valdkondad

Valdkondad is a geographical and administrative division of Estonia, used to subdivide the country into manageable units for governance and administrative purposes.

There are 15 valdkondad, which were introduced in 2017 as part of a broader reform to modernize the country's administrative system. Each valdkond is further divided into communes (asulates) and rural municipalities (vallad).

The valdkondad were established by law and are defined as larger regional units that group multiple communes and rural municipalities together. They are essentially a middle layer of administration between the state and local government levels.

The valdkondad are used to coordinate the activities of local government and to provide regional services such as infrastructure development, economic development, and social services. They are also responsible for making strategic planning and policy decisions at the regional level.

The valdkondad have replaced the previous regional administrative system, known as ala-asemad (lower county divisions), which were in use from 2004 to 2017. The transition to the new system has aimed to streamline government services, improve governance efficiency, and enhance regional development.

In Estonia's administrative system, the valdkondad are located between the national level (riik) and the local government level (asutused). This means that they play an intermediate role in implementing state policies at the local level while also having some degree of autonomy in regional decision-making. Overall, the valdkondad aim to promote more effective governance, development, and public service delivery at the regional level in Estonia.