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 on inter-municipal cooperation was signed by all 70 communities from both regions, as a first step in setting up of Territorial Economic Development Association;
• Over 177 local government representatives and other stakeholders, including 120 women, improved their capacity to efficiently implement local strategies and plans;
• Over 3000 local elected representatives from the Republic of Moldova have been trained in areas such as local public finance, inter-municipal cooperation, public service management, etc. The training focused on new local elected representatives;
• The 2024 edition of the Guide for Local Elected Representatives developed. The knowledge product is a guide for new local elected representatives, helping them to understand the obligations, areas of intervention and potential impact of the decisions taken;
• Local government representatives from Ungheni and Cahul were trained in monetization of culture, participatory budgeting;
• The municipalities of Cahul and Ungheni have obtained and reconfirmed ISO certification for quality management and anti-bribery;
• 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;
• In the municipalities of Cahul and Ungheni, an intelligent video monitoring system has been developed to enhance public safety;
• In Cahul and Ungheni city halls, digital infrastructure and IT equipment have been modernized and software solutions standardized;
• Local public administration representatives in Cahul and Ungheni were trained in the use of digital tools and cyber security;
• 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 euros;
• 7 Local Action Groups have benefited from assistance totaling 320,000 euro, support for 73 development initiatives and job creation in the Ungheni and Cahul regions;
• 75 existing companies, start-ups and social entrepreneurship initiatives benefited from financial assistance of up to 1.7 million euros to expand business, create new jobs and increase the attractiveness of focal regions for new investments;
• 4 initiatives received support worth 1.5 million euros for the creation and modernization of infrastructure to attract investment in the Cahul and Ungheni regions;
• 8 clusters benefited from grants of a total value of 800,000 euros 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 euros 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;
• The Inter-municipal Development Association was established in Cahul and Ungheni regions;
• 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:

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;
4. The regional wastewater treatment plant built and commissioned in Sculeni, Ungheni, provides improved access to sewerage services for 3400 households, schools, pre-school and school education and health care institutions, as well as for over 100 entrepreneurs in the localities: Sculeni, Buciumeni and Cioropcani;
5. The water supply system built in Buzduganii de Jos, Valea Mare commune provides drinking water to more than 640 domestic consumers and 20 entrepreneurs;
6. The regional market developed and modernized in Colibași, Cahul, provides opportunities for more than 100 traders to sell their products at stalls and in the specially designed spaces in the hall;
7. The regional operator "Servcom Sud" set up in Zîrnești, jointly organizes public waste, public domain and green space management services, providing services to 15 neighbouring communities in the Cahul district, with a total population of over 18,000 people;
8. The local business development center, modernized in Crihana Veche, creates a favorable environment for the development of small businesses.

• 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 100,000 euros;
• 6 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;
6. The area adjacent to the "Nicolae Botgros" Palace of Culture "Nicolae Botgros" in Cahul, as well as the access to the "White Water Lily" Sanatorium and a section of Victoria Avenue were renovated.

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