Causeni District
Căușeni's Ukraine border creates dual exposure: war-disrupted markets plus climate hazards (drought, hail) left 1/3 of households below average income.
Căușeni demonstrates how border positions create dual vulnerabilities—exposure to both geopolitical shocks and climate stresses. Located in southeastern Moldova bordering Ukraine, this district of 60,926 inhabitants sits 136 kilometers from Odesa port and 71 kilometers from the Palanca customs crossing. The Ukraine border provides market access that the war has disrupted.
The December 2024 area-based assessment revealed compounding pressures. About one-third of both refugee and host community households earned below the national average, with food, health, and economic assistance ranking as top priorities. The district's agricultural base—cereals, fruits, vegetables, and related food processing—faces repeated natural hazards: drought, sudden temperature changes, and hail were the most reported climate risks. When crops fail and markets close simultaneously, the agricultural economy has no buffers.
Yet Căușeni maintains strategic positioning. At 89 kilometers from Chișinău with relatively higher salaries (9,371 lei average) than neighboring districts, it functions as a secondary hub for southeastern Moldova. The 204-kilometer road to Giurgiulești port and connectivity to both EU (via Oancea customs) and Ukrainian markets create optionality—when those markets function. Moldova's economy contracted 1.2% in Q1 2025 before recovering to 5.2% growth by Q3, driven partly by agricultural recovery. Districts like Căușeni, where agriculture dominates and climate vulnerability compounds, experience these national swings with amplified intensity.