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Development Partner: Swiss Confederation

Development/Implementing Agency

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is the international cooperation agency of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland (FDFA). In the Republic of Moldova, it operates through the Swiss Cooperation Office in Chisinau, implementing projects in areas such as good governance, economic development, health, and infrastructure. The Chisinau office was established in the year 2000.

Contact Details

Swiss Cooperation Office / Representation of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Moldova

Guido Beltrani (Director of Cooperation)

Address: 23 Mateevici str., Block B, Chisinau, MD-2009, Republic of Moldova

Tel: +373-22-796938/44 | Fax: +373-22-796935

Email: chisinau@sdc.net

www.swiss-cooperation.admin.ch/moldova/

Legal Framework for Cooperation

The legal framework is established by the Agreement on Humanitarian and Technical Cooperation, signed between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of the Swiss Confederation on September 20, 2001, and ratified by the Parliament on December 28, 2001.

Important documents and mechanisms include:

• Framework Agreement (2001) on humanitarian assistance and technical cooperation.
• Switzerland's Cooperation Programme for the Republic of Moldova 2025–2028.
• Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the EFTA member states (which includes Switzerland).
• Social Security Agreement, which enables the recognition and transfer of pension rights for citizens who have worked in both states.
• Sectoral Memorandums and Agreements in healthcare, public administration, anti-corruption, and asset recovery.

Strategic Programming Documents

Bilateral cooperation is guided by strategic documents that align Swiss priorities with the national needs of the Republic of Moldova:

• Switzerland's Cooperation Programme 2025–2028: The main strategic document defining intervention pillars and allocated financial resources.
• Framework Agreement on Cooperation: Establishes the permanent legal basis for bilateral relations.
• National Development Strategy "European Moldova 2030": The national document orienting projects towards country-level development priorities.
• Growth Plan for the Republic of Moldova: Ensures alignment of projects with structural reforms and European integration processes.
• Sectoral Programmes: Specific plans dedicated to distinct areas (health, economic development, local public authorities, water and sanitation).

Priority Sectors / Areas of Cooperation

In recent years, Switzerland's strategic portfolio has focused on the following directions:

• Modernization of medical services, the emergency system, and improving conditions in maternity wards.
• Sustainable water supply and sanitation projects in rural communities.
• Reforming and increasing the efficiency of local public administration.
• Local economic development and stimulating employment opportunities.
• Humanitarian support and direct assistance for refugees from Ukraine.
• Strengthening an active civil society and supporting independent local mass media.

Type of Funds and Modalities of Assistance

Assistance is provided in the form of **non-reimbursable financial funds (grants)**, technical assistance, and international expertise, coordinated by the SDC through its Chisinau Office.

Partner beneficiaries include:

Programming, Approval, and Implementation Procedures

Projects follow the standard project cycle management used by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), structured into five essential stages:

• Programming: Joint analysis of needs and identification of priority sectors for intervention.
• Project Design: Elaborating the technical proposal, objectives, action plan, and budget.
• Approval: Internal technical/financial evaluation and the official signing of the financial agreement.
• Implementation: Carrying out planned activities by partner institutions and organizations.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Rigorous verification of funds utilization, intermediate results, and final impact.

Special Conditions and Eligibility Criteria

Special Conditions:

• Clear alignment with the objectives of the Switzerland–Republic of Moldova Cooperation Programme.
• Presentation of transparent objectives, a logical activity plan, and fully measurable results.
• A realistically substantiated, economically justified, and transparent budget.
• Demonstration of the operational and institutional capacity of the applicant organization.
• Cross-cutting adherence to the principles of social inclusion and sustainable development.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Direct relevance of the assistance to the target groups and final beneficiaries.
• Estimated impact at the social, economic, or institutional reform level.
• Sustainability of the project (the ability of results to endure after the funding ends).
• Optimal cost-benefit ratio and efficiency in resource management.
• Existence of performance indicators and clear evaluation mechanisms.

Switzerland's Largest Projects in Moldova

Regulatory Framework and Reference Documents