Twenty communities from both banks of Nistru River will implement infrastructure projects, with the support of the European Union. The initiatives were selected within the Support to Confidence Building Measures" Program. Local population will benefit of renovated social infrastructure institutions, i.e. health, education, culture, sports, thanks to investments in total amount of €3 million, IPN reports.

According to a press release of the Program’s team, the rehabilitation works will start by the end of 2015. The financial value of each project is of €94,000 -190,000 Euro. "The European Union through the Support to Confidence Building Measures Program does all possible to foster the existing and establish new cross-river platforms for co-operation by joint initiatives involving local authorities and civil society organizations,” said the European Union Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova Pirkka Tapiola.

The projects were selected from 135 proposals submitted by 95 localities from both bank of Nistru River. "We are delighted to see how the joint efforts of local communities, beneficiaries, and implementing partners are progressing in identifying proposals aimed at building trust and confidence between people on both banks of the river. We strongly believe that through the implementation of these projects a tangible difference will be made in improving the quality of life of the people,” said the UNDP Deputy Representative Narine Sahakyan.

Among the buildings to be modernized are the Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Domestic Violence and Trafficking in Tiraspol, the Department of Infectious Diseases of Rezina District Hospital, and others. In order to engage communities that have not previously been involved in the Program, Contact Centre and NGO Interaction from Tiraspol provided consultancy in capacity development to more than 50 localities. Overall, 30 projects to optimize social infrastructure on both banks of Nistru river will be funded. Another call for proposals will be launched in 2016. Both banks of Nistru will benefit equally of these projects.

The “Support to Confidence Building Measures” Programme supported 50 social infrastructure improvement projects since 2009. The Support to Confidence Building Measures Program is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Program.