20 regional development projects may obtain funding for the next years from the National Fund for Regional Development

BĂLÅ¢I, 17 august 2012. 20 regional development projects, including 18 projects from the 2nd Call for Proposals (APP 2), included in the North Regional Operational Plan (North ROP), could be funded in the coming years from the National Fund for Regional Development (NFRD). However, 2 projects from APP 1 and included in the Unique Program Document (UPD) from 2010-2012 could get financing from the NFRD. These two projects have been updated and included in North ROP for 2013-2015.

This decision was accepted at the regular meeting of the North Regional Development Council (North RDC), organized by the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction (MRDC) and North Regional Development Agency (North RDA). Mainly, the meeting reported the results from the carrying out of APP 2 including the aggregation activities undertaken by North RDA in the first half of 2012. Note that 25 of the 48 members attended the meeting North RDC, which is the minimum for establishing the necessary majority to approve the decisions included on the agenda.

Director of the Directorate General for Regional Development (DGRD) of MDRC, Valerian BÎNZARU said that compared with other agencies in the country, the situation on the utilization of NFRD's financial resources is better at North RDA, which should continue with even better results. "Indeed, the Northern Region is a growing dynamic development region compared to other regions of the country. However, overall, we are not satisfied with the terms of execution of projects in the first seven months of this year," said the DGRD Director.

"The first half of 2012 was a fruitful period for North RDA activity. Level of implementation of planned activities is virtually 100%, and we have also fulfilled unplanned activities. The degree of use of financial resources allocated for the projects under implementation is about 68%, according to the approved funding plan from the beginning of the year,"said RDA North Director, Ion BODRUG. According to the director, North RDA collaboration with international development partners "is very fruitful one." He goes on to say, "In 2010 we had serious support from the Department for International Development (DFID) of the British Government, now our main development partner is the German Agency for International Development (GIZ)."

Constantin BÂNDIU, Head of Project Management at North RDA, presented completed projects as well as projects currently in progress to the members of the North RDC (see slides below). Regarding the updating of the North Regional Development Strategy (North RDS), the head of Strategic Planning and Programming Division, Inga COJOCARU, also presented at the hearing (see below).

Expert in the field of strategic planning and group leader at GIZ, Stela COROBCEANU, talked about the implementation of the GIZ project "Modernization of local public services in Moldova”.

AGENDA

• The analysis of North RDA's activity for the first half of 2012;
• Hearing of the Report on the implementation of projects financed by the National Fund for Regional Development and GIZ for the period January to July 2012;
• Assessment Report for project applications submitted during the 2nd Call for Proposals and establishing a list of projects for inclusion in the Regional Operational Plan 2013-2015.
• Debates and discussions on the report's evaluation of applications. Approval to the Regional Operational Plan for 2013-2015;
• Amendments to the Northern Regional Operational Plan 2010-2012;
• Presentation of the revised North Regional Development Strategy and the Regional Operation Plan concept.

The first meeting of the new composition of the North RDC occurred on September 13, 2011. Their last meeting was on May 18, 2012.

MORE PHOTOS

North RDC is a regional deliberative structure without legal status.  It was constituted to develop, coordinate, and monitor regional development policy in the North Development Region (RDN) consisting of the Bălți municipality, and the districts of Briceni, Dondușeni, Drochia, Edineț, Fălești, Florești, Glodeni, Ocnița, Rîșcani, Sîngerei și Soroca. The Regional Council has 48 members, consisting of district presidents, the mayor of Bălți, representatives from the association of mayors, and representatives from civil society and the private sector from each district and municipality of the North Region. Regional Council members perform their duties free of charge. For more information about RDC North, CLICK HERE.

North RDC MEMBERS (.pdf)

SLIDES