Switzerland and Austria offers Moldova EUR 4 million to modernize water supply

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Austrian Cooperation Agency signed today, on 13 May 2016, with the Ministry of Environment of Moldova the agreement on implementation of ‘Strengthening the institutional framework in the field of water supply and sanitation in the Republic of Moldova’ project.

‘Preparations for signing the agreement lasted 2 years; we support this project financially, while the Republic of Moldova shall implement it. It should be clear that the entire support comes directly to the Ministry of Environment and to all ‘Apa-Canal’ institutions from all Rayons. Switzerland and Austria will follow the process of implementation very thoroughly and carefully so as to ensure its transparency to the benefit of Rayons’ residents’, said Gerhard Schaumberger, head of Coordination Office for Technical Cooperation and signatory on behalf of Austria.

The project aims to develop water supply and sanitation, costs EUR 4.4 million and is fully funded by Switzerland and Austria. It will be implemented during a period of 3 years and a half, from 2016 to 2019. The overall purpose of this project is to improve public health in Moldova in terms of water-related diseases.

The Minister of Environment, Valeriu Munteanu, said that ‘The Republic of Moldova needs about EUR 2 billion to provide all citizens with water and sanitation. Unfortunately, in the last 25 years of independence we supplied people with water and sanitation as we could, more with water and less with sanitation with a pretty flawed management process’.

As as result of project implementation the water monitoring network will be modernized and technical rules and standards will be updated. A Water Resources Information System – SIRA and the Water Cadastre will be created. And from the next week the Steering Committee to monitor the implementation of the ‘Strengthening the institutional framework in the field of water supply and sanitation in the Republic of Moldova’ project will be established.

The Director of Swiss Cooperation Office, Simone Giger, said that ‘Switzerland and Austria support the increase in number of Moldovans with access to water and sanitation. The main commitment for us is access to clean water and sanitary conveniences’.

The State Chancellery, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Regional Development and Construction, ‘Apele Moldovei’ Agency, ‘Moldova Apa-Canal’ Association, CALM, LPAs and the Civil Society are project partners on behalf of the Republic of Moldova.