On 12 November 2015 in Cahul town was held the meeting of Local Steering Committee of the pilot project ‘Modernization of local public services (MLPS) in the water supply and sanitation sector in Cahul rayon’ where was signed the Additional Agreement to the Memorandum of Understanding signed in December 2014, on the inclusion of Lebedenco commune in the project on water supply and sanitation of Cahul rayon. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction (MRDC), South Regional Development Agency (South RDA), local public administration (LPA), German Development Cooperation through GIZ and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
According to the agreement, MLPS project /GIZ, which aims to develop a sustainable service and system of water supply and sanitation in Cahul rayon, received additional resources from SDC to extend the activities and funding of the investment measure related to main waterpipe Cahul – Lebedenco and construction of internal networks in Lebedenco, Huţulu and Ursoaia localities. However, by signing this agreement, there were updated the logical framework matrix and action plan of the project.
Mayor of Cahul town, Nicolae Dandis thanked donors and partners for both logistical and financial support and expressed his hope that ‘all the LPAs from the rayon will make considerable efforts and thus the confidence and support of development partners not be in vain. Through this project, Cahul rayon residents will benefit from a qualitative product and very necessary for the community – water‘.
Sergiu Cecan, head of relations with regional development institutions Department (MRDC) said that MRDC ensures the support for the implementation of projects in WSS because ‘it is one of the priority areas of regional development’ and ‘Cahul rayon, over time, proved good ideas in the development of WSS projects. However, it must be taken into consideration that for the realization of such a project is necessary to involve all actors, in order to achieve all intended results’.
Maria Culesov, Director of South RDA stated: ‘There are several projects in WSS sector in South Development Region, but we are glad that Cahul rayon is somewhat pioneer in this respect. We want to continue what we have started and we are grateful to the development partners who are actively engaged and who came with a support for the project of about EUR 2.5 million’.
Dietrich Hahn, GIZ International Senior Advisor on Local Public Services said that LPAs in Cahul rayon have assumed some responsibilities and development partners have declared their support. ‘Regional development is not just building 5 km of water pipe. This is a process with many details and problems, that need to be solved along the way, among them, for example legal and regulatory framework. We realized that the development of these utilities – water supply and sanitation – must involve many elements, namely: capacity development of those involved, information and awareness raising campaigns and planning, that have been made in this area’, stressed Dietrich Hahn.
Simone Giger, director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in the Republic of Moldova said that the institution she leads implements projects in WSS sector for approximately 15 years. ‘We are one of the partners who focused on the WSS domain for rural areas. Later on we began working on a regional and national level, by adjusting the relevant legislation or consultancy. Not long ago we decided to get involved in the field of regional development projects, and the first door in this respect is Cahul rayon. Hopefully it will be a successful project, and the objectives will be achieved, then it certainly will not be our last regional investment in the WSS’,said Simone Giger.
However, within the meeting was also signed the Cooperation Agreement between communities from ‘cluster 0’ – involving Cahul town, Crihana Veche village, Rosu village and Manta commune – which provides for cooperation for the development of a sustainable system and service of water supply and sanitation in Cahul rayon. Following the signing of the Cooperation Agreement, it is to be approved the Establishment Act of the regional operator and the package of documents required for the registration of a newly created operator as Joint Stock Company at National Commission of Financial Market (NCFM).
The event ended with a visit of development partners to Lebedenco village hall and water pumping station in Ursoaia village.
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 and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
