The evaluation focused on two projects implemented by Caritas Czech Republic in Moldova and Asociația Obștească Pro-Development in the sector of medical and social homecare services: Support and Assistance to the Social Sector in Moldova implemented in 2017-2020 and Ensuring the quality and accessibility of medical-social homecare services in the Republic of Moldova implemented in 2019-2022. The projects built on the support provided to the integrated medical and social homecare services by Caritas Czech Republic since 2007. The evaluation also considered work carried out in the previous projects in the sector as sustainability was a key learning focus of the assignment.

The main purpose of this evaluation was to obtain independent, objective and consistent findings, conclusions and recommendations that can be utilized in the decision making by MFA, in cooperation with CzDA and with other participants, about the future focus and implementation of development projects in the evaluated sector, considering the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Bilateral Development Cooperation Programme between the Czech Republic and Moldova 2018-2023. The evaluation focused on the assessment of effectiveness and impacts as well as on the verification of sustainability and identification of lessons learned from the completed project including relevance of the approach to increasing access to affordable, quality social and medical homecare services for the elderly and persons with disabilities.

The project aims at the provision of an environmentally sound and hygienically safe water supply at cost covering and socially acceptable tariffs in parts of the districts of Straseni and Calarasi. The main infrastructure consists of a transmission main pipeline from the capital Chisinau to these two districts and improvements of the water supply networks in respective towns and villages. The accompanying measures component (AMC) includes the institutional strengthening of the Project Executing Agency (PEA, ADR Centru) and the transformation of the local operators into regional operators of their respective districts.

Main task is providing consulting, advisory and implementation support and training services to the operators (Apa Canal Straseni and Apacanal Calarasi) with respect to public relations, customer communication and stakeholder engagement. This includes: Assessment of Status Quo at Apa Canals and PEA during the inception phase. Elaborating the public relations, stakeholder participation and customer service concept. Providing awareness and public information training to Apa Canals’ staff and initiating information and awareness raising campaigns (addressing tariff increase, water savings and other relevant topics). Support to planning and implementation of workshops and seminars, horizontal learning. Contribution to the Communication and visibility plan.
Support and assistance to the he AMC Team Leader and other experts, with the realization of their tasks as required.

The dumpsite of hazardous waste in Cismichioi has been developed between 1977 – 1987. It contains between 4-16 thousand tons of pesticides and other chemical substances stored in concrete cases and underground repositories, partially isolated by plastic wraps. Their estimated volume could be up to 27,000 m3. The exact content of the storages, status of their protection or the level of potential leakages in the surrounding areas are not known. The purpose of the project is the identification and assessment of potential environmental risks and liabilities and the preparation of a detailed feasibility study outlining mitigation measures in accordance with guidelines of the Czech Ministry of Environment.

Consultancy services encompassed support with project planning, budgeting and formulation, technical aspects of tender documentation, as well as with the evaluation of proposals. The consultant also provided implementation support and technical backstopping and assists the CZDA with monitoring of project progress and results.

The evaluation included two projects: Monitoring surface water and flood protection in the Reut River Basin (2006 - 2008) and Rehabilitation of Network of Monitoring Stations in Watershed of the River Prut – Modernization of Information System and Flood Protection (2010-2012). Both projects aimed at improving standards of information required for the preparation of flood protection measures in Moldova by developing a system that would provide speedy and accurate information on the status of surface water levels and their prognosis for the watershed of the rivers Prut and Reut. The purpose of the evaluation was to obtain objectively substantiated information to be used for decision making on the overall perspective and future involvement of the Czech development cooperation in the environmental sector, sub-sector hydrometeorology and Climatology.
Evaluation focussed on the assessment of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and long-term impacts. Cross cutting issues included: Good governance, human rights and gender, viability of technical solution and consideration of environment and climatic changes. Formulated recommendations pertaining to the projects as well as to the continuation, processes and mechanism of Czech development cooperation in the environmental protection sector in Moldova.

The project aimed to improve the environment and health of population by the mitigation of negative environmental impacts caused by pollution from petroleum substances deposited at a former military airport in Mărculeşti. Extensive leakages from improperly secured fuels cause pollution of groundwater that the majority of population in the area uses as source of drinking water. Rehabilitation of the area started with the assessment of risks followed by a feasibility study. A hydraulic pump and treat technology has been selected as the best option for groundwater treatment. The decontamination process is systematically monitored and data series used for prognosis of pollution migrations and for updating risk analysis.

Consultancy services encompassed support with project planning, budgeting and formulation, technical aspects of tender documentation, as well as with the evaluation of proposals. The consultant also provided implementation support and technical backstopping and assisted the CZDA with monitoring of project progress and results.

In Moldova, blanket use of pesticides in agriculture has been discontinued in the nineties. The remaining supplies have been stored in regional central storages without detailed evidence of their chemical composition. Solid pesticides in plastic bags were stored in closed plastic barrels, liquid in metal barrels. A number of donors launched projects aiming at their removal including, since 2011, the Czech Republic. The project focused on Singerei, Oniscani, Pelivan and Papauti localities with the aim to remove and dispose of the toxic waste, and to assess the environmental and health impacts of the residual pollution.
The consultancy included identification of warehouses with obsolete pesticides in the project area, the assessment of their condition and potential risks and the prioritization of interventions. On the basis of this assessment, the consultant assisted with drafting project and tender documentation including budget and with providing implementation support and monitoring services including recommendations for the Czech Development Agency on future direction of the similar interventions in the project area.