Moldova

According to the Estonian development co-operation strategy for 2011-2015, Moldova is one of the priority partner countries for Estonia. Recent years have seen an increase in bilateral co-operation due to rising demand in Moldova for Estonian expertise and know-how as well as an increase in funds available for development co-operation in general.

Strategically the Estonian development co-operation with Moldova concentrates on education, good governance and democracy-building, as well as support for economic development and environmental sustainability.

Ongoing bilateral projects include support to Moldovan Government on eTransformation and eGovernment capacity building, focusing on transferring Estonian e-government implementation experience to the Moldovan Government.

Other bilateral projects include cooperation of Estonian and Moldovan tax authorities by introducing Estonian experiences in reforming the tax system and using the e-services. Tartu University shares Estonian experience to raise the competence of lectors of Moldova State University and officers of education policy in Moldova to develop the curriculum in the field of economics and political science.

Additionally cross border projects of Moldova and Ukraine are supported to increase environmental awareness on promoting transboundary cooperation in River Dniester management and to increase the efficiency of border guard cooperation on green border using innovative ICT solutions.

A joint co-operation project of the UNDP and Estonia aims at capacity building in the field of communications and public relations management at the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. In a broader perspective the project cultivates deeper and better understanding of the role of public relations management in a modern society.

Previously we have successfully completed projects aimed at creating a prisoner registry information system for Moldova, supporting good journalism practices and the development of a free, balanced and modern public broadcasting institution in Moldova by Estonian Public Broadcasting Company.

The project aimed at empowering the people through ICT usage in schools was successfully completed in cooperation with Moldovan Ministry of Education and Youth. In March 2007, a fully equipped computer class was donated by Estonia within the framework of the project "Leap". The aim of that project was to improve IT skills in Moldovan society. The class enables training for teachers and other specialists involved in furthering ICT usage in Moldovan schools as well as in government structures. The class was officially opened in the presence of ministers from both countries.

Several co-operation projects have included Moldova along with other recipient countries. Such projects include scholarships for students and scientists working in the field of transition studies. Under this program, during a period of 3 years, 24 students from Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine will be able to spend a fully funded semester in Estonia’s Tartu University. Additionally, short-term exchange programs exist for researching scientists from the above-mentioned countries.

A project aimed at sharing Estonia’s experiences from the EU and NATO accession processes has improved the awareness of young Moldovan, Georgian and Ukrainian diplomats and civil servants on issues of trans-Atlantic cooperation. The project also includes a conference on European Neighbourhood Policy – a topic of particular importance to Moldova and other CIS countries.

A project implemented by the Estonian Border Guard focused on improving exchange of information concerning stolen vehicles. The main objective of this project was to enhance the capacity of police and border guard authorities in the region for preventing cross-border transfer of stolen vehicles. Another project implemented by the Estonian State Chancellery, aimed at sharing Estonia's experiences based on work in Riigikogu, included the training of the members of parliament of Moldova and parliamentary staff and also raised know-how on legislation.

Development co-operation projects are not coordinated solely by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Other government structures have also carried out activities qualifying as Official Development Assistance (ODA) in Moldova. The non-governmental sector is also showing increased interest in working in and with Moldova.

Projects in 2011 and 2010

1. eGovernance Academy “eTransformation and eGovernment capacity building support for the Moldovan Government”
   The main focus of the cooperation program in 2011 is to transfer Estonian e-government implementation experience to the Moldovan Government.
   State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 83 021 EUR is fully covered by MFA.
    

2. The project "Supporting the functioning of Moldovan health insurance system" is implemented by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund in 2011-2012. The objective of the project is to support the development of Moldovan health insurance system through sharing the Estonian experience.
   State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 73 412 EUR

3. Information System of Legal Executives for Republic of Moldova: Pilot Project by the Reaalsüsteemid Ltd.
   The project consists of applying a modern information system to various workplaces of legal executives in order to improve the monitoring of debtors and enforcement procedures. State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 46 194 EUR

4. Decentralized Network of Interactive Information Delivery in Moldova by DT Consulting.
   The 9 month project aims to transfer Estonian experience in developing an informational society to Moldavian NGOs. More than 20 000 people will get direct access to information services. State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 28 728 EUR

5. Peipsi Center for Transboundary Co-operation „Promoting transboundary co-operation in river Dniestr“
   The aim of the project is to raise effectiveness of cross border co-operation in transboundary river Dniestr management, inter territorial and sector co-operation, also to increase public awareness about Dniestr river environmental condition and –problems. The project main activities are compilation of Atlas of River Dniestr small tributaries; a study – tour to new Dniestr Water commission members, NGOs, environmental organizations. State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities 18 286 EUR (for Moldova 9143 EUR) out of which funding from MFA is 16 542 EUR, self – financing is 1745 EUR.
    
6. Tartu University „Training on economic policy and education system to higher education institutions and public sector officers of Moldova, sharing Estonian expertise“
   The aim of the project is to raise the competence of lecturers of Moldova State University and officers of educational policy in Moldova in the field of curriculum development (the main topics are economics and political science). Another aim of the project is to diversify the curriculum of Moldova State University and to provide training to students and officers in the education sector. As a result of the project, awareness of the participants has risen and co-operation network has been strengthened. State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 17 124 EUR, out of which funding from MFA is 16 197 EUR, self – financing is 927 EUR.
    
7. Foundation Junior Achievement Estonia „Entrepreneurship and partnership create a better future“
   The project is focused on enhancing partnership between Estonian and Moldovan organizations promoting entrepreneurship education in these countries – Junior Achievement Estonia and Junior Achievement Moldova. This project focuses on training key persons in entrepreneurship education – teachers and on increasing motivation in students towards participation in student company programme. State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 36 564 EUR, out of which funding from MFA is 32 803 EUR, self – financing is 3760 EUR.
    
8. Defendec (private limited company) „Increasing the efficiency of border guard on Moldova-Ukraine green border via transfer of Estonian experience and implementation of innovative ICT solutions“
   The current project focuses on guarding the green border and preventing the illegal movement of persons and goods over the border (Moldova and Ukraine). In the framework of the project the border guard officials of Moldova and Ukraine will be trained on the issues of adhering to the European Union, NATO and Schengen visa area. As well modern technical device meant for guarding the green border will be handed over to the border guard authorities of Moldova and Ukraine. State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 57 755 EUR (for Moldova 28 878 EUR), self – financing is 3183 EUR.
   
   
9. Estonian Tax and Customs Board „Introduction of Estonian experience and the principles of the European Union and the implementation thereof for modernizing the arrangement of Moldovan tax system and the administration of taxes in the area of e-services, supervision, control and transition prices“
   The current project focuses on organizing 5 seminars in Moldova for introducing Estonian practice and the principles of the European Union. As concerns e-services the focus is on introducing the possibilities of the call centre of the Tax and Customs Board, implementation of the e-service conception (service standards, complaints, feedback and service rendering training), the process of the income tax return of the natural persons (e-services from declaring up to the return of the income tax). The objective of this project is to enhance the administrative capacity of the Moldovan public sector, notably the capacity of the tax authority for arrangement of taxes and the administration thereof. State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 44 738 EUR is fully covered by MFA.
    
10. Estonian Ministry of Agriculture „Sustainable and successful rural planning in Moldova“
    In the framework of the project, the awareness of the officials of the Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry and its agencies of agricultural and rural policy planning was raised. The project included a 5-day seminar/study trip for Moldovan officials in Estonia for the introduction of Estonian agricultural and rural policy measures and their implementation. The project result was improved institutional capacity of Moldovan ministry to develop and implement policies. The project was implemented in 2010. State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 10 419 EUR, out of which funding from MFA is 8118 EUR, self – financing is 2300 EUR.
     
11. Scholarships for Georgian and Moldovan young diplomats and civil servants in 2010/11 academic year (Estonian School of Diplomacy)
    In the framework of the current project 2 Georgian and 2 Moldovan diplomats or civil servants will participate in a 9 month’s training on the curriculum “International relations and European integration”. The project is implemented in the academic year of 2010/2011. State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 46 788 EUR (for Moldova 23 395 EUR).
     
12. First Aid Training of trainers for Moldova Red Cross, Ukraine Red Cross and Byelorussia Red Cross National Societies (Estonian Red Cross)
    In the framework of the project the trainers of the First Aid were trained on the basis of “train-the trainers approach” resulting in training society as a whole in order to raise the capacity of adequate behavior in case of accidents. The project was implemented in 2010. State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 11 720 EUR (for Moldova 3907 EUR).
     
13. European Union Eastern Partnership. Seminars in 2010
    In the framework of the project, 2 one week seminars on civil service reform were carried out focusing Byelorussia, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan senior civil servants and diplomats. In addition, an international conference dealing with European Union Eastern Partnership issues and problems was organized in November 2010. The project was implemented in 2010. State funding allocated for the implementation of project activities: 32 096 EUR (for Moldova 11 697 EUR).

Eastern Partnership Training Centre

Since the beginning of 2011 EU Eastern Partnership Training Centre started to operate in Tallinn. Based on current experiences of Estonian School of Diplomacy, training centre will arrange training programs and seminars related to various aspects of public administration reform to eastern partnership countries, including Moldova. Centre is funded from the development co-operation budget of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Please find out more information about previous projects with Moldova on our webpage: http://www.vm.ee/?q=en/taxonomy/term/55