The overall objective of the project ?A partnership for a clean environment II? was to
empower local partnerships between LPAs, CSOs, economic agents and citizens to ensure
efficient waste management. This approach is important to be carried on in the context of
the global environmental objectives, the GEF SGP Country Strategy, as well as the actions
initiated to strengthen local partnerships, to ensure mechanisms on the selective waste
collection management, which began developing in the previous stage of implementation
of the project "Partnership for a clean environment" carried out in 2019-2020.
The specific objectives of the project, which contributed to the achievement of the proposed
goal were focused on two key dimensions: 1) modernization of the infrastructure and the
process of selective waste collection in the city. Criuleni and the villages of Ohrincea and
Zolonceni and 2) strengthening the intersectoral partnership to increase the access to
sanitation services and selective waste collection conditions for a larger number of citizens,
economic agents in Criuleni City Hall. For this purpose, the activities were carried out to
update the location of the waste collection platforms, being redesigned and rebuilt 11 city
platforms and 50 garbage cans were purchased for household waste and recyclable waste
located on the redeveloped city platforms, as well as exchange visits were organized. The
category of waste subjected to recycling has also been extended, with boxes being set up
on the territory of the municipal enterprise for the storage of recyclable objects for household
use (such as old furniture, electronic equipment and household appliances). In order to
properly implement the project and strengthen the local coalition of partners and responsible
citizens, the local project coordination group was set up, which monitored the results
throughout the project. In parallel, the coordination group and the project implementation
team provided support to ensure the access to sanitation services in Ohrincea village and
elaborated local policy documents. Relevant to ensuring the impact and complex approach
of the issue was the parallel implementation of another project "Select and recycle in
order to be healthy" (supported by Equal Rights and Independent Media (ERIM) with
the financial support of the European Union), within which was conducted a comprehensive
advocacy campaign focused on educating citizens and changing attitudes.19
The successful development of environmental projects supported by GEF SGP has
stimulated the interest of other donors - the Slovak Agency for International Development
Cooperation, which funded the project "Optimizing the management system in the
Criuleni administrative-territorial unit"; implemented by Caritas Slovakia and Caritas
Czech Association ?Pro Development?.
The implementation of the project "Partnership for a clean environment" was not
easy at all, several difficulties and risks were overcome:
Increasing market prices - additional investments were attracted from partners: Caritas
Slovakia Association and Caritas Czech Republic "Pro Development" and
Criuleni City Hall.
Reluctance of economic agents and some natural persons to comply with the new
Rules - the new system approved by the LC for the application of sanctions will become a
convincing tool for those who violate the Rules.
Declarative responsibilities on the part of the Criuleni District Council - it is impossible
to lobby in the conditions of a ?war? between the President of the District and the district
councilors. The unfulfilled obligations will be taken over by the direct beneficiary of Criuleni
City Hall. AO FCPS will monitor the implementation process.
The low professionalism of some LPA workers - was offset by the project
implementation team who provided additional support in developing draft decisions for
strategic documents and approving them successfully.
During the project implementation, the project team noted the following lessons
learned:
? The continuous informing of the citizens about the harmful damages of the plastic waste
is also carried out after the completion of the project;
? The motivational policy for economic agents and natural persons that stimulates the
selective collection of waste has become a necessity;
? The clear and concrete wording of the responsibilities of the decision-makers, the joint
planning of actions and the mutually agreed resolution of issues ensure the achievement
of common goals and effective interrelationships;
? The modification of the job descriptions and the additional training of the employees
responsible for the collection and disposal of waste is an indisputable necessity. They
are directly involved in the process of monitoring the selective collection of waste from
the private sector;
? The NGO that comes up with the initiative for change is responsible for involving other
decision-makers, and must plan monitoring and post-project actions;
? Environmental projects do not end on the contract deadline, the objectives achieved
cannot be sustainable if the involvement of key actors is not continuous and persevering.