On 2-9 December 2013, the local authorities in the three pilot rayons – Basarabeasca, Ocniţa and Râşcani, included in the new provisions of the Public Finance Law, were trained on the new system of local public finance. These new amendments will strengthen the capacity of public authorities and increase local governance. By supporting these training efforts, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Local Government Support Project (LGSP), contributes to the objectives of the decentralization of the Government, in accordance with the Government Program, Strategy Moldova 2020 and the National Decentralization Strategy, adopted by the Parliament of Moldova.

Mayors, financial specialists, heads of finance departments and specialists of Rayon Councils received training in budgeting in 2014 in the new context, received templates and answers from local experts.

The successful implementation of the new provisions in the pilot communities will demonstrate in practice the need to speed up their application in the whole country. Amendments come to support local development through clearer distinction of responsibilities of I and II level authorities by promoting and improving the collection of local taxes, generating more revenue to be invested in community development, in local infrastructure projects, and in improving public services. By providing a higher degree of responsibility of Ist level local authorities, the autonomy of local budgets will increase by 5-8 times.   

This pilot training program for pilot communities is a joint effort of development partners of the Government of Moldova in the field of decentralization, including the Joint Integrated Local Development Program (coordinated by the Government, implemented by UNDP and UN Women and financed by the governments of  Denmark and Sweden), the USAID Local Government Support Program and the Congress of Local Authorities in Moldova, the logistics coordinator of the seminars.