On 8 October 2015, the members of the Steering Committee of the project ‘Modernization of local public services in the Republic of Moldova’ (MLPS) held a working meeting, where was discussed the progress and main challenges of the project during the reporting period from April to September 2015.

Philipp Johannsen, Country Director of German Development Cooperation through GIZ and MLPS project manager noted that ‘German Development Cooperation through GIZ will continue supporting the Government  of the Republic of Moldova in promoting regional development policy, and implementation of pilot projects in regional development ‘. Also, GIZ Country Director stressed that there is a possibility of extending the MLPS project, but ‘this possibility will be discussed and decided at the bilateral negotiations between the Governments of Moldova and Germany planned for November this year’, said Philipp Johannsen.

In turn, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Construction Anatol Usatii, said that ‘the German Development Cooperation through GIZ, via MLPS project greatly contributed to the process of regional development in Moldova. The assistance, consultancy and support that the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction benefited from have been significant. However, in order to make progress in regional development, we need the support of development partners and effective cooperation between LPAs, civil society and the business sector from the country’, said Deputy Minister Anatol Usatii.

During the event, Valentina Plesca, National Senior Advisor on Local Public Services (MLPS) presented the current situation of the pilot projects implemented in Intervention Area 1 (IA1) and Petru Veverita, National Senior Advisor on Regional Planning and Programming talked about the progress and main challenges of Intervention Area 2 (IA2). The meeting of the Steering Committee of ‘Modernization of local public services in the Republic of Moldova’ project ended with a questions and answers session.

The project ‘Modernization of local public services in the Republic of Moldova’ is implemented by German Development Cooperation through GIZ and is financially supported by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania and the European Union.

The presentation for the reporting period April-September 2015 may be accessed HERE.