Certification of volunteering experience and acquired skills, is thought to support employment opportunities and educational advancement;
- Introduction of a digital tools for the administrative purposes and for enabling the official recognition of individual contributions. The supporting note also provides for digital tools to match volunteers with volunteering opportunities;
- Support for intergenerational volunteering and the inclusion of vulnerable groups.
- Establishment of a governmental support programme for volunteers, as part of the policies and measures to stimulate volunteering.
These provisions aim to create a more enabling environment for volunteering and to strengthen cooperation between CSOs, local authorities and state institutions. If implemented effectively, the new framework could help integrate volunteering into youth and elderly policies, education and community development.
Final adoption awaits new Parliament
The Ministry of Education and Research elaborated and consulted on a new Draft Law on Volunteering in 2024. The draft law was adopted by the Government on 9 July 2025 and submitted to Parliament the following day. The latest version was passed without renewed consultation, leaving limited space for civil society input at this stage.
The Parliament passed the draft in first reading on the last day, before it ended its term on 11 July 2025, following the expiration of its legal four-year mandate. A new Parliament will be elected at the regular parliamentary elections on 28 September 2025, and the examination of the draft law is expected to continue during its mandate.
Need for a participatory process ahead
The adoption of the Draft Law on Volunteering in first reading marks a step toward modernising Moldova’s volunteering framework and addressing long-standing gaps identified by both civil society and public institutions. The proposed changes introduce important innovations from recognising informal and intergenerational volunteering to simplifying administrative procedures and establishing new support structures. However, the lack of renewed consultation during the latest stages of adoption limits civil society’s ability to meaningfully influence the final content of the law. As the country awaits the formation of a new Parliament after the September 2025 elections, the second reading offers an opportunity to refine the draft and ensure its effective implementation. For the reform to truly succeed, the final version must be adopted through a transparent, participatory process, with close cooperation between authorities and civil society to build a volunteering ecosystem that is inclusive, accessible and sustainable.