Project Summary:

The EU4Moldova: Focal Regions Programme will focus on strengthening the economic, territorial and social cohesion in the Republic of Moldova through facilitating inclusive, sustainable and integrated local socio-economic growth and improving the standards of living of the citizens in two focal regions: Ungheni and Cahul. The programme will support the two regions targeting necessary improvements in three areas: at the level of government – to improve the necessary services and the needed infrastructure, at the level of private sector – to stimulate private investment, improve the economy and create employment opportunities for the men and women; at the population level – to strengthen citizens participation in democratic governance processes and strengthen their capacities to demand their rights.

Objectives:

• To strengthen transparency, accountability of local public authorities and citizen participation in local governance processes in the focal regions;
• To improve citizens’ access to quality public services and utilities in the focal regions;
• To create employment opportunities for men and women in the focal regions and improve the attractiveness of the focal regions for investors and entrepreneurs;
• To promote the smart specialization of the economy of the focal regions through the development of the clustering and value chain approach in key economic sectors.

Expected results:

• Increased institutional capacity of LPAs for the implementation of locally-driven environmentally compliant socio-economic development strategy for integrated local growth and development;
• Improved broader stakeholder (e.g. CSO, private sector) engagement in the planning and monitoring of the socio-economic development strategy;
• Increased quality and availability of public services delivery, including in particular those targeting women; and increased performance of local public utilities;
• More favorable conditions for the attraction of investments, job creation and women and men’s entrepreneurship, including social entrepreneurship;
• Development and functioning of clusters in line with the smart specialization approach.

Accomplishments:

• In each region, local public authorities have set up a territorial platform for economic cooperation. It aims at the economic development of the regions, the creation of a favorable investment climate and the sustainable development of all communities component;
• Local public authorities were guided in establishing an inter-municipal partnership platform to achieve common economic development objectives. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on IMC was signed by all 70 communities from both regions, as a first step in setting up of Territorial Economic Development Association (TEDA)​;
• 177 local government representatives and other stakeholders, including 120 women, improved their capacity to efficiently implement local strategies and plans; 
• Ungheni and Cahul focal regions were supported to develop the e-transformation and SMART development agenda, formulated into a SMART Concept and RoadMap with objectives and priority actions to be further implemented;
• The One Stop Shop was established in the municipalities of Cahul and Ungheni;
• Over 1000 water meters with remote reading installed in Ungheni;

• 15 kindergartens in the municipalities of Cahul and Ungheni were equipped with IT equipment: 150 Lego kits and 150 tablets of a total value of €75,000;

• 5 Local Action Groups were awarded grants of a total value of €300,000 and shall further support 65 rural development and job creation initiatives in Cahul and Ungheni regions;
• 75 existing companies, start-ups and social entrepreneurship initiatives benefited from grants of up to €1.7 million to expand business, create new jobs and increase the attractiveness of focal regions for new investment;
• 8 clusters benefited from grants of a total value of €800,000 for the creation of new jobs and increasing the attractiveness of the Cahul and Ungheni regions for new investments;
• 40 investment profiles elaborated on businesses and investment projects from the focal regions of Cahul and Ungheni;
• 10 community initiatives received support of up to €90,000 to support vulnerable groups and solve the issues facing communities in focal regions of Cahul and Ungheni;
• The municipalities of Ungheni and Cahul and surrounding communities received two garbage trucks and have access to modern waste collection and transportation services;
• 8 projects for the development of the community utility infrastructure and for the provision of local public services benefit from a financial support in a maximum amount of €200,000 each to stimulate economic development in the Cahul and Ungheni regions;
• 3 projects for the development of the community utility infrastructure and the provision of public services were completed:

1. The 650-meter-long access road to the rehabilitated Beleu lake contributes to increasing the economic development and tourist attractiveness of the region;
2. 18 economic agents and over 3000 employees of the Free Economic Zone benefit from the rehabilitated Alexandru Boico street in Ungheni municipality;
3. A renovated street from Mănoilești village, Ungheni provides improved access to the local road infrastructure for the over 3500 inhabitants and 15 economic operators in the agri-food sector.

• Over 20,000 citizens were involved in voting for the best among the 300 ideas generated by locals. A contest/hackathon identified the most feasible solutions, generating wide citizens participation;

• The temporary refugee shelters in Cahul and Ungheni were equipped with home appliances, light generators, electric heater fans, electric air heaters, flashlights, 300 beds, 350 mattresses, 700 sets of bed linen, duvets, and towels, the total value of the assistance is of €100,000;

• 5 local public service and infrastructure development projects have been finalised, improving the living conditions for over 78,000 people: 

1. A new water supply network in Ungheni city was built. The network, with a length of over 1,600 meters, provides safe drinking water to more than 24,000 people;
2. “Grigore Vieru” Park from Cahul city was renovated​​;
3. The sewerage network was extended in the central area of Ungheni increasing the number of users by at least 141 (economic units – 11; and individuals – 130);
4. The center of Ungheni municipality was reconstructed: the Independence Square became pedestrian, was equipped with modern urban furniture, a pedestrian fountain with light and music show; National Street was paved, illuminated, and marked with weather-resistant road markings;

5. The public street lighting system was renovated and a SMART grid was constructed in the municipality of Cahul.

• 5 local public service and infrastructure development projects have been finalised, improving the living conditions for over 78,000 people:

1. A new water supply network and sewerage network were built in Ungheni city. The network, with a length of over 1,600 meters, provides safe drinking water to more than 24,000 people;
2. “Grigore Vieru” Park from Cahul city was renovated;
3. The sewerage network was extended in the central area of Ungheni increasing the number of users by at least 141 (economic units – 11; and individuals – 130);  
4. The center of Ungheni municipality was reconstructed: the Independence Square became pedestrian, was equipped with modern urban furniture, a pedestrian fountain with light and music show; National Street was paved, illuminated, and marked with weather-resistant road markings;
5. The public street lighting system was renovated and a SMART grid was constructed in the municipality of Cahul.

• 2 brands for Cahul and Ungheni regions developed to advance economic, social and cultural development and promote their success stories nationally and internationally.