Institutional Support to the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (mesp) and River Basin Authorities cris n° 2008/162-152

Project Synopsis

Project Title	Institutional Support to the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (MESP) and River Basin Authorities
Project Number	CRIS - 2008/162-152
Country	KOSOVË/KOSOVO
2.1 Overall Objective	To contribute to improved environmental conditions of KOSOVË/KOSOVO and water resources managed in a sustainable manner meeting EU standards.
2.2 Project Purpose / Specific Objectives	The technical, institutional and administrative capacity of the Water Department of the MESP in KOSOVO/KOSOVË is consolidated, and their water resource management functions including planning, policy-making and regulation are strengthened. River Basin District Authorities are established and further developed in a way that they have adopted a participative approach in their policing activities in accordance with “environmental justice”, minorities’ inclusion and gender mainstreaming principles.
2.3 Planned Results (for indicators and activities see annex 1)	Result 1: Information system for integrated water resource management. An integrated water resource data and information management system of the Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim River Basin has been established, functional and tested, including the collection, quality control, processing and storage of relevant sets of data and information. Result 2: Monitoring network programme. The needs for a basin-wide water resources monitoring network programme are assessed and Terms of Reference agreed to expand the existing system for both surface and ground-water. The assessment will include a ground-water data acquisition plan and the Terms of Reference for a drilling programme. Result 3: Modelling toolbox. A modelling toolbox is readily available and used as a practical means for water resource assessment (water balance) and water demand estimation of the Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim River Basin. The toolbox will be pilot-tested before it is up-scaled to the basin level.
	Result 4: Flood and wastewater management planning. The planning capability of the WD/RBDAs is significantly enhanced through: A) the production of a flood risk map at basin level supported by GIS-based modelling and publicly available historical satellite images. Flood risk hot spots are identified and one chosen for the development of a pilot flood management plan at sub-basin level. B) The Terms of Reference for an Urban Wastewater Master Plan of KOSOVË/KOSOVO are drafted, based on an assessment of key issues, existing plans and strategies. Priority needs on national and basin level will be taken into account and a participatory planning approach proposed. Result 5: Institutional support to RBDAs. The Water Department will receive assistance with regard to the preparation of the administrative instruction on procedures, content and structure of River Basin District Authorities. Members of the Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim River Basin Organisation are actively supported in the effective fulfilment of their functions. Result 6: Training & Capacity-building. Staff of the Water Department and River Basin District Authorities and other Project partners is adequately trained and familiar with their specific job requirements. Key training areas include the legal needs (according to international and EU principles and legislation in force in KOSOVË/KOSOVO), institutional arrangements for water resource planning and administration in KOSOVË/KOSOVO, and the use of participative facilitation, analysis and communication tools.
Beneficiaries/Target Group	Water Department MESP Local stakeholders in the Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim River Basin, to be organised in the District River Basin Committee; Other relevant stakeholders on the government level, e.g. KEPA.
Counterpart	Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning – Water Resources Management Department
Project Timing	Project starting date (start of activities): 20.01.2008 Project end: 28.02.2010
Duration	25.5 months

1BACKGROUND

1.1Government/sector policy

The Government had approved an environmental strategy in July 2004 and the MESP had prepared a draft five-year action plan. A strategy for water was also drafted with main components and priorities as follows:

1. 
   Legislation improvement and institutional setting;
   
2. 
   Development of a better access of population to water supply and sanitation;
   
3. 
   Increased revenue from water services (payment and reduction of losses);
   
4. 
   Preservation of water resources and improvement of their status;
   
5. 
   Reduction of potential damage due to flood events;
   
6. 
   Private sector participation in water services.
   

Some elements of this strategy have been incorporated into the Project, namely:

1) Legislation improvement and institutional settings;

4) Preservation of water resources;

5) Reduction of potential damage due to flood events.

Many other actions envisaged in this strategy were not financed or implemented; however, it would have been risky to do so at the same time as the Project because of the limited capacity of water institutions.