“There is always a chance that things will improve.” Info-Prim Neo interview with Georgette Bruchez, country director of Swiss Cooperation Office in Moldova

[ - The Swiss Cooperation Office has worked in Moldova for ten years. Ten years means history. Every history has a first page. How was this page for you?] - This first page of our presence in Moldova was written while your country was facing severe drought and the authorities sought help from the international community. The Swiss Cooperation Office has always been responsive to such appeals. Switzerland reacted immediately to Moldova's request and provided assistance through its Humanitarian Assistance Department. [ - Why did you come to Moldova and could you say then that your presence in Chisinau will be a long-term one?] - When we came here, we realized that besides the problems caused by drought, Moldova encounters other problems and we decided to engage in other areas too, including in rehabilitating the social infrastructure. Our presence here is also a response to the Moldovan Government's calls to get involved in solving social problems. We started with implementing a project to rehabilitate the social institutions and, in parallel, a project to build water supply systems in rural areas. All the projects launched and implemented in Moldova during the first two-three years were short. We started to provide assistance in restoring the infrastructure, but that project did not seem a long-term one at that stage. In 2003, we began planning activities for a much longer period of time. At first, we did not think that Switzerland's support will last for several years. In order to understand why things happened like this, one should know how the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) works. The Agency includes a Humanitarian Assistance Department and a Long-Term Assistance Department. At the beginning, we offered humanitarian aid, but then it was decided to include Moldova in our list of priorities. This time, the Agency skipped an obligatory condition – the number of countries that benefit from long-term assistance must be limited. [ - How did the Swiss Cooperation Office look ten years ago?] - I wasn't here at that time, but my colleagues told me we had a very small office that barely accommodated the several representatives of the Office. Afterward, there were employed new persons, mainly Moldovan specialists. [ - The Swiss Cooperation Office is associated with many projects. What was your first project and why did you get involved in other areas?] - We did not have definite projects at first, but after determining the specific problems we decided to develop our activities in the water supply sector. In 2003, following requests from the Ministry of Health, we got involved in the healthcare sector – the mother and child health. We also managed to establish partnership relations with UNICEF, which produced good results. It should be noted here that we made use of the Swiss experience, technologies and know-how. The Agency has a rather rich experience in the field, also because it is implementing similar projects in Romania. In 2004-2005, at the request of the Government of Moldova, we engaged in the economic sector by providing financial assistance for rural areas. [ - As far as we know, the activities you carry out are aimed at implementing certain strategies that you strictly follow. What were the objectives of the first strategy for 2007-2009 and how were the commitments fulfilled?] [ - Until 2007, we did not have a well-defined strategy, but anyway followed certain plans. A cooperation strategy was worked out for 2007-2009. It covered mainly the three areas that I mentioned above. This strategy was supported by the Ministry of Health. The authorities' wish to implement reforms was for us the most powerful argument for providing assistance. In the water sector, we insist on building decentralized water supply systems. We understood that namely this type of systems works best in Moldova, especially in rural areas. The people who benefit from such services are very happy and contented with the better living conditions. In economy, we launched a vocational training project as employment is a major problem now in Moldova. Though the strategy I mentioned was published and rolled out in 2007, it was drafted and finalized in 2004-2005. [ - Moldova has enough lakes, rivers and springs, but faces problems related to the water supply. What is the aim of the water supply and sanitation program?] - I was surprised at such a situation and told my colleagues from Switzerland about these problems faced by Moldova. I realized it was due to historical reasons and climate change. In fact, we are concerned more about the solutions and objectives that we set and want to provide drinking water of a high quality and adequate sanitary conditions. We aim to promote a certain approach and convince the Government of Moldova to create a normative and legislative framework that will favor the extension of these projects all over Moldova. During ten years, we managed to supply water of a high quality to over 30,000 persons in about 20 villages. These projects are based on advanced technology. We offered many schools the possibility of having clean toilets. We actually want to show that these solutions are good and viable in Moldova and as many people as possible should benefit from them. From 2007, the Austrian Development Agency has co-financed the projects of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Moreover, the SDC, together with the European Union, contributes to the construction of a water supply system in Nisporeni town. The project is managed by the Austrian Development Agency. We must find a solution that will involve the entire system as we will need over 50 years to solve the water supply problem if we go from village to village. [ - The intention, it seems, is to create a model which could be applied in the future, too, without your participation] - The responsibility to provide people with water supply ultimately rests with the Government, but as long as there are certain problems and constrains, our presence, our support is absolutely necessary. We are here not to substitute the role of the government, but to offer assistance. [ - For more than five years now you have also been implementing another project, on metal health. We know well that we come from an era when nobody really cared about their health and the influence of chemicals on one's health, when pregnant women worked in the tobacco processing industry up until the day of birth. Now we have health insurance policies to pay, but we don't really have capacities and money. How does your Office get involved in this area?] - As I said earlier, the Ministry of Health has proved to be a good partner in implementing projects, a partner determined to proceed in reforming the field. The project on mental health has to do not only with how people pay attention to their health. Any problem of economic or social nature, like migration, the separation of families, make the incidence of mental disorders grow. We decided to get involved in this area after it proved that it was the least covered by other projects implemented with the support of other donors. By what we do, we seek to influence the authorities involved in the process of reforming the mental health care system to abandon the old practices and offer more space to new approaches. In the past, and in some institutions even today, the only solution for a mental derangement was hospitalization. We have a totally different approach and we think that these persons can and should be treated in community-based centers which offer medical and social services, outpatient treatment for a sustainable rehabilitation, creating at the same time conditions for these persons not to be stigmatized in society. This is a widespread practice in Europe and Moldova has all the chances to successfully implement this practice, in conformity with the declaration signed by the Moldovan Government in 2005 whereby it committed itself to reforming this field. [ - Other healthcare-related projects are in progress today, among them the modernization of the perinatology system and the regionalization of the emergency pediatric services] - Launched in 2006, the first project was extremely necessary for Moldova. The project provided all the existing 26 maternity hospitals with equipment and supplies as the personnel was trained to operate the new technology. This project helped to save the lives of many prematurely born children. Moldova made considerable progress in attaining the Millennium Development Goals by reducing maternal and neonatal death rates. These rates are, however, relatively high when compared to the situation in western countries. We understood that one major problem related to child mortality was the occurrence of domestic acchidents, so we launched a project to create a strong national network of emergency pediatric services. We strongly believe that this will allow us to save the lives of many children, in particular of the 1-5-year-olds who are more prone to such accidents. Given the nationwide character of these projects, we can assure you that their implementation will result in improved access to quality medical services for mothers and children in towns and villages, including in the remotest locations of the country. Our initiatives are perfectly interrelating with the commitments undertaken by UNICEF and WHO, which makes our efforts more concerted. [ - Following mass privatization in villages many people became land owners. But the bitter pill was the realization that agriculture needs investment to become lucrative. The banks didn't hurry to extend loans to small farmers and this leaves vast areas of land in neglect. Perhaps this was the reason why the Loan and Savings Associations needed fortification, which constitutes another project of your Office] - Financing in rural areas is still an issue, but it was more acute in th past. Of course, our effort is quite modest, but we decided to engage ourselves in this area as well in order to assist the efforts of the Wold Bank in its project dedicated to rural investment and services. What we intend to do is to strengthen the capacity of the people employed in these associations; to help them manage loans in a professional way. [-What are the goals and the budget of Cooperation Strategy for 2010-2013?] -The General Headquarters of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation recommends we focus on two priorities: Water and Health. These domains are seriously treated in the Cooperation Strategy for 2010-2013. We've carefully analyzed the actions of the Swiss Cooperation Office and we've realized we have the necessary experience and capacities to use the money efficiently in order to have a real impact upon the society. We'll focus on these two domains because we can guarantee our interventions and support will enhance a change for the better. The Strategy budget is about 5 million euros per year. It's a modest aid from the Swiss Government, but a sure one for Moldova. [-Mrs Georgette, what do you personally think about our problems and what perspectives do you forecast for the domains you're involved in?] -When you come to Moldova for the first time, you're shocked and puzzled that a EU neighboring country has such problems. I mean access to water supply, to healthcare, the migration and other issues that cannot be solved here in Moldova. [-I want to know what are the differences between Moldova and other countries you've worked in? I don't mean only differences in our favor.] -I was involved in projects in Africa and Asia... But when I came to Moldova, I felt like I returned home. Same people, same dishes, same wine. I didn't experience the same cultural shock like in other countries. I didn't have to adapt to the context which was already familiar to me. However, this was only a temporary impression. After a while, you realize things are quite different. It's difficult to understand why the locals react one way or another. They are heavily influenced by the context they had lived in decades ago. [-Ten years of activity mean more than just a biography, but a team, a team that consists of men, skills, engagement, growth. How would you describe those you are working with?] -The uniqueness of this Office is that I'm the only Swiss citizen, the rest being locals. It's an advantage to work among them because it helps me understand better and faster how Moldovans live, what’s their daily life like. I'm proud men from my team work for the benefit of their own country and this motivates them do their job consciously and passionately. [-What is your message for the communities in which you are present, for the society with which you collaborate?] -I tell them to have faith in their own forces, that they live in an interesting country with interesting men and that there's always a chance things will change for the better. [Constantin Olteanu, for Info-Prim Neo]