Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

The overall objective is to strengthen the sustainable development of the Vjosa River catchment by bridging the science-society interface, enhancing science support for responsible governmental institutions and fostering the communication between decision-makers, scientists, public, stakeholders and civil society organizations (CSOs).

Expected results

Result 1: Improved intersectoral integration and collaboration of stakeholders and enhanced involvement in decision-making;

Result 2: Intensification of an effective scientific research on the Vjosa River Basin eco-system;

Result 3: Enhanced local capacity on the Water Management;

Result 4: Enhanced role of River Basin Councils (RBCs) and Local Government Units (LGUs) in decision-making by developing their capacities and offering science-based evidence for a better decision-making;

Result 5: Effective exchange and cooperation on a transboundary context for the Vjosa/Aoós River Basin.

Target group / Beneficiaries

The project targets stakeholders and beneficiaries such as the Water Resources Management Agency (AMBU), the Vjosa RBCs, the National Agency for Protected Areas (NAPA) and the Regional Administration for Protected Areas (RAPAs) Gjirokastra, Fier and Vlora, LGUs of the Vjosa catchment, CSOs, Vjosa Basin water users as well as research institutions at the local, national and international level. In total, 150 direct beneficiaires will be targeted.

The local partner is EcoAlbania, which has the relevant experience with the stakeholders on the ground. EcoAlbania, throughout its work, has established a strong and stable connection with the LGUs (especially in the Vjosa valley), research institutions and relevant public bodies i.e NAPA, RAPA and AMBU.

Activities

Activities include:

- A gap analysis exercise assessing the capacity and needs of the beneficiaries and understanding of the science-policy interface in Albania,

- Building and promoting the right partnership on science-policy interface,

- Scientific events by which mixed (international – national) science-policy activities, inform the strategic planning in Albania on specific topics (Climate actions, biodiversity, water quality management etc.),

- Preparation of written scientific outputs that fit local actors’ needs on decision-making in Vjosa River Basin,

- Development of scientific manuals, handbooks on the standardization of methodologies to allow comparability among academic community, decision-makers, CSOs and River Basin Councils,

- Organization of capacity building activities of the Vjosa Civil Society Network (VCSN) members, local grassroots organizations in the municipalities of the Vjosa River basins,

- Prepare and collect technical inputs by VCSN on the work of regional and local authorities under the Vjosa River Basin Council,

- Advising the revision and proper evaluation of the River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) from a CSO perspective, strengthening institutional capacity building role of CSOs, especially in those sectors where they have valuable know-how and can contribute to achieving the goals of RBMP,

- Develop an Action Plan on Vjosa River Transboundary co-operation for science community, local policy makers, CSOs and other beneficiaries;

Context

As an economy in transition, Albania is confronting a fast development trajectory. Rapid urbanisation, economic and infrastructure development, notably mass energy, and tourism infrastructure threatens increasingly the quality and quantity of water resources, thus impacting the country's development and the ecological health of water bodies and the environment. Climate change is an additional worsening factor. Transboundary water cooperation is often a politically sensitive issue, such as in the Vjosa Basin, especially where water bodies show over-abstraction or pollution and deterioration of river water quality downstream or upstream. In this context, the project will aim to support the improvement of integrated water management in line with the country’s development priorities and principles embedded in the national development’s plans (General National Plan 2015-2030; National Water Plan 2020-2030) and sectoral strategies (Integrated Water Resource Management Strategy, National Energy Strategy 2018-2030, National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism Development 2019-2023).