Enhancing the Economic Regulatory System for Moldova’s Water Supply and Sanitation
This report aims to support the development of a sound economic regulatory system for the water supply and sanitation (WSS) sector in the Republic of Moldova (hereafter “Moldova”). The prevailing policy framework calls for drastic developments in WSS to modernise and optimise WSS systems and improve operational efficiency (non-revenue water, staff-output ratios etc.) – in line with domestic and international commitments (including the Association Agreement with the European Union, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and the national WSS strategy). This report outlines ways and means for strengthening the capacity of the Moldovan government to provide sound regulation and that of WSS operators to deliver higher standards of service while ensuring the affordability of WSS services. Such a transition cannot happen overnight. It requires a sound economic regulatory system conducive to affordability, cost recovery and debt servicing, and a realistic performance improvement path for water utilities.
Also available in: Russian
The proposed roadmap recognises the high complexity of sector regionalization (Extract from the World Bank [2013] Regionalization Review)
The roadmap spans over ten years and acknowledges key challenges, such as raising the interest of local councils (LCs) and building on utilities with limited capacity. In Moldova, the implementation of regionalisation would be initiated, promoted and managed by the government, whereas decision makers are hundreds of local and municipal councils. The regionalisation process would therefore likely be long and strenuous, as is the case in most foreign regionalisation experiences. The proposed roadmap includes four main phases spanning over at least ten years:
Also available in: Russian