OREANDA-NEWS. September 10, 2013. A new Country Partnership Strategy for the Republic of Moldova for 2014-17 was discussed today by the World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors. The four-year strategy will guide the World Bank Group’s support to the country. 

The new strategy foresees total financial support by the World Bank Group of USD570 million, with access to the International Development Association (IDA), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) funding. The strategy is fully aligned with the country’s development goals and will help address key challenges to unlock the potential for sustainable economic development, shared prosperity, and poverty reduction.

”This Country Partnership Strategy seeks to deliver direct benefits to the people of Moldova”, said Abdoulaye Seck, World Bank Country Manager for Moldova. ”It  aims to support critical reforms that will help create jobs and raise incomes, improve access and quality of public services, and protect the people of Moldova from the vulnerabilities associated with recurrent droughts, floods, and other natural disasters.”

The strategy will support Moldova across three main pillars:

Increasing competitiveness by: i) improving the business environment and infrastructure for business operation; and ii) boosting competitiveness in agriculture;

Enhancing human capital and minimizing social risks by: i) improving quality of access to health and education services; and ii) strengthening a fiscally sustainable and equitable pension and social assistance system; and

Promoting a green, clean and resilient Moldova by: i) enhancing adaptation and resilience to climate change; ii) improving natural resources management, and iii) increasing energy efficiency and security.

 IFC’s operations in Moldova will continue to focus on investment and advisory activities that enable private sector growth and diversification in support of the main strategy pillars.

 "IFC support over the next four-year period will target investments in key sectors, including agribusiness and related industries”, said Ana Maria Mihaescu, IFC Country Representative for Moldova. “We will also aim to support trade and increased access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and attract private investors to develop infrastructure.”

A major focus of the strategy will be to address governance issues that affect public sector performance and accountability, and business environment.  A gender focus will aim to increase the number of female beneficiaries of World Bank Group projects.