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23 communities in Ungheni region have created an Intermunicipal Development Association (IDA). Its headquarters were inaugurated on Friday, 4 April 2025 at the Ungheni City Hall. The aim of the association is to improve public services, attract investments and implement regional projects. The initiative was supported by the "EU4Moldova: Focal Regions" programme funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP and UNICEF.
"The creation of the Ungheni Intermunicipal Development Association is an important step in the process of institutionalization and implementation of intermunicipal cooperation to ensure harmonious local and regional development. We are confident that by joining the efforts of the second and first level authorities of the Ungheni district, we will be able to carry out joint projects that are necessary and long awaited by the citizens, especially in terms of quality public services. As we are at the beginning of the way, we are emphasizing the strengthening of the association's capacities," said Ina Olearciuc, the interim director of IDA "Ungheni".
One of the main objectives of IDA "Ungheni" is the modernization of local infrastructure, essential for economic development and improvement of living conditions. Through participatory planning, local authorities, together with the IDA, will analyze the current infrastructure situation and propose solutions for expanding and improving public services. They will also identify investments that can be made jointly for a sustainable development of the region.
UNDP and the EU have provided institutional support for setting up the IDA. An Intermunicipal Council was set up, bringing together representatives of 23 communities that have decided to jointly provide public services. These councils received legal assistance to institutionalize intermunicipal cooperation. The decisions were then approved by the local councils of the member communities. Finally, service providers were reorganized,and institutional and operational capacities were strengthened. As a result, more than 80,000 inhabitants will benefit from joint communal services.
As an intermediary between authorities and public service operators, IDA "Ungheni", with the support of the "EU4Moldova: Focal Regions" programme, has contributed to the modernization of the operators "Apă-Canal Ungheni" and "AVE Ungheni", facilitating the extension of water, sewerage and waste management services in several localities.
Between 2022-2024, the EU and UNDP Moldova supported the Ungheni and Cahul regions in implementing a model of intermunicipal cooperation aimed at improving public services and strengthening relations between communities. The investment of more than 1 million euro from the EU and 50,000 euro from France made possible the purchase of equipment, infrastructure works, technical assistance and capacity development of the service operators.
The IDA "Cahul" is to be institutionalized soon in the Cahul region.
The “EU4Moldova: Focal regions” Programme (2019-2025) supports intelligent, inclusive and sustainable social-economic development in the regions of Cahul and Ungheni to ensure better standards of living to the citizens. The programme has a total budget of 23 million euro, is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
