The Republic of Moldova faces several concurrent health challenges most notably an increase in chronic noncommunicable diseases, spiralling health care costs and widening health inequalities. To accelerate progress in their resolution there is a need for new and innovative health promotion and behaviour change communication interventions. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection in collaboration with the newly created National Agency for Public Health held a conference on the occasion of the Moldovan National Day of Health Promotion on 14th March 2018 in which national and invited international experts exchanged their views on (1) best practice examples of behaviour change interventions, health promotion activities and lessons learned from the UK and elsewhere; and (2) possible ways forward for Moldova to implement cost-effective and evidence-based intersectoral health promotion programmes. The experts provided recommendations on implementing behaviour change interventions to reduce and prevent obesity; on the creation of a favourable tobacco control environment to reduce smoking prevalence; and on how physical activity programme design can benefit from health psychology research. All these strategies could foster health promotion activities and ultimately contribute to improving the health outcomes of the Moldovan population. Background Epidemiological transition and non-communicable diseases in Moldova Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for about 70% of all deaths globally in 2015 and more than 80% of these premature deaths were in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) [1]. Like many countries, the Republic of Moldova (hereinafter Moldova) faces a recent transition in the profile of health affecting the health status of its population with a growing NCD burden [2]. The prevalence of NCDs in the country is very high, accounting for 90% of all-cause mortality in 2016. The major NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancers, accounting for 59 and 15% of all deaths, respectively [3]. Alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking are the key health risks for most Moldovans and mortality and morbidity from these risk factors account for a sizeable disease burden on society [3]. According to 2010 figures, 58% of total male mortality and 62% of female mortality could be attributed to smoking-related causes, while 19% of male mortality and 14% of female mortality were related to alcohol consumption [4, 5]. There is an uneven distribution of the major risk factors with men having higher rates of engaging in tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption (Table 1) [3, 6, 7]. As shown in Table 1, overweight and obesity constitutes another major public health problem in Moldova with 47% of its adult population (18 and over) being classified as overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25) in 2014 [7]. Current physical activity levels in Moldova are unclear [8], with 2013 data