On March 10, the Municipalities of Roșcani, Telița and Calfa took an important step for their communities by signing the Intermunicipal Association Agreement and the Grant Agreement within the “MĂ IMPLIC” Project, funded by the Government of Switzerland and implemented by SKAT.

The event marks the strengthening of an intermunicipal partnership through which the three municipalities are joining efforts to develop and modernize the waste collection and solid waste management service.

Through this collaboration, the local public authorities aim to create a more efficient, better organized and more accessible public service that responds to the current needs of the communities and contributes to improving citizens’ living conditions.

What do the three localities aim to achieve?

The Roșcani–Telița–Calfa partnership aims to develop a modern joint service that includes:

✔️ equipping the operator with modern equipment for waste collection and transportation;
✔️ developing the necessary infrastructure for efficient waste collection and management;
✔️ improving the organization of collection routes and schedules;
✔️ strengthening the institutional capacity of the operator responsible for providing the service;
✔️ informing and engaging citizens in proper and responsible waste collection.

Investments for the development of the service

The total estimated value of the investment is approximately 4,796,000 MDL, of which:

• 2,500,000 MDL – non-repayable funding provided by the Government of Switzerland through the “MĂ IMPLIC” Project;
• 2,296,000 MDL – contribution of the partner municipalities Roșcani, Telița and Calfa.

Chișinău, 20 January 2026 – The MĂ IMPLIC Project – Civic Engagement in Local Governance (Phase II, 2023–2027) presented the results achieved during the period May–October 2025, as well as the priorities for the next implementation phase, at the fifth meeting of the Steering Committee, held at the Government of the Republic of Moldova.

The event brought together representatives of the State Chancellery, central public authorities, including the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development (MIDR), the Ministry of Environment, and the National Center for Sustainable Energy (CNED), the Swiss Cooperation Office in the Republic of Moldova, as well as the project implementation team.

The municipalities of Volintiri, Copceac, Alava and Marianca de Jos are taking an important step toward improving local public services by strengthening inter-municipal cooperation in the field of solid waste management. The initiative is supported by the MĂ IMPLIC Project, with funding from the Swiss Government, and aims to create a more efficient, sustainable, and citizen-oriented service.

The presentation and signing of the Grant Agreement took place on 23 January 2026 in Volintiri, bringing together representatives of partner local public authorities and the MĂ IMPLIC Project.

During the event, the mayors of the four municipalities presented the jointly developed Solid Waste Management Service Improvement Plan, which sets out the stages for service development. The document provides for concrete planning measures, investments in infrastructure and equipment, as well as actions to inform and engage citizens.

The Plan includes:

• improving infrastructure and equipping the service with modern equipment;
• organizing and optimizing waste collection in all partner municipalities;
• increasing recycling rates and reducing uncontrolled waste disposal;
• strengthening the administrative and operational capacity of the inter-municipal service.

Waste management remains one of the biggest challenges for local authorities in the Republic of Moldova, especially in rural areas. The lack of infrastructure, high costs, and limited administrative capacities make it difficult to provide sustainable and efficient services. In this context, inter-municipal cooperation becomes a strategic and sustainable solution.

On January 15, 2026, Partnership #14, formed by the municipalities of Zîrnești, Cucoara, Doina, Larga Nouă, Andrușul de Jos, Andrușul de Sus, Roșu, Badicul Moldovenesc, and Baurci Moldoveni, signed the Grant Agreement within the “MĂ IMPLIC” Project. This is currently the largest inter-municipal partnership established under the MĂ IMPLIC Project at national level.

The mayor of Zîrnești, Nicolae Beju, opened the event, followed by a message from Matthias Morgner, team leader of the implementation project, who praised the high level of cooperation within the group. The President of Cahul Rayon, Pavel Groza, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of joint projects for local development and environmental protection.

The atmosphere was one of trust and openness, as participants stressed the need for concrete and shared actions. “Inter-municipal cooperation is no longer just an option—it’s a necessity. Together we can build better and more accessible services for all our citizens,” said Nicolae Beju, host of the event.

During the meeting, the mayor of Andrușul de Sus, Ina Codreanu, presented the Service Improvement Plan, implementation steps, and planned investments.

Key investments under the project include: the modernization of the collection system, distribution of household waste bins, compost containers, and the development of a temporary waste storage facility that meets environmental standards.

Thanks to the support of the Government of Switzerland, the nine municipalities will benefit from financial and technical assistance to develop infrastructure, train local actors, and engage citizens in the decision-making process.

The total estimated budget of the initiative is approximately 3.1 million MDL, of which 64.15% is provided by the MĂ IMPLIC Project, and 35.85% comes from the combined contributions of the nine partner municipalities.

“Each locality has its challenges, but together we have solutions. Partnering means more than saving money—it means a shared vision for the future,” said Ina Codreanu, Mayor of Andrușul de Sus.

The Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul” (IDIS), as a partner of the project “MĂ IMPLIC – Civic Engagement in Local Governance,” organized training sessions on November 19 and 21, 2025, dedicated to the budgetary process and the management of public revenues. The events brought together 40 representatives of local public authorities.

The aim of the sessions was to strengthen the capacity of Local Public Authorities (LPAs) in planning, managing, and effectively monitoring local budgets, as well as in applying modern practices of public revenue administration. The objectives included strengthening LPAs’ knowledge of the budget development, adoption, and execution process; analyzing the sources of local budget revenues; enhancing practical skills for managing own revenues and identifying new opportunities for their growth; determining the role of local taxes in the structure of public budgets; and examining best European practices and case studies adapted to the realities of Moldovan communities.

“Strengthening these competencies directly contributes to the ability of communities to finance quality public services, increase their investment attractiveness, and encourage citizens’ participation in decision-making. All of this translates into better living standards and well-being,” said Angela Matcov, Capacity Development Adviser within the MĂ IMPLIC Project.

“Proper and responsible financial management is the foundation of efficient local governance, capable of meeting community needs. Through these sessions, we aim to support local authorities in developing modern and effective approaches that enable realistic budget planning, revenue optimization, and improved internal processes,” stated Carolina Ungureanu, Deputy Director of IDIS “Viitorul.”

“We are confident that applying the knowledge gained from these sessions will contribute to better management of public finances and to strengthening institutional capacities at the local level,” said Angela Boguș, economist and expert in local public administration and public finance, trainer of the sessions.

“This activity is very useful for improving knowledge in planning and managing community resources. If we want a developed village, we need to build competencies in managing public finances,” emphasized Ina Codreanu, Mayor of Andrușul de Sus, Cahul district.

“We are currently in the process of consulting the local budget with citizens. There are some challenges in motivating citizens to participate. If the budget is consulted and implemented according to citizens’ expectations, it becomes a fair budget, and it makes the mayors’ work easier,” said Ala Procopciuc, Mayor of Călinești Commune, Fălești district.

The communities of Sîngereii Noi, Bilicenii Vechi and Heciul Nou have taken an important step toward a cleaner environment and better public services. On November 18, the representatives of the three Municipalities signed the Cooperation Agreement and the Grant Agreement within the MĂ IMPLIC Project, funded by Switzerland and implemented by SKAT. This event officially marks the beginning of the implementation of a modern intercommunal solid waste management service..

A mature partnership built on collaboration and trust

The road to signing the Grant Agreement was not a simple one. It required months of careful work in which the Municipalities of Sîngereii Noi, Bilicenii Vechi and Heciul Nou brought together people, ideas and responsibilities. Everything started with open discussions with residents – public consultations through which the community clearly expressed its needs and expectations.

Then came the technical stage: detailed analyses, financial calculations, evaluation of different service delivery models, and selecting the solution that best fit all three communities. Meanwhile, the local administrations worked on improving the legal framework needed to ensure that the new service can operate correctly and transparently.

These efforts led to the creation of the Service Improvement Plan (SIP) – a comprehensive document that outlines how the service will be organized, what equipment is needed, how the infrastructure will look, and what costs must be covered to ensure long-term sustainability. At the same time, tariffs and the Citizens’ Engagement Plan were approved—both essential for transparent and efficient operation.

The signing of the grant today confirms that all these steps were carried out with seriousness and responsibility. More than a formality, this moment reflects the strength of joint effort and a mature partnership built with the continuous support of the MĂ IMPLIC Project.

Estimated total investment value: 4 935 280  MDL:

 3.88  mln MDL – on-reimbursable funding offered by the Swiss Government through the MĂ IMPLIC Project;

1.05 mln MDL – local contribution of the three Municipalities.

Although the signing of the grant is an important and long-awaited milestone, the real challenge starts now. In the coming months, the three Municipalities, together with the Municipal Enterprise “Salubsincomserv”, will enter an intensive implementation stage—one that will transform plans on paper into a functional, visible service accessible to every household.

The first step will be organizing and testing collection routes to identify the most efficient paths and understand real needs in the field. In parallel, the enterprise’s staff will be trained to ensure the service is modern and well-coordinated.

But the success of such a service also depends on people. Therefore, an extensive period of public information and citizen engagement will follow, during which residents will learn how the system works, how they can subscribe, how to sort waste correctly, and what responsibilities each household has.

The subscriber base will gradually expand so that as many families as possible can be included. Implementing selective waste collection will change long-standing habits and bring the communities closer to a cleaner, more responsible way of living.

At the same time, the Municipal Enterprise will need to maintain equipment in good condition and ensure the financial sustainability of the service—an essential requirement for long-term results.

All these efforts will culminate in the long-awaited moment: the official launch of the intercommunal waste management service—a concrete and visible change for all three communities.

Between August and September 2025, as part of the “MĂ IMPLIC – Civic Engagement in Local Governance” project, implemented by SKAT with the support of Switzerland, six training workshops were organized to strengthen public waste management services. The activities were carried out in collaboration with the “E-Circular” Association.

A total of 145 participants took part in the workshops — specialists from municipalities and municipal enterprises, authorized operators, teachers, and community representatives — coming from more than 40 localities, including Bădiceni, Cotova, Șeptelici, Cupcini, Brătușeni, Ciuciuleni, Bobeica, Dezghingea, Pruteni, Risipeni, Telenești, Hîncești and others. The atmosphere was highly dynamic, with participants working in groups, reviewing real-life examples, and sharing experiences from their communities.

Out of the 14 local partnerships involved in Phase II of the project, 10 applied for improving communal household services — specifically solid waste management — representing 40 municipalities. The workshops were designed to directly support these local initiatives by:
• strengthening the capacities of local public authorities,
• enhancing the technical knowledge of municipal enterprises,
• facilitating cooperation between LPAs, service operators, and citizens.

The regional workshops offered clear explanations on waste legislation, the legal obligations of LPAs and service providers, and the steps required to organize separate waste collection. Participants discussed:
• collaboration with extended producer responsibility systems (EcoRep, FinPlast),
• the types of contracts and procedures required,
• methods to improve oversight and monitoring of the public service.

The intercommunal workshops, held in Călinești and Bădiceni, highlighted the role of citizens, schools, and local businesses in ensuring an effective public sanitation service. Discussions focused on the waste hierarchy, prevention, composting of biodegradable waste, practical measures to reduce plastic pollution, and the involvement of communities in monitoring the service.

Participants also interacted directly with authorized operators such as SRL FinPlast and EcoRep and learned from successful models implemented in other localities. One example is the sanitation operator from Borogani, which successfully connected the majority of households in the municipality to the waste collection service — a replicable and inspiring model for many communities.

For many municipalities, these training sessions provided practical opportunities to better understand legal responsibilities, analyze real models of service organization, identify locally adapted solutions, and involve citizens in developing public services. The workshops were widely appreciated as useful, hands-on, and necessary for strengthening modern and efficient waste management services aligned with citizens’ expectations.

On September 26, 2025, the Municipality of Cupcini hosted an important event for the community – the signing of the Grant Agreement within the “MĂ IMPLIC” project, funded by the Government of Switzerland and implemented by SKAT. The event officially marked the collaboration between the municipalities of Cupcini, Chetroșica Nouă and Stolniceni, forming Intercommunal Partnership #3 aimed at developing a joint solid waste management service for the benefit of local citizens.

The partnership was established as a response to the need to modernize the existing sanitation service, expand coverage, and implement solutions adapted to the local context.

What do the three LPAs aim to achieve??

✔️ Equip the intercommunal operator with modern equipment: collection trucks, bins, containers and a baling press;

✔️ Set up waste collection platforms and temporary storage areas;

✔️ Install a video monitoring system to prevent illegal dumping;

✔️ Strengthen the organizational capacity of the municipal enterprise;

✔️ Run awareness campaigns on selective waste collection and environmental protection.

Total estimated investment: 6,040,150 MDL:

4.82 million MDL – non-reimbursable funding from the Government of Switzerland, through the “MĂ IMPLIC” project
1.21 million MDL – local contribution from the three municipalities

Through this project, the municipalities of Cupcini, Chetroșica Nouă and Stolniceni have committed to a shared vision – to build a reliable and sustainable waste management service that serves the citizens of the three localities efficiently and equitably.

These investments will help raise sanitation standards, reduce environmental risks, and foster civic responsibility among residents.

The “MĂ IMPLIC – Phase II” project continues to support the development of rural communities in the Republic of Moldova through investments that bring direct benefits to people. On 18 September 2025, the communes of Risipeni and Călinești in Fălești rayon signed cooperation agreements, paving the way for energy efficiency interventions designed to improve the daily lives of residents and modernize public infrastructure.

In Risipeni, around 25 private households will undergo improvements such as the replacement of windows and doors and thermal insulation of the attic. These measures are expected to increase the energy efficiency of homes by about 30%, reduce heat losses, and lower energy bills. In the near future, a public call will be launched, allowing other residents of the commune to apply and benefit from similar interventions.

In Călinești, the investment focuses on the Cultural House, which also hosts the town hall, library, and other public institutions. Through interior renovations and thermal insulation of the attic floor and socle, the building will become more comfortable and energy-efficient. The value of the grant allocated for this intervention amounts to 45,000 Swiss francs (approximately 900,000 MDL).

Through these interventions, residents of Risipeni and Călinești will benefit from better-insulated homes and public buildings, a higher standard of living, and reduced energy consumption. Bills on energy and heating will become more affordable, while the communities will also contribute to environmental protection by reducing resource losses and emissions.