On Friday, September 17, 2010 the U.S. and Moldova will sign an Assistance Agreement to support a Local Governance program. Under this Agreement, the U.S., represented by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will extend to Moldova an initial grant of $3.8 million toward a total multi-year agreement in the amount of $12 million for activities that will support Moldova in the areas of fiscal and administrative decentralization and improved local governance.
Specific programs will target local elected administrative bodies in Moldova to help them improve the delivery of basic services. U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova Asif J. Chaudhry and Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat will sign the agreement, along with Janina Jaruzelski, Director of the USAID Regional Mission for Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus.
This is the second such agreement, reflecting the continuing commitment of the U.S. to the principles of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness, which provide a framework to ensure that assistance from donors is coordinated with and supportive of host-country priorities. The agreement also contributes to fulfilling the U.S. pledge to support Moldova's reform agenda and progress toward European integration.
