Maavalduse

Maavalduse is a term originating from Estonian administrative law that refers to the administrative unit that existed prior to the administrative reform of 2017. Each county, known as a "maakond," was headed by a "maavanem," who was the highest representative of the central government in that county. The maavalduse was the organizational structure and administrative body that supported the work of the maavanem and fulfilled the state's administrative functions at the county level. These functions included areas such as social welfare, public health, education, and regional development. The maavanem and their respective maavalduse were responsible for implementing national policies within their designated county and coordinating activities among local municipalities. The reform in 2017 abolished the position of maavanem and dissolved the maavalduse structures, transferring their responsibilities to other government bodies and local authorities. The aim of this reform was to streamline administration and improve efficiency. Therefore, maavalduse as a functioning administrative entity is no longer in place in Estonia.