Activities were launched in 10 towns and 58 villages of 10 districts of Moldova to strengthen the capacities of the local public authorities within the Joint Integrated Local Development Programe (JILDP), Info-Prim Neo reports. The ten districts covered by the project are: Soroca, Donduseni, Sangerei, Calarasi, Nisporeni, Hancesti, Telenesti, Leova, Cantemir, and Ciadar-Lunga. The selection criteria were set by the Government. According to the partners of the project, they included regional proportionality, size - settlements of more than 1,500 persons – and non-discrimination, i.e. the settlements populated by ethnic minorities were also examined. The program includes assessment activities and seminars on investment attraction and regional development. There will be assessed the administrative capacities of the local public authorities to see if they are ready to assume new roles as a result of the decentralization. Pans to strengthen the capacities of the local public authorities will be drawn up on the basis of the assessment results. There will be offered grants to implement the identified initiatives. The beneficiary communities include five villages affected by this summer's floods. At the Government's request, these settlements will immediately benefit from additional assistance for flood cleanup and prevention of calamities from UNDP Moldova. Launched in 2007, the Join UNDP-UNIFEM Integrated Local Development Program aims to strengthen legal and regulatory frameworks and streamline local administrative procedures and systems. There is an emphasis on developing and implementing a framework for the effective delegation of authority to the local public authorities, fiscal decentralization to deliver essential services, and the promotion of a greater role for women in decision-making bodies. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency made a substantial contribution to the program.