Moldova: Ma Implic - Project on civic engagement in local governance


Moldova is firmly committed to improve governance and service delivery at the local level through a local governance reform, which is also a necessary step in view of the possible accession to the European Union. This project will support the Moldovan national authorities in advancing the local governance reform, and the local authorities in designing and implementing more inclusive and transparent local governance practices and a more efficient delivery of various public services.

Land/Region Thema Periode Budget
Moldova
Governance
Demokratische Partizipation und Zivilbevölkerung
Dezentralisierung
Politik des öffentlichen Sektors
01.11.2023 - 31.10.2027
CHF  9’645’000
Hintergrund In June 2022, Moldova got the status of EU candidate country and has the ambition to join the EU by 2030. In 2023, being driven by the EU integration agenda, the Government of Moldova initiated the long-awaited Public Administration Reform, adopting the respective Strategy for 2023-2030, with local government reform being part of that. Despite some earlier developments, Local Public Authorities (LPAs) have limited autonomy, and their administrative and fiscal powers remain weak. Still, they enjoy high levels of trust, being the second most trusted institution in the country after the church. These are important reasons for Switzerland to continue its contribution to the enhancement of a participatory decision-making at the local level and proper implementation of reforms.
Ziele The population of Moldova benefits from improved local governance, better access to and quality of public services.
Zielgruppen

Relevant central and local authorities, civil society organizations, and community members.

Final beneficiaries: The Moldovan society as a whole, benefitting from the changes brought by local governance reform, improved governance processes and inclusive development interventions. In the spirit of the "leave no one behind" principle, the project will involve vulnerable groups (incl. refugees from Ukraine).

Mittelfristige Wirkungen

Outcome 1: Partner Local Public Authorities groups manage resources and local development in a more sustainable, inclusive and accountable way.

Outcome 2: The Government promotes and coordinates the Local Governance reform in an efficient, effective and transparent manner.

Outcome 3: People in partner communities meaningfully engage in local governance processes and influence the provision of local public services

Resultate

Erwartete Resultate:  

  • Partner LPA groups have the necessary capacities and skills to improve the performance of their core functions.
  • LPA groups produce models for joint public service delivery which are available for replication. 
  • Central authorities have enhanced capacities to put in place the necessary policies, regulations and instruments for the implementation of the LG reform. 
  • Central authorities have instruments to improve communication between central and local levels on LG reform for more transparency and broader public support. 
  • Citizens of partner communities have capacities and mechanisms to participate in local decision-making processes and to hold LPAs and service providers accountable. 


Resultate von früheren Phasen:   Ma Implic project gained the reputation of a relevant and competent partner for the Government in its task to prepare and implement the Local Governance (LG) reform.
At policy level, the project made a substantial contribution to a more favourable regulatory environment for quality service provision at the local level.
At institutional level, 45 local public authorities improved the way they manage service provision. Eight groups of municipalities developed functioning partnerships. Some of these partnerships are already used also to plan and implement other joint projects, creating a fertile ground for voluntary amalgamation, which is envisaged by the Government under the ongoing LG reform.
At citizens’ level, LG practices improved in all targeted municipalities towards more transparency and inclusive citizen engagement. The project engaged a total of 125,000 people, out of which 50,000 directly benefitted from improved services (water, sanitation, solid waste management, street lighting). Women were more involved than men, and 25,000 beneficiaries were representatives of vulnerable groups. The project supported LPAs to identify barriers that hinder vulnerable groups to access services and to participate in local planning and decision-making; LPAs were also supported in ensuring a better accessibility of the physical infrastructure.


Verantwortliche Direktion/Bundesamt DEZA
Kreditbereich Ostzusammenarbeit
Projektpartner Vertragspartner
Internationale oder ausländische NGO
Privatsektor
Ausländische staatliche Institution
  • Central State of South East
  • Andere internationale oder ausländische NGO Norden
  • Schweizerischer Privatsektor
  • Skat Consulting Ltd (Switzerland) is the implementing partner. Backstopping support will be offered by DESPRO NGO (Ukraine) and DPI Development Partnership International GmbH (Switzerland). The State Chancellery of the Republic of Moldova is the Skat‘s strategic partner in the implementation of the project.


Koordination mit anderen Projekten und Akteuren The project established good coordination with the “Comunitatea Mea” (My Community) USAID-funded project that aims to strengthen local government in Moldova to become more effective and accountable to citizens. “Ma Implic” coordinates also with other SDC-funded projects that focus on enhancing development at local and rural levels (implemented by UNDP, UNFPA and Council of Europe). The project will coordinate with other like-minded development partners that facilitate Moldova`s decentralization process, strive to build local government`s capacity to meet citizens` needs, and strengthen citizen confidence in democratic institutions (USA, Germany, EU, World Bank). 
Budget Laufende Phase Schweizer Beitrag CHF    9’645’000 Bereits ausgegebenes Schweizer Budget CHF    3’950’000 Projekttotal seit Anfangsphase Schweizer Beitrag CHF   8’046’608 Budget inklusive Projektpartner CHF   18’000’000
Projektphasen Phase 2 01.11.2023 - 31.10.2027   (Laufende Phase) Phase 1 01.05.2018 - 31.12.2024   (Laufende Phase)