LocationsThe new administrative-territorial unit will result from merging the four neighboring communities, with the potential to enhance local public services and attract investments
Stronger together: Four localities in Leova district initiated the voluntary amalgamation process
March 18, 2025
In Leova district, four neighboring localities - the town of Leova and the villages of Tochile-Răducani, Sîrma, and Sărata-Răzeși - have decided to join forces and initiate the process of voluntary amalgamation. This initiative aims to address the challenges faced by local administrations and the need for more efficient public services, especially in a context where resources are limited and access to funding is becoming increasingly difficult for small communities.
From December 2024, local officials, public servants, and active community members from the four localities have been working together to co-create a common vision for the new administrative-territorial unit.
With support from Sweden, Norway, and UNDP, five working sessions were organized, giving participants the opportunity to analyze the impact of voluntary amalgamation on the key dimensions of local public authorities' functional organization: institutional structure, public services, public institutions, public assets, and local public finances.
“The decision to merge with Leova, Sărata-Răzeși, Tochile-Răducani, and the village of Sîrma was made to establish a unified, well-developed municipality that can attract more financial resources and improve infrastructure across the newly formed locality. Increasing the population is also a key factor in securing additional international investments. Our main goal is to grow and develop as much as possible for the benefit of our residents,” says Lilia Cazacu, mayor of Sîrma village, Leova district.
Throughout the five workshops, mayors, deputy mayors, local council secretaries, accountants, and local specialists analyzed essential aspects for the effective functioning of the amalgamated administrative-territorial unit.
“We also organized public consultations with the citizens and everyone agreed that amalgamating with Leova town was the best choice. Due to the significant decline in our village's population, we unanimously agreed that merging was the best course of action,” explains Ecaterina Chițanu, secretary of the local council of Sărata-Răzeși village, Leova district.
The topics discussed included efficient management of public assets, strengthening the local budget, identifying sources of revenue increase, and setting investment priorities for the coming years. The discussions focused on identifying the best solutions for enhancing administrative capacity and attracting investments, ensuring that amalgamation brings tangible benefits to the residents of all four involved communities.
“Increasing the efficiency of local administrations and providing quality services for citizens - remains a challenge we currently face due to financial and technical limitations.That is why we considered that, in order to effectively solve these problems, we need to create together a large municipality, a strong municipality, with qualified personnel, well-prepared to face the challenges of the time,” says Alexandru Bujorean, mayor of Leova.
As a result of this participatory exercise, a vision tailored to the needs of the local community was developed, offering a clear framework for organizing the newly amalgamated administrative-territorial unit. The resulting document includes a set of proposals and reorganization plans aimed at supporting the post-amalgamation process and facilitating the institutional restructuring of local public authorities.
“The meetings were beneficial and informative - or how should I put it? They were very useful for us. It’s truly a great help. Do you know why? Because everything was explained in a way that everyone could understand. It reached everyone’s ears,” says Serghei Bostan, mayor of Sărata-Răzeși village.
Photo: Diana Toma, UNDP Moldova
“In all four municipalities, local councils have approved the decisions to initiate the voluntary amalgamation process. They are highly active and engaged in the vision-building exercise through the thematic discussions and workshops we facilitate. The local community is also being consulted, which reflects their openness and genuine desire for this unification to happen as soon as possible. They realize that a larger, unified community can attract more funding, access better resources, and ultimately deliver higher-quality services to its residents,” said Diana Toma, Local Public Administration Reform Specialist at UNDP Moldova.
UNDP, Sweden, and Norway support the State Chancellery of the Republic of Moldova in implementing local public administration reform, in line with the Public Administration Reform Strategy for 2023-2030, which aims to enhance the efficiency of local governance and improve services for citizens. In this context, voluntary amalgamation plays an essential role in strengthening the institutional capacity of newly formed administrative-territorial units, providing additional financial resources for the specialization of public officials in key areas of local development.
Moreover, the Government provides financial, technical, and methodological support for the voluntary amalgamation process, facilitating a more efficient and coherent transition for local administrations. For instance, in the case of the merger of the town of Leova and the villages of Sîrma, Tochile-Răducani, and Sărata-Răzeși, the amalgamated administrative unit will receive MDL 400,000 for the preparation of the amalgamation process, approximately MDL 12 million for infrastructure development, and MDL 2 million annually until 2030 to support the local budget.
In the upcoming period, local authorities from the four communities will continue to inform and consult residents, ensuring transparency and active citizen participation in the process. At the same time, they will draft the local decision regarding the amalgamation, which will be submitted for a vote in the respective local councils - an essential step in the voluntary amalgamation process.
A well-prepared administration will have the capacity to attract investments, develop sustainable projects, and efficiently manage local budgets, contributing to financial stability and the long-term development of communities. Additionally, in the context of European Union integration, larger and better-organized communities will have easier access to EU funds, supported by an efficient local administration capable of managing resources in a strategic and sustainable way.
Beyond administrative and economic considerations, voluntary amalgamation is about building stronger and more united communities. For the residents of Leova, Tochile-Răducani, Sîrma, and Sărata-Răzeși, this process represents an opportunity to join efforts for a safer and more prosperous future. A more efficient local administration means better services, modernized infrastructure, and ultimately, an improved quality of life for all residents.
