During December 2025, CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, together with the School of Public Administration (SPA) of the State University of Moldova, organized a series of trainings entitled “Administrative-territorial organization and multi-level governance in the Republic of Moldova”. The trainings were held in Balti, Cahul, Comrat, and Chisinau and were dedicated to local public servants, local elected representatives, and staff from decentralized public services, as well as teachers, master’s, and doctoral students.
The sessions were designed to strengthen the capacity of public servants to implement administrative reforms and support multi-level governance in the context of European integration and the decentralization of public services. The activities aimed to increase understanding of the mechanisms of public administration, the relationships between levels of government, and possible scenarios for the evolution of administrative-territorial reform.
The training sessions were moderated by Sergiu Palihovici, PhD in political science and director of SPA, who provided participants with a framework for synthesis and reflection on the main challenges and perspectives in the field. The training session in Comrat was moderated by CMI experts Mihail Shalvir and Igor Guseinov, who facilitated applied discussions and exchanges of experience tailored to the regional context.
During the final training session in Chisinau, Oxana Paierele, program coordinator at the Embassy of Sweden in Chisinau emphasized the relevance of the topics covered and the importance of an in-depth analysis of the administrative-territorial reform, including the current situation and possible scenarios for its evolution. Natalia Djandjgava, CMI country manager, praised the joint efforts to inform and train civil servants, highlighting the importance of understanding state organization, multi-level governance mechanisms, relations between different levels of government, and strengthening inter-institutional cooperation in the national context.
The training sessions organised in the regions included theoretical presentations, small group work, guided discussions, and exchange of experience between participants and trainers, and addressed topics essential for good governance and the development of local public administration.
During the training sessions, over 100 local government officials were trained in local autonomy and multi-level governance, becoming better informed and prepared to participate in administrative reforms actively. The activities allowed for the identification of research and training topics that will form the basis for future initiatives. Participants appreciated the usefulness of the courses for strengthening professionalism and addressing administrative challenges in their communities.
The activity was part of the actions planned in the partnership between CMI and USM/SPA established by the Memorandum of Understanding signed within the project “Supporting institutionalized and sustainable dialogue on Gagauzi Autonomy”, implemented by CMI and funded by Sweden.
