From the 24 to 30 July 48 representatives from Moldova visited Latvia. Together with the Latvian Rural forum (LRF), the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia,  local action groups (LAG) and local governments they gained experience in more than 15 Latvian cities and counties, as well as participated in a summer school – camp in  Daugavpils.

Latvian Rural forum together with their member organizations welcomed the 18 people delegation from Moldova, who were trained in the local action groups to get to know the administrative work and the institutional framework of the local action groups. Guests from Moldova gained practical information on various Latvian regional initiatives in accordance with their professional activities in Moldova.

The last three days of the visit the participants were in Daugavpils, where they participated in the summer school – camp, which was orginized in close cooperation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia. The aim of this Summer school was to provide high quality and tailor-made consultations on project planning and implemantation in fields of local government, business, tourism, etc. The main goal was to improve the necessary skills for the development planning process and to promote the exchange of experiences and networking. The local action groups and representatives of Moldova were able to identify future opportunities for collaboration, as well as to gain more knowledge and information about practical experience of cooperation projects. This  experience will provide a good base for the implementation of the LEADER approach in Moldova, which will help to revitalize the local economy, social and human capital development in rural areas of Moldova.

LRF and its member organizations already have experience of three years in cooperating with the Moldova Association Pro Cooperare Regionala (ProCoRe). Cooperation started in 2014, when the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia invited LRF to join the already existing cooperation between Latvia and the northern region of Moldova.  This cooperation then was established and still continues with the aim to provide support for the rural development and business promotion to Moldovan regions. Cooperation also helps to better identify Latvian initiatives that can serve as a model and source of inspiration for other countries. Since the 2014, support for development co-operation is co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the republic of Latvia. A particularly important aspect of this cooperation is an establishment and development of the public private partnerships in Moldova, which should be based on  cooperation between the private sector, NGOs and the governmental institutions. Such cooperation will encourage governmental organizations of Moldova to develop effective partnerships with NGOs and businesses, addressing the important issues such as revitalizing the underdevelopment of planning capacity in promoting business support, in identifying their own resources and their efficient use, development strategies and implementation based on their citizens’ needs.

Transnational cooperation activities contribute to the realization of Latvian development cooperation policy objectives by strengthening Latvia’s bilateral donor role, by promoting public understanding and support for development cooperation, as well as by contributing to the work of Latvian international development goals and international commitments. Development cooperation is assistance to poor and less developed countries in promoting  their long-term social and economic development, reducing poverty and ensuring peace and security in the world. By becoming a Member State of the European Union in 2004, Latvia has become a donor country from initially being a recipient of aid. Latvia now is fulfilling international commitments to contribute the global development and to support developing countries. Meanwhile it is important that development cooperation is not a one-way process – Latvia is not only the giver but also benefits from the process of cooperation, not only by gaining experience and knowledge, but also by getting a new quality for the future development.

These activities are realised within the framework of the project „Support to the Northern regions of Moldova by developing the regional cooperation within local partnerships and by creating a local network for a structured and effective partnership  and inter-disciplinar economic and social development solutions” (project No. ĀM/GPK-22/2016, contract No. 24). Project is co-financed by the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia.