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

2.4Activities

2.4.1Project strategy

The Project strategy, as defined during the inception period, relies on the following key elements:

• 
  To build on existing tools and experience gained in recent years;
  
• 
  To support and clarify institutional responsibilities and set up;
  
• 
  To involve and report to stakeholders in each key project component;
  
• 
  To test methodologies through pilot projects (learning by doing);
  
• 
  To respond to emerging needs expressed by the partners;
  
• 
  To put emphasis on on-the-job training for know-how transfer;
  
• 
  To prepare the continuation of the Project by providing manuals and training, and preparing computer tools handed over to partner staff.
  

The general idea was to build the confidence of partner staff by proceeding step by step and developing their skills in priority areas. This did not mean that mistakes, errors and observed shortcomings were not pointed out.

2.4.2Main elements of the Pilot Project approach

As presented at the end of the inception period, Pilot Projects were designed to develop know-how in new areas and to prepare replication for routine work. The Pilot Projects on biology and groundwater used methods and procedural steps in line with WFD. These are described in Figure 4.


Figure : Procedural steps for WFD programme of surveillance

Each Pilot Project (PP) was conducted by a working or specialist group from various institutions. These Pilot Projects were focused on the first steps of WFD implementation, which include the characterization of water bodies and the evaluation of their status. The different steps are described in Table 11.

The PPs included field activities during which partner staff acquired know-how for performing the different steps of analytical protocol. They also became familiar with quality management procedures.

Significant time was spent to prepare clear and well illustrated PowerPoint presentations of pilot project activities, results and conclusions. Follow-up office-training with introductions to data analysis tools and techniques were also carried out with partner staff.

Water Body delineation	Use of the knowledge of WD staff and existing data on pressure. Maps of water bodies.	Use of hydrogeological and geological maps and cross sections. Creation of a 3D preliminary conceptual model.
Pilot zone selection	Lumbardhi Peja (2008) Lumbardhi Prizren (2009)	Ground Water Body No 2 Located near Istok
Parameters	Macro-invertebrate Fish Physio-chemistry	Piezometry Permeability Physio-chemistry
Lab analysis	University – HMIK	Project team – HMIK
Classification system proposed	Macro-invertebrate Index, Fish index.	References to the Groundwater Directive
Capture database	Data stored in Excel files and software tools.	Databases and special forms created.
Processing – control and analysis	With external support SSTE biologists	With external support KE 3
Status of Water Bodies (WB)	Evaluation of WB status for biological monitoring stations	Statistical analysis, and mapping results

Table : Evaluation of the Status of water bodies

Steps	Surface Water Body	Ground Water Body
General methodology	WFD Article 5 Annex II and V. Identification of the quality elements to assess.	WFD Article 5 Annex II and V Identification of target results/data requirements.
PP launching	May 2008	March 2009
Planning campaign of measurement	Selection of monitoring sites for sampling. Preparing equipment. Involvement of students.	Creation of location maps. Identification and purchase of equipment and check-list. Creation of data collection forms.

Pilot projects were also launched for two other purposes:

• 
  Water management planning for the Decani–Radoniqi water system; and
  
• 
  Flood risk management for the town of Skenderaj.
  

The organisation of the modelling work is described in Figure 6, the main steps of the planning with the use of modelling tools is shown in Table 12.


Table : Steps for modelling River Basin and Flood Risk Management

Steps	Water Balance	Flood Risk
General methodology, selection of model	Water Evaluation And Planning System (WEAP)	OASIS Topo Hydraulic - GIS
Working group	Inter-ministerial inter-departmental	Municipality planners
Selection of pilot zone	Radoniqi - April 2008	Skenderaj – April 2008
Model set up & calibration	February 2009	October 2009
Planning campaign of measurements	Irrigation command area assessment (2008) System water losses (2009) E-flow (2009)	ToR for topography. Questionnaires for inhabitants in flooding zone
Preparing data to input	Hydrology	Topography of the flood zone (June 2009)
Mapping and displaying the model results	Graphic display Flow charts	Flood risk map Flood risk hot spot
Interpretation of results with stakeholders	Stakeholder workshops	Meeting with Municipalities
Analyzing options under different scenarios and assumptions	Stakeholder workshops. Joint work: Project team and WD unit in Gjakova.	Second meeting with Municipalities and WD.
Preparing a plan for concrete measures and actions	Tentative River Basin management plan (additional output).	Flooding zone and proposals for measures.

2.4.3The Project’s visibility activities

In 2008, the Project’s visibility activities included the design of six posters informing the public about the Project’s activities and objectives. Events were organised in five Municipalities in December 2008 to present the first achievements of the Project and to discuss the prospects of developing river basin management plans in Kosovo.

In September 2009, another visibility plan was drafted. It included the creation of a website, the production of a documentary, the design and printing of leaflets and booklets as well as the distribution of caps and pens to schools.

Many of the Project’s products were uploaded on the website www.kosovo-water.eu and were delivered in three languages. Photos and videos also provided an insight into Project activities, especially protocols for sampling and measurements.

2.4.4Activities for mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues

An issue raised by the Project’s monitoring mission concerned the minorities in Kosovo. The mission pointed out that by February 2009, the Project had not included any of the minority villages in the Drini River Basin in its activities.

During the summer 2009, the WD and the Project team visited numerous villages and 99 households to carry out various measurements. Some of these households were Serb, Bosnian and Roma. This field work was a good opportunity for the Project to explain the purpose of the measurements and to discuss the local water issues. The WD and the Project gained knowledge of the problems faced by the households due to pollution and water shortages. Where possible and appropriate, the Project’s experts or WD staff provided advice and information. The good cooperation and warm welcome of the households visited was very much appreciated. It was observed that although the Serb households in the Istok region were living in relatively isolated places, they seemed to be on the same footing as other households regarding water issues. One Roma family (GPP-94) complained that it had a very poor water supply and was being discriminated against.