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May
15, 2002
Official
Launch of the Water Users Associations Development Project
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
is announcing the Official Launch of the Water Users Associations
Development Project (WUADP). The event will be held on Thursday,
May 16, 2002, 9:00 am at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Forestry, room 20, 24 Carol I Blvd., sector 3, Bucharest.
Under the direction of the USAID Mission in Bucharest, the Water
User Associations Development Project (WUADP) will provide technical
assistance and training for over 3,5 years to support the development
and strengthening of water user associations in Romania. The total
value of the project is almost 3.8 million USD.
In accordance with the USAID strategy in leveraging other donors
programs and focusing on local institution building, the program
will complement World Bank investments in irrigation system rehabilitation
through strengthening local water user communities. This project
will be responsible for leading efforts to develop sustainable
Water Users Associations on at least 200,000 ha of irrigated land
identified for rehabilitation. Activities will include assistance
for improving the legal and regulatory framework governing the
creation and management of participatory water user associations
as well as supporting the development of commercial farming operations
through consolidation and joint management of the current small
production units.
This project is implemented by PA Government Services, Inc. from
Washington DC, U.S., together with Romanian governmental and non-governmental
partner organizations.
The program is part of the USAID efforts to assure that Romania
achieve success in its transition and take full advantage of its
potential. In fiscal year 2001 USAID Romania expended over 38
million dollars for different activities in areas such as: small
and medium sized enterprises, agriculture, energy, environment,
financial & banking sectors, local government and democracy
support, child welfare and women's health.
More than half of the USAID-Romania budget is allocated to accelerate
the development of a sound private sector. USAID seeks to stimulate
private sector development through activities in targeted economic
sectors, which promise to drive Romania's future economic development,
and generate additional business opportunities for income and
employment growth. In this respect, the Romanian agribusiness
sector is an important focus of the Mission's assistance.
Dignitaries expected to attend the event include: Mr. Denny Robertson,
Mission Director-USAID, Mr. Ziad Alahdad, World Bank Chief of
Mission, Mr. Ilie Sirbu, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry,
Mr. Val Steriu, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Agriculture,
Mr. Petre Daea, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Agriculture,
representatives of other donors in Romania, representatives of
the Romanian Presidency, Parliament, and agribusiness community.
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