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

7.5Prospects and proposals

The Water Department and RBDA are now in a much better starting position to assume its role especially to continue its effort and develop a cooperative River Basin management approach.

However, the momentum created by the Project’s continuous action and support may fade. The degree of support required for activity continuation or method replication in other zones depends on the degree of task complexity. Some activities can be continued or replicated without external support; other activities will require light support or substantial technical support.

Insufficient financing, unavailability of the persons who were trained, IT problems or hesitation in the right methodology to apply can make replication very difficult.

The working group established during the Project should meet every six months to prepare a work plan and review activities under each important topic, including:

• 
  Water information Systems;
  
• 
  Water Framework directive implementation focusing on Ecological status and monitoring;
  
• 
  Groundwater;
  
• 
  Water management planning and use of the WEAP model;
  
• 
  Flooding risks;
  
• 
  Institution and legislation.
  

Dynamic plan for groundwater and flood risk assessment

A dynamic plan has been proposed for the Water Department to follow-on from the Project activities. The Report attached in Appendix 1 proposes four main activities including three focusing on groundwater aspects and one with a focus on flood risk assessment. For each activity, the report provides information on project rational, input and requirement and project implementation arrangements including a first budget estimate. It is proposed that activities shall be prioritised by the management of the MESP and implemented as soon as adequate project funds become available.

Activities would include the following:

1. 
   Expansion of the Groundwater Pilot Project in the Drini River Basin;
   
2. 
   New quantitative and surveillance monitoring points;
   
3. 
   Identification of significant pressures on Groundwater Bodies;
   
4. 
   Expansion of flood risk assessment studies in the Drini River Basin.
   

An example of the support required for continuing the Project’s groundwater activities is provided in Table 16. It is noted that many data interpretation skills appear to be lacking in HMIK and WD staff, especially basic and advanced Excel skills. In the short term, local private and international experts can fill the staffing gaps and help collate, interpret and present data. In the long-term an increase in the WD and HMIK analytical capacity could be achieved in the following ways:

• 
  By the recruitment of staff who have a combination of water resource (e.g. hydrogeology or hydrology), computer and GIS skills.
  
• 
  Additional expertise could be gained by sending young staff members on M.Sc. courses and older staff member on short-term training courses.
  

Table : Support for continuation of activities (groundwater)

Objective	Tasks	Input
Groundwater Pilot Project
Identify status of 6 other alluvial groundwater bodies in Drini River Basin	Data collection Data analysis	WD and HMIK sfaff 4 months IE Hydrogeologist 4 months + IB for equipment, transport & meals (€ 22,500)
Environmental Monitoring for Drini Basin
Install an institutional groundwater monitoring network	Bidding Document and specification	Borehole construction & testing € 400,000
	Construction phase of the monitoring boreholes	WD and HMIK staff for 5.5 months IE Drilling Engineer and Hydrogeologist 5.5 months
	Supervise installation of the monitoring equipment and interpretation of data	IE Hydrogeologist 2 months + IB for monitoring equipment (€ 46,500)
	Evaluate progress and interpret future monitoring data	Hydrogeologist 1 month per year

Groundwater Status evaluation
Field work and studies to meet the requirements of the WFD	Determine the location and abstraction rates of all significant water sources	WD and HMIK staff for 7 months IE Hydrogeologist 7 months
	Determine the location of major pollution sources
	Interpret Orthophotos	Budget for photos, transport and equipment (€ 150,000)
Water Body Delineation
Delineate groundwater bodies in other river basins in Kosovo	WD to interprete ICMM maps, hydrology and topography.	WD Staff for 3 months
	Check methodology and review the results	Hydrogeologist 1 month

Activities related to Flood Risk Assessment should be scheduled according to the activity plan given in Figure 6. Following a one-month tendering and evaluation period, a national flood management expert would be charged with initial training on the job, supported by a first mission of the international flood management specialist. Field works would start by the middle of May and continue until the end of September 2010. The analysis of flood risks could start by August once first topographic surveys are completed. All seven assessment studies should be ready for submission by the end of December 2010.

Figure : Activity schedule for flood risk assessment studies

Proving the proposed project activities are being extended to the whole of Kosovo, the overall budget estimate amounts to 3.5 million Euro. Details are given in Table 17 and Appendix 1.
Table : Budget estimate for the extension of proposed project activities to all Kosovo

Budegt	GW pressure analysis	Well inventory	Monitoring well	Flood risk assessment	Total
Personnel	414,400 €	160,000 €	520,000 €	157,500 €	1,251,900 €
International	340,000 €	100,000 €	440,000 €	120,000 €	1,000,000 €
National	74,400 €	60,000 €	80,000 €	37,500 €	251,900 €
Equipment, services	300,800 €	10,100 €	855,306 €	903,300 €	2,069,506 €
Transport, meals	68,448 €	58,800 €	21,520 €	31,950 €	180,718 €
Total Budget	783,648 €	228,900 €	1,396,826 €	1,092,750 €	3,502,124 €

Annexes


Annex 1

Logical framework

Annex 1: Logical framework¹

Results	Objectively Verifiable Indicators		Means of Verification		Important Assumptions
Overall Objective
To contribute to improved environmental conditions of Kosovo so that water resources are managed in a sustainable manner meeting EU standards		The Drini River Basin’s status is known Key EU standards particularly in relation to water quality and public health are adopted in Kosovo Water resource management decisions are based in improved data and information of the river system A regular monitoring program for surface and sub-surface water resource is under way		Current water resource status assessment report of the Drini River Basin Environmental status report of KEPA European Environmental Agency bulletins Agreed monitoring programme plan		The social, economic and political situation in Kosovo will gradually stabilize and the EU integration process will continue further without major delay. Current budgetary constraints will relax as socio-economic conditions improve
Purpose
To strengthen the Institutional capacity of the Water Resources Management Department of Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, particularly in respect of water resources management		The position of the Water Department vis-à-vis the River Basin District Authorities is clarified. Annual work programmes are detailed, regularly up-dated and monitored Water resource database and information is frequently utilized The level of satisfaction of Departmental, River Basin Authority and municipal staff is increased		Subsidiary Act of MESP Annual work plans and performance sheets Data exchange protocols		Continued Government commitment and support at national and municipal level to capacity development and water resources management

To contribute to the establishment of River Basin District Authorities and their further development which also need to adopt a participative approach (ensuring minorities’ inclusion and gender mainstreaming) in their policing activities, in accordance with “environmental justice” principles.	By the end of the Project: The status, roles and responsibilities of the River Basin District Authorities are clearly defined, understood and broadly accepted Activity and staffing schedules are prepared, budgets increased and physical assets maintained New permits for water uses within the Drini River basin are issued following broadly accepted water allocation rules and procedures In 2 sub-basins of the Drini River Basin, An inventory of water resources has been completed, mapped Water resource protections zones are identified and delineated River basin management guidelines are adopted by planners	Annual work plans Legislations, regulations and administrative instructions in connection with the administration of Kosovo’s water resources	The establishment of River Basin District Authorities is stipulated in Article 19 of the Kosovo Water Law (Law No. 2004/24). According to paragraph 19.4, the procedures, composition and structure of the River Basin District Authorities shall be determined by the MESP in a Subsidiary Act. However, this still is pending. If the Project wants to achieve its full impact, it will be important to ensure that the issuing of respective administrative instructions will be given high priority on the part of the MESP. ^2
Result 1: Information system for integrated water resource management. An integrated water resource data and information management system of the Drini i Bardhë/Beli Drim River Basin is established, functional and tested, including the collection, quality control, processing and storage of relevant sets of data and information	Information technology at Water Department is functional Relevance, consistency, accuracy and coherence of standardised data stored in a database are assured Meta data and formats are fully compatible Analytical error of data is within the accepted range Sources of analytical errors are detected Information system enables officers of the Water Department to carry out specific queries and easy data retrieval and exchange	Relevance check Consistency checks Data exchange protocols Duplication survey results for water quality parameters	All available raw data and information is transparent and willingly shared amongst the project partners. Project partners have access to sufficient resources and capacity to fulfil their tasks with the required accuracy and within set time limitations. In order to test procedures and data quality a successful pilot sub-basin can be completed with the full support of all stakeholders
Result 2: Monitoring network programme The needs for a basin-wide water resources monitoring network programme are assessed and ToR agreed to expand the existing system for both surface and groundwater. The assessment will include a groundwater data acquisition plan and the ToR for a drilling programme	Specific water resource monitoring tasks are included in work plans of network partners Water quality parameters are monitored in concert with water quantity and biological systems The ToR for a groundwater data acquisition plan of the Drini i Bardhë/Beli Drim River Basin is submitted to the MESP for tendering	Annual budgets and work plans; Resources allocation decision for water resource monitoring	All network partners understand the importance of water resource monitoring for sustainable development and environmental protection. Input proved through Result 1 is of sufficient detail and quality to make informed decisions regarding design and specifications of the ToR
Result 3: Modelling tool box. A modelling tool box is readily available and used as a practical means for water resource assessment (water balance) and water demand estimation of the Drini i Bardhë/Beli Drim River Basin. The tool box will be pilot-tested before it is up-scaled to the basin level.	A set of routine hydrological indicators is calculated for all stations with more than 15 years of data (such as mean annual and monthly river flows, standard deviation frequency in the form of plots of how often a flow is equal or exceeded) 5 out of 6 minimum model suitability criteria fulfilled Model calibration and validation accuracy are within acceptable limits Water balance and water demand estimation piloted and demonstrated at sub-basin level Level of stakeholder participation and involvement in scenario formulation, analysis and interpretation	Hydrological baseline report Model description and key outputs such as water balance, protocols Municipal and national spatial plans Model outputs and maps Minutes of stakeholder meetings and working groups sessions	A practical and relevant tool box can be developed using available data and information provided under Result 1. Effective collaboration is ensured with planners at municipal and national level. Ministries and national agencies willingly share data, sector development plans, project and programme information and environmental management plans. The Water Resources Yield Model is made available by the MESP
Result 4: Flood and waste water management planning. The planning capability of the WD/RBDAs is significantly enhanced through: 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 develop-ment of a pilot flood management plan at sub-basin level. The ToR for an Urban Wastewater Master Plan of KOSOVË/ KOSOVO are drafted, based on an assessment of key issues, existing plans and strategies. Priority needs at national and basin level will be taken into account and a participatory planning approach proposed.	By the end of the Project: Unit flood hydrographs of the Drini i Bardhë/Beli Drim River Basin calculated Basin-wide flood inundation, duration and hazards maps at adequate scale of 1:50.000 are disseminated to relevant municipalities and planners Minimum of 5 flood risk ‘hot spots’ are identified Flood impact assessed at 1 sub-basin for typical urban/industrial and agricultural land and infrastructure damages due flood and river bank erosion ToR for an Urban Wastewater Master Plan in KOSOVË/ KOSOVO are finalized and submitted to MESP for tendering	Flood and erosion hazard assessment Report of Drini i Bardhë/Beli Drim River Basin Municipality development plans Pilot flood impact assessment report Urban development plans Tender documents Flood assessment report	An accurate and recent Digital Elevation Model (DEM) can be developed for the Drini i Bardhe/Beli Drim River Basin suitable for basin planning. Input from Result 1 meets the minimum requirements to support the basin and sub-basin flood models. Stakeholders and Project partners are willing to participate and support a pilot flood risk and planning exercise on the ground. A consensus on direction, content and scope of works of the Urban Waste Water Management Master Plan is reached amongst the key stakeholders
Result 5: Institutional support to RBDAs. The Water Department is assisted with the preparation of the administrative instruction on procedures, content and structure of River Basin District Authorities. Members of the Drini i Bardhë/Beli Drim River Basin Organisation are actively supported in the effective fulfilment of their functions	The WD has completed 5 administrative instructions A basin-wide inventory of water sources is complete Effectiveness of water management planning procedures tested in 2 pilot sub-basins Information is communicated to municipalities on key issues such as: water levels and storage levels, flood risks, number water permits issued, major breakdowns in the water supplies system, water saving and disconnection policies, etc.	Inventory of water sources including springs and small streams is completed Workshop proceedings Administrative protocols RBDAs public communications	The relationship between the Water Department and the River Basin District Authority are clarified at high level. Political commitment is assured. The current Drini i Bardhë/Beli Drim River basin Management unit based in Gjakova continues to operate. Transboundary issues are recognised
Result 6: Training & capacity building. Staff of the Water Department, River Basin District Authorities and other Project partners are 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 communi-cation tools.	On-the-job training needs assessments of all key project and divisional staff from WD, 2 river authorities and at least 2 municipalities in the Drini i Bardhë/Beli Drim river basin On-the-job training sessions on subjects e.g. Data management Capacity for Data Base and update Capacity to supervise, guide, check data 50% of staff performance scoring equal or better than B. Scoring A: autonomous working level; B: Minimum supervision; C: working under close supervision	Interview with municipal and national authorities Project staff allocation schedules On-the-job training proposals On-the-job annual training plans Staff assignment tables Staff (self) appraisal sheets Summary assessment plan	Trained staff remains with the Water Department and River Basins District Authorities once they have been trained. Structured on-the-job training is the most suitable approach for effective capacity building