Team note
In September 2015 Moldova’s European donors including Switzerland and Turkey participated in a joint analysis workshop that was launched by the EU Head of Delegation. The joint analysis workshop focused on how European donors could use joint programming to improve the effectiveness of their cooperation both for Moldova directly and as one of the most influential development partners in Moldova. In this regard, European initiatives to better coordinate strategy and programming is complemented with the EU’s very strong relationship with the World Bank, IFC, UNDP and USAID, all of whom recognise the importance of orienting programming in support of Euro-Atlantic integration and implementation of the Association Agreement in particular. At a policy level, Moldova’s international development partners already have an international best practice in terms of working jointly together: a Briefing Book was agreed in February 2015 that essentially ensured policy continuity around shared development partner-government priorities in the context of Moldova’s three changed governments in 2015. The workshop resulted in a road map for designing a joint programme in 2016 in complement to the EU’s Single Support Framework for programming in 2017 onwards. European donors agreed the first step towards joint programing in Moldova was to use the Briefing Book (and other donor analysis such as the Country Diagnostic, currently being done by the World Bank) as a foundation for a stand-alone joint analysis of European programming in Moldova divided into thirteen chapters covering the priorities in the Association Agreement (and in the context of making the most out of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement). A first version of the joint analysis was circulated for comments in April 2016.
The joint programming document 2017-2020 provided a brief overview of the development challenges in Moldova (that are addressed in more depth in the Joint Analysis), outlined the overall strategic approach, general principles of cooperation and areas of intervention, provides details on the proposed approach in each of the four areas of intervention and cross-cutting issues, and provided an overview of the main areas of intervention of different European donors.
Joint Programming: stalled
Joint Programming Strategy 2017-2020
On 28 February 2018, the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova and the EU Member States, together with the Swiss Cooperation Office, presented the European Joint Development Cooperation Strategy 2017-2020 (Joint Programming Document) to the Moldovan government.
The Joint Strategy reflected the revised European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), the Association Agenda 2017-2019 and Eastern Partnership Priorities. It built on the Joint Analysis that was presented to the Government of Moldova in October 2016. It was structured in line with the European Union Single Support Framework 2017-2020, and was aligned with Moldova's National Development Strategy ("Moldova 2020").
The Joint Strategy was structured around four broad areas of intervention encompassing the common strategic objectives of the EU, EU Member States and Switzerland and was aligned with the EU-Moldova Single Support Framework 2017-2020:
Three cross-cutting priorities were also included: civil society, gender equality and strategic communication.
Link with policy, political dialogue and other forms of strategic engagements
Both the Joint Analysis and the preparation of the Joint Strategy involved a wide range of stakeholders: the EUD, all Member States and Switzerland, the Government, the donor community at large, and civil society. In the process of the Joint Programming the engagement with external actors continues and also applies to other exercises, including:
Link with other donor coordination mechanisms
European donors provide almost two thirds of official development assistance (ODA) to Moldova. By working together and ensuring continued coordination with the Council of Europe, UN institutions, the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, USAID and other partners, European donors can help Moldova to improve effectiveness, ownership, alignment with Government policies and mutual accountability for results. This rationale was tested during intensive EU consultations with the Government on the 8th July and 21st September 2016 and civil society on the 23rd September 2016. There was a clear consensus that joint programming should deliver visible and tangible benefits for the citizens of Moldova.
Successes and benefits observed at political and cooperation levels
Joint Policy Dialogue: The Joint Programming process built upon the successful "Briefing Book" exercise which brought development partners together to prepare a "Briefing Book" for the new Government of Moldova in March 2015. This analysis was shared publicly and key findings were communicated jointly to successive Government of Moldova in 2015 as well all main Political parties. This was followed in early 2016 by the EU Council’s Conclusions on Moldova Implementation of Projects