Fostering and Leveraging Opportunities for Water Security in Kosovo (FLOWS)

FLOWS will be supporting national level stakeholders, such as: Ministry of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure (MESP), River Basin District Authority (RBDA), Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry (MARFD) and Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA) to improve the capacities of planning, identification and preparation of a list of prioritized investments in the area of water resources development conform to the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). In addition, the Hydrometeorological Institute (HMI) will be supported to improve the quality of services, thus benefiting all citizens of Kosovo.

The Association of Kosovo Municipalities (AKM) and municipalities within the respective river basin area will be supported in the local implementation of policies. Furthermore, Regional Water Company (RWC) “Hidromorava” will be strengthened on Operation and Management (O&M) of water storage capacities and dam safety measures.

Communities through CSOs and different water user groups (including women groups) will be supported to articulate better the concerns of the population, in particular vulnerable groups and their water related demands.

Outcome 1 (Institutions): Strengthening national capacities for managing Kosovo’s water security and Water Resources Investment Planning.

Outcome 2 (People): Improving water resources safety and availability in the Morava e Binçes basin.

Outcome 3 (Technology): Increasing resilience and reducing climate change impacts through innovative technologies and approaches.

Expected results:  

• Hydrological, technical and economic analyses underlying water resources investment planning in the context of increasing drought and flood risks are updated and prepared
• The national Water Resources Investment Preparation Study (WRIPS) is developed
• A national level Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) and assessment of scenarios for investment opportunities considering projected drought and flood impacts is drafted
• Assessments and training for dam safety surveillance programs are developed
• Investments in dam safety surveillance equipment to improve dam operation are made and safety management practices are applied
• Assessment of innovative approaches (solar farming) to reduce climate change impacts on water body, protect water resources (lakes/reservoirs) and promote renewable energies generation is conducted
• Pilot facilities of floating solar panels in the existing water storage capacities are built

Results from previous phases:  

This is a new intervention through a contribution to a World Bank program which is complementary to the ongoing IWRM-K program. It responds to several root causes underpinning key water and climate change resilience sector challenges in Kosovo. With this intervention, SDC is shifting its focus directly towards the main portfolio objective related to water resource management and climate change. In its leading donor coordinator position of the water sector, Switzerland has gained a very rich experience and results in this sector since 2009.

The Government of Kosovo (GoK) has requested SDC to support the soft parts of this program, by providing technical assistance and working together with the WB and other partners.

SDC projects: Integrated Water Resources Management in Kosovo (IWRM-K) Program; Rural Water and Sanitation Support Programme (RWSSP) Phase VI

SECO projects: Urban Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP) in Gjakova and Peja; Corporate Development Support for Wastewater Sector in RWCs of Gjilan and Mitrovica; SDC Global Water Program and the Kosovo Environmental Program (KEP) funded by Sweden-SIDA