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 and are running territorial platforms for economic cooperation (Territorial Economic Development Association). These drive the economic development of the regions, creation of a favourable investment climate and sustainable development of all communities;
• Over 177 local government representatives and other stakeholders, including 120 women, improved their capacity and efficiently develop and implement local strategies, plans and apply participatory budgeting. They enhanced their English language and project management skills, particularly national, EU and donor funded initiatives; learned and applied culture monetization approaches at municipal level and improved their knowledge to e-governance at local level, etc.;
• The municipalities of Cahul and Ungheni were the first in the country to have obtained and reconfirmed ISO certification for quality management and anti-bribery;
• Ungheni and Cahul focal regions successfully developed and advanced in implementing e-transformation and SMART development agenda formulated into a SMART Concept and Roadmap with objectives and priority actions. As a result, both Cahul and Ungheni municipalities are among the most advanced in the country in integrating innovation in public services delivery and local governance.

1. Ungheni region is the first in Moldova to have a SMART Regional Spatial Development Plan, developed based on advanced GIS technologies and in accordance with the EU Directive “INSPIRE”;
2. The One Stop Shops ware established in the municipalities of Cahul and Ungheni offering 17 administrative services to over 20,000 beneficiaries since their official launch in 2023; 
3. Over 1000 water meters with remote reading installed in Ungheni allowing real-time, accurate monitoring of the service; 
4. In the municipalities of Cahul and Ungheni, intelligent video monitoring systems were installed and enhance public safety; 
5. In Cahul and Ungheni city halls, digital infrastructure and IT equipment were modernized and software solutions standardized;
6. 15 kindergartens in the municipalities of Cahul and Ungheni were equipped with IT equipment: 150 Lego kits and 150 tablets. 

• 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 in urban planning and priority setting;
• Vulnerable groups were empowered to play an active role in community life and successfully carried out 10 community-level initiatives solving local development challenges;
• The network of Local Action Groups from both regions was strengthened and expanded, and play a key role in driving rural development. As such, seven Local Action Groups were consolidated and enabled to carry out more than 74 development initiatives contributing to better quality of life and job creation in the Ungheni and Cahul regions;
• The first two Inter-municipal Development Associations were established in Cahul and Ungheni regions gathering 23 local public authorities from Ungheni and 11 from Cahul, informing the regulatory decision-making process, and serving as examples for further replication in other regions of the country;
• The quality and coverage of communal services improved after local operators were of waste collection and transportation was improved in Ungheni and Cahul and their surrounding communities after the local service operators were endowed with technical equipment and machinery, relevant software (including GPS and SMART systems for remote monitoring of selective waste collection), and uniforms. Similarly, the largest water and sewerage operator in Ungheni region introduced modern SMART solutions (e.g. automated and intelligent systems for collecting and monitoring data and processes within the water supply and sewerage service, SCADA system for operational management), enabling it to provide services with high quality standards and to continuously expand its area of service;
• 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 (including duvets and towels) This support helped local authorities respond efficiently to the needs of more than 7,000 refugees from Ukraine hosted, with total assistance amounting to 100,000 euros;
• 78,000 people from both regions benefit from improved living conditions as a result of 6 local public service and infrastructure development projects: 

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 to 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. 

• 74 existing companies, and 14 social entrepreneurship initiatives benefited from financial assistance of up to 1.7 million euros and expanded business, diversified their services and products, created over 500 new jobs, including 50% for women and youth, and increased the attractiveness of focal regions for new investments;
• 4 implemented initiatives worth 1.5 million euros developed/modernized the two regions’ public infrastructure and enhanced their investment attractiveness;
• 2 brands for Cahul and Ungheni regions were developed to advance economic, social and cultural development and actively promote their image and successes, both domestically and abroad;
• The first 8 economic clusters from the country were created and institutionalized in key economic sectors from the two regions, to support economic growth, creation of new jobs and increasing the attractiveness of the Cahul and Ungheni regions for new investments;
• 41 investment profiles elaborated and were used to promote businesses and investment opportunities in the focal regions of Cahul and Ungheni both in the country and abroad;
• 8 projects of maximum 200,000 euros each, improved local community utility infrastructure and local public services that 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 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.