Since September 2024, Nadejda Burciu has been heading the Liechtenstein Development Service (LED) country office in Moldova. She coordinates the country program, oversees LED-funded projects, and serves as a liaison between the LED headquarters in Liechtenstein, local partner organizations, and government agencies. She has been familiar with the LED’s work for several years: From 2020 to 2022, she served first as a project manager and later as deputy head of the country office. She then worked for two years as a state secretary in the Moldovan Ministry of Justice.
“Our projects must respond to actual needs.”
One of her key tasks is to monitor political, economic, and social developments in Moldova and to assess whether planned projects address the actual needs. “Before new projects are reviewed, I examine them closely: Does the planned approach align with the political framework and existing programs? And are the challenges described by our partners supported by reliable data?”
She also works closely with the partners throughout the implementation process. This involves not only focusing on results, but also ensuring the prudent use of financial resources and the long-term impact of the projects.
Why a Local Presence Is Important
For Nadejda Burciu, proximity to partner organizations and target groups is crucial. “Our local presence allows us to speak with our partners regularly and, during project visits, see firsthand the impact of the projects. This allows us to better assess whether quality, efficiency, and sustainability actually meet our expectations.” At the same time, the country office strengthens the accountability of project partners and ensures that recommendations from evaluations and audits are implemented.
Another key focus for her is raising awareness of Liechtenstein’s involvement. “It’s important to me that people see the contribution Liechtenstein is making in Moldova. This aspect has been overlooked in the past, which is why I’ve deliberately made it a priority.”
Vocational Training with a Future
The LED has been active in Moldova since 2007. Today, its focus is particularly on vocational training and employability. The goal is to improve the quality and relevance of training and to make it easier for young people to enter the labor market.
External evaluations confirm that this work is having an impact. For example, in a long-standing vocational training project, the percentage of graduates in certain fields who found employment after completing their training rose from 45 percent in 2022–23 to 58 percent in 2024–25.
What motivates Nadejda Burciu personally are the changes she sees happening at a wide variety of levels. “It motivates me when I see that our work is making a tangible difference: when young people discover new technologies, when teachers acquire new skills, or when vocational schools demonstrate how they have grown as a result of the projects.”
For her, the strength of development cooperation lies precisely in this: creating new opportunities for individuals while at the same time changing structures in such a way that the impact endures beyond a single project.
