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Projects
EUSIWM / EU Support to Integrated Water Management - EC funds
Short Description:
Overall goal
The overall objective of the Action is to enhance the implementation of the national water reform and the progress of Albania towards EU water legislation requirements through integrated water resource management by strengthening capacities for managing the sector in line with EU policies.
Expected results
Expected results are:
a) Legal framework in the field of water management is improved in an inclusive and evidence-based manner and implemented and enforced in line with the EU requirements.
b) River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) are implemented for selected river basins, and in line with EU requirements.
c) Institutional capacity at river basin level to implement Integrated Water Management is enhanced.
d) The budgetary framework and economic analysis of water extraction and water use at basin level is improved in line with water framework directive principles, the tariff structure is reviewed and enforced.
Target group / Beneficiaries
The Action aims to strengthen integrated water resource management (IWRM) in Albania by providing assistance in capacity development for 250 civil servants on the central and local level. Main stakeholders are the Technical Secretariat of the National Water Council, 6 River Basins Agencies/Councils, the Ministry of Finance, and the Albanian School for Public Administration. Indirect beneficiaries are 2,9 million Albanian citizens through improved access to drinking water, increased water service quality, improved health and living conditions (1 mio. living in the vicinity of river basins), 30 private businesses through defined stable and sustainable water service levels, and stable production, and 61 municipalities through their involvement in River Basin Councils.
Activities
Activities include:
a) Assessment of the legal framework on national water management regarding the approximation of national legislation with the EU Acquis.
b) Preparation of a phased roadmap for the full-fledged RBMPs for all six river basins.
c) Support of the installation of sufficient capacities to operationalize the IWRM in the country based on the National IWRM Strategy and the RBMPs.
d) Analysis and assessment on the budgetary framework of water resource management at basin level and preparation of an implementation plan.
Context
Albania is part of the EU’s Stabilization and Association Process. The approximation of its legislation to the regulatory framework prevailing in the EU is one main element in this process. A lack of capacity and expertise and fragmented decision making processes in the water sector make it difficult to address the gaps, and to provide workable and practical solutions to the approximation of EU legislation, its implementation and enforcement. This Action will focus on the improvement of the legal and institutional framework for IWRM and the development of relevant capacities to enable the advancement of practical, operational and effective River Basin Management throughout the country.
The project is co-funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) with EUR 1.5 mio (ADC project reference number 6532-01/2017).