CoM East Team

Iryna Horodyska has more than 6 years of experience in energy efficiency and climate mitigation projects. As Helpdesk Coordinator for the project “Supporting participation of Eastern Partnership and Central Asian Cities in the Covenant of Mayors” she assisted municipalities on a daily basis, supporting them in data collection for CO2 monitoring, elaboration of a Baseline Emission Inventory (BEI), development of Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) and in the conduction of Energy Days. Additionally, she provided administrative and technical support to experts working at municipal level in 6 EaP countries as well as Territorial and National Covenant Coordinators, Covenant Supporters and other stakeholders. In the course of this work, she facilitated communication and knowledge exchange between the experts, the Covenant Office in Brussels and the Joint Research Center (JRC). Additionally she was also involved in the adaptation of the Covenant methodology and technical materials to the Covenant East realities and collected, identified and outlined best practices. Iryna Horodyska organised and conducted capacity building trainings, networking events and study visits within Covenant-East project for the representatives of local authorities, regional administrations and ministries. She has strong coordination and networking skills. Her communication and trainee experience is obtained during 10-years projects’ implementation.

Dr Maria Falaleeva is an expert in climate policy and governance, urban sustainability and stakeholder engagement with 15 years of international experience in research, consultancy and education. Maria has worked in research and educational institutions in Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany. She has also provided consultancy services to national and international clients including the EU, UNDP, FAO, local governments and NGOs.
Maria is the author of the book ‘New City for New Climate’ and has published academic articles and educational materials. In her current role as Policy and Institutional Relation Coordinator, Dr. Falaleeva actively supports cooperation and knowledge transfer between CoM East partners and global cooperation programmes.

Margaryta Kamasa has 30-years of professional experience, including 20-years in international relations in local authorities at regional level. She has over 15 years experience in realization, monitoring of international and internal projects, including the areas of energy efficiency, transborder, inter regional and inter municipal, decentralization and local self-government development ones. Mrs. Kamasa, as a regional coordinator, coordinated the work and gave Institutional support to the territorial communities  for Ukraine of the EU Project «U-LEAD with Europe». She has the experience of cooperation with state authorities, international organizations, associations of local authorities, hromadas and municipalities.

Mr Jahangir Afandiyev, energy and economy specialist, has more than 35 years’ civil servants and consultant experience in the energy sector. He had practical experience in the preparation of national energy policy documents. He was actively involved in development of the first 5-year National Energy Efficiency Action Plan for 2021-2025, draft Law on Use of renewable energy sources in the generation of electricity and draft Law on Efficient Use of Energy Resources and Energy Efficiency.

Within the framework of the Covenant of Mayors – East II project, as a country specific Helpdesk officer, he cooperated with the Ministry of Energy (as CNC) to assist in attracting 7 new CoM signatories and provided support to the existing signatory cities in SECAP preparation, implementation and monitoring.

Lilia Rusu (Curchi) is an expert with over 15 years of experience in environmental journalism, communication, and the promotion of sustainable energy and climate initiatives. She is the founder and administrator of the environmental news platform Ecopresa.md and has over a decade of experience coordinating Moldova’s only environmental magazine, Natura. Her long-standing involvement in the EU-funded Covenant of Mayors – East (CoM-East) project, where she served as Communication Manager for Moldova, further strengthened her expertise in strategic communication, awareness-raising, and engagement with local authorities, civil society, women, and youth. In 2024, she was appointed Adviser/Expert to the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Moldova, where she supported national energy policy processes, strengthened coordination between central authorities, municipalities, and international partners, and represented the Ministry in national and international forums. A recognized moderator and facilitator of high-level policy events, she has contributed to initiatives led by CNED, GIZ, UNDP, the Ministry of Energy, and the Ministry of Environment.

Vitaliy Volkov has more than 15 years of experience in project management in the field of energy efficiency, where the main beneficiaries are local governments. He is well versed in the methodology of the Covenant of Mayors through his work in the first Ukrainian support structure and participation in international technical assistance projects.

His main assignment in the project is to provides advisory support to the signatory communities of the Covenant of Mayors in compiling a baseline emission survey, setting targets and developing measures to mitigate climate change, monitoring the implementation of the SEAP and working with the online platform MyCovenant.