At the Government’s ground floor, the phones ring constantly, the laptop screens never reach standby. In one corner of the room there is a logistics planning meeting, someone has a call on Zoom with partners and donors, someone else finally managed to take a cookie and make some coffee. Everyone is exhausted and have sleepy red eyes, but the volunteers still have a lot of energy and dedication to help in creating a safe place for the Ukrainian refugees.

“It’s like a continuous bustle just so you won’t read the news. You get home sometimes and you don’t have time for news, and that somehow helps. It’s a kind of solidarity and mutual support,” says Vlada Ciobanu, volunteer responsible for communication and fundraising.

The volunteers group was formed from the very first day of war. A Facebook page was created, where all types of messages immediately started to flow: “I offer accommodation”, “I want to help”, “I want to get involved”, “Where can I bring the products?”, “I have a car and I can go to the customs”. Soon, the authorities also started asking for volunteers’ support. Now they all work together, coordinate activities and try to find solutions to the most difficult problems.

Is accommodation needed for 10, 200 or 800 people? Do you need transportation to the customs? Does anyone want to deliver 3 tons of apples and does not know where? Do you need medicine or mobile toilets? All these questions require prompt answers and actions. Blankets, sheets, diapers, hygiene products, food, clothes – people bring everything, and someone needs to quickly find ways of delivering them to those who need them.

Sometimes this collaboration is difficult, involves a lot of bureaucracy, and it can be difficult to get answers on time. “Republic of Moldova has never faced such a large influx of refugees and, probably because nobody thought this could happen, a mechanism of this kind of crisis has not been developed. Due to the absence of such a mechanism that the state should have created, we, the volunteers, intervened and tried to help in a practical way for the spontaneous and on the sport solutions of the problems,” mentions Ecaterina Luțișina, volunteer responsible for the refugees’ accommodation.

Ana Maria Popa, one of the founders of the group “Help Ukrainians in Moldova/SOS Українці Молдовa” says that the toughest thing is to find time and have a clear mind in managing different procedures, although things still happen somehow naturally. Everyone is ready to intervene and help, to take on more responsibilities and to act immediately when needed. The biggest challenges arise when it is necessary to accommodate large families, people with special needs, for which alternative solutions must be identified.

Goods and donations

The volunteers try to cope with the high flow of requests for both accommodation and products of all kinds. “It came to me as a shock and a panic when I found out that both mothers who are now in Ukraine, as well as those who found refuge in our country are losing their milk because of stress. We are trying to fill an enormous need for milk powder, for which the demand is high and the stocks are decreasing”, says Steliana, the volunteer responsible for the distribution of goods from the donation centers.

Several centers have been set up to collect donations in all regions of Chisinau, and volunteers are redirecting the goods to where the refugees are. A system for processing and monitoring donations has already been established, while the volunteer drivers take over the order only according to a unique code.

Volunteers from the collection centers also do the inventory – the donated goods and the distributed goods. The rest is transported to Vatra deposit, from where it is distributed to the placement centers where more than 50 refugees are housed.

When they want to donate goods, but they don’t know what would be needed, people are urged to put themselves in the position of refugees and ask themselves what would they need most if they wake up overnight and have to hurriedly pack their bags and run away. Steliana wants to emphasise that “these people are not needy, but these people need help. They did not choose to end up in this situation.”

Furthermore, the volunteer Cristina Sîrbu seeks to identify producers and negotiate prices for products needed by refugees, thus mediating the procurement process for NGOs with which she collaborates, such as Caritas, World Children’s Fund, Polish Solidarity Fund, Lifting hands, Peace Corps and others.

One of the challenges she is facing now is the identifying a mattress manufacturer in the West, because the Moldovan mattress manufacturer that has been helping so far no longer has polyurethane, a raw material usually imported from Russia and Ukraine.

Cristina also needs to find solutions for the needs of the volunteer groups – phones, laptops, gsm connection and internet for a good carrying out of activities.

Hate messages

The most difficult thing for the communication team is to manage the hate messages on the social networks, which started to appear more often. “Even if there is some sort of dissatisfaction from the Ukrainian refugees and those who offer help, we live now in a very diverse society, there are different kind of people, and we act very differently under stress,” said Vlada Ciobanu.

Translation by Cătălina Bîrsanu

This week Moldova hosted the second Internet Governance Forum (MIGF 2021), which took place in a hybrid format on October 19-20. The Forum, organized by the Association “Comunitatea Internet”, became an international platform for an open dialogue between different stakeholder groups: civil society, technical and scientific community, private sector, government and public sector.

Parliamentarians, representatives of the government and key state institutions, international and non-governmental organizations, technology and consulting companies, experts in the field of digital business and digital development joined the discussions. More than 50 speakers and experts from Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Estonia, Serbia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Canada, USA and other countries participated in MIGF.

Iurie Țurcanu, Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization, said at the Opening of the Forum that “we need a safe and secure Internet, we must make every effort to have a guaranteed and secure virtual space, where every user can use the Internet safely”. “MIGF is a good opportunity to discuss this topic of great importance, especially now, in the context of the global pandemic crisis. I would like to note the importance of meeting in this format and the need to strengthen the efforts of different categories of actors, such as the public sector, civil society, the technical community, academia, the private sector, international organizations, to discuss problems related to access to the Internet, as well as security in the virtual environment. I would like to thank the participants and organizers for having the courage to organize such an event in such difficult times”, the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

Iurie Țurcanu assured of the Moldovan Government’s openness for cooperation. “It is crucial for us to maintain this connection and, by combining efforts, perseverance and consistent investments, find a balance between sustainability and digital development. Leveraging the resources of multi-stakeholder partnerships can facilitate investments in digital infrastructure and build capacity for data privacy and security. These actions are essential for Moldova’s digital future,” concluded the Deputy Prime Minister.

Stelian Manic, Director General of the Invest Moldova Agency, recalled the importance of efficient Internet governance in the modern society. He said the Internet governance ecosystem implies that each country must bring technological innovations to the government, redefining processes, streamlining public services and engaging them for the benefit of citizens. At the same time, he pointed out that Internet governance is not just about effective, efficient and responsive management based on smart investments in information technology. It must also be about security and reliability, sustainability and trust.

“Whether the Internet will be transparent, secure and accessible to all depends on our ability to work together and guide these technologies in ways that maximize benefits and minimize unintended consequences and risks. All we need to do now is create a safe space that promotes the empowerment of Internet users. A safe space for learning, work, play, discovery and growth”, stated the Head of Invest Moldova.

Representatives of international partner organizations addressed the Forum participants with welcoming remarks: Chengetai Masango, Head of the United Nations Secretariat for the Internet Governance Forum, David Frautschy Heredia, Director for European Government and Regulatory Affairs at Internet Society (ISOC), Mikhail Anisimov, Head of Global Stakeholder Engagement for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), Chris Buckridge, Head of External Relations for the RIPE NCC, Regional Internet Registry for Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, Olga Kyryliuk, Chair at South Eastern European Dialogue on Internet Governance (SEEDIG), Tattu Mambetalieva, Chair at Central Asian Internet Governance Forum (CAIGF).

Speakers welcomed multi-stakeholder discussions involving national and international stakeholders on how best to use digital data for the public good, how to shape and improve data governance mechanisms that recognize diversity, empower business and civil society, and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. These goals include bridging the digital divide, promoting digital inclusion, achieving universal connectivity, and protecting human rights on the Internet.

Alexei Marciuc, Chairman of the Association “Comunitatea Internet” and MIGF coordinator, reminded that the Internet Governance Forum is held in Moldova for the second year in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the importance of digital technologies and the urgent need to enhance the role of IGF as a platform for dialogue, playing a unique role in the architecture of digital cooperation. He said the pandemic highlighted the needs of digital development and the need for digital empowerment.

“Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic confirmed that Internet access protects health care, jobs and, without exaggeration, lives. At the same time, the pandemic exacerbates inequalities of all kinds, including the digital divide. Those without access to digital technologies are deprived of the opportunity to learn, communicate, trade, shop, work and participate in many areas of modern life. On the other hand, connectivity has increased vulnerability to harm and abuse of all kinds. In particular, we have encountered an increase in such phenomena as disinformation, hate speech, and discrimination in the digital space,” said Alexei Marciuc.

Olga Tumuruc, Director of the e-Government Agency, took part in the panel discussion “Digital Inclusion and Multilateral Cooperation in Managing the Digital Future,” she presented to the audience the work of the institution and its main tasks: modernization of public services, coordination of investments in information technologies, development and implementation of e-transformation solutions, creation of platforms and services to improve relations between the state, citizens and business. Olga Tumuruc also mentioned initiatives for digital inclusion of certain categories of population and ensuring access to public services for people with disabilities through innovative tools, applications and modern technologies.

The Internet Governance Forum in Moldova is held with the support of international partners, including the UN IGF Secretariat, ICANN, Internet Society, Ripe NCC, SecDev Foundation and national partners – Invest Moldova Agency, Academy of Economic Studies, IT consulting and security companies RTS and MUK, as well as a number of civil society organizations and state institutions.

At the core of this year’s MIGF agenda: digital inclusion, which is necessary for sustainable economic recovery, issues of trust, security and stability in the digital space, Internet freedom, e-learning, regulation of ICT sector in the period of digital transformation. A separate session addressed the issues of digital accessibility for people with disabilities and special needs. In addition, the Forum included special events organized jointly with Freedom House and The SecDev Foundation, Canada.

The Internet Governance Forum (MIGF) will be held in Chisinau on October 19-20. It will be attended by representatives of government agencies, international, non-governmental and expert organizations, digital business, technology companies, digital development experts from Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Canada, the United States and a number of other countries.

The discussion of current problems of the digital agenda and the development of the Internet will be focused on 4 main tracks: trust and security, digital Inclusion and bridging the digital divide, digital rights and freedoms, digital data. Forum agenda consists of 8 plenary sessions and panel discussions, including special events, jointly organized with Freedom House and SecDev Foundation.

”In 2021, MIGF sets itself the task of strengthening open multilateral discussion of the development of the Internet in Moldova, the country’s participation in the formation of the global digital agenda, and a joint search for a balance between security and development. The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn special attention to the needs of digital development, the need to empower digital rights and opportunities against the backdrop of serious difficulties that society and the state face during this period”, said MIGF Coordinator Alexei Marciuc.

According to him, the holding of MIGF 2021 in Chisinau will serve to actualize the tasks of the digital agenda in the post-pandemic crisis, determine the prospects for multilateral dialogue on the sustainability of the global Internet and the priorities of a common digital future.

The forum will host expert discussions, speeches and presentations both online and offline. It is planed the participation of representatives of UN IGF, ICANN, RIPE NCC, Internet Society (ISOC), SecDev Foundation, Freedom House, Microsoft, SEEDIG, etc. Among the national partners of the forum are the Investment Agency “Invest Moldova”, the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, non-governmental organizations, companies RTS and MUK in the field of IT-consulting and security. Special guests of the event: Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization Iurie Turcanu, members of Parliament, representatives of key government agencies, national and international organizations.

As part of the main tracks, expert discussions will be held on the topics:

• Digital inclusion and multistakeholder cooperation in managing the digital future
• Trust, security and stability in the digital space
• Digital accessibility for people with disabilities and special needs
• Internet freedom in Central and Eastern Europe. Trends and сhallenges, lessons for Moldova
• ICT regulatory in times of digital transformation
• Data sovereignty and trusted online identity
• E-learning as a road to online universities. National and regional experience
• The Rationale for a culture of digital safety in civil society organizations

The Moldova Internet Governance Forum is a national initiative of the global IGF of the United Nations, which in turn is convened by the UN Secretary General and is an international multi-stakeholder platform for dialogue on Internet governance issues.

Since 2020, MIGF has become an annual event where representatives of the expert community discuss global and national approaches to Internet governance, cybersecurity and digital resilience, regulation, expanding Internet access and bridging the digital divide, innovation and digital development strategies.

To register for participation in the MIGF, use the online form on the website www.igf.md. Registered attendees will receive an email connection information to participate in this event.