424 / 2024-03-15 18:35:17

Support in achieving SDG6 for sustainable water supply and wastewater management in Southeastern Europe

SDG6, water supply,,Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro,,IWRM,SEE,water agencies

Subtheme 2: Integrated Water Resources Management > Topic 1: Water Resources Management system, policy and regulation

Societies can better prepare for uncertain and shifting futures by concentrating on enhancing the resilience of both water systems and communities. This entails improving their ability to dynamically adapt to, respond to, and recover from climate change impacts and a variety of other stressors.

This paper summarizes the results of a joint project appointed to two UNESCO Water Centers from SEE to help three SEE countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro) meet their SDG 6 targets while improving their environment and promoting sustainable development. The goal of the paper is to offer an integrated strategy for achieving SDG objective 6B, which concerns stakeholder engagement and specifically targets indicator 6.B.1. This indicator evaluates the extent to which local administrative units have established and operationalized policies and mechanisms for involving local communities in water and sanitation management.

A combination of in-person interviews, site visits, collection, and analyses of literature data on institutional and regulatory frameworks, as well as a standardized questionnaire (all directed at local/regional water agencies), was used to describe and analyse the current state of water resource management in the three SEE countries.  The goal was to identify the more pressing needs related to drinking water and wastewater security. Subsequently, a thorough evaluation encompassing water and wastewater services, water infrastructure, policy issues, funding, and management aspects was conducted to provide a comprehensive review.

Water quality and quantity issues, as well as future infrastructure plans, legislation, and administrative deficiencies, are also explored to strengthen and increase the current level of trust in water supply agencies. Key areas of focus include the identification of priority needs, the need for water conservation plans/policies, the detection of areas where capacity-building efforts need strengthening, and the examination of potential barriers to the financial sustainability of the water utilities. The findings show the focal countries' deficiencies related to the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive water strategy that will support the efficient and timely achievement of SDG 6.  In this regard, a set of recommendations is proposed for each country.



Societies can better prepare for uncertain and shifting futures by concentrating on enhancing the resilience of both water systems and communities. This entails improving their ability to dynamically adapt to, respond to, and recover from climate change impacts and a variety of other stressors.

This paper summarizes the results of a joint project appointed to two UNESCO Water Centres from SEE to help three SEE countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro) meet their SDG 6 targets while improving their environment and promoting sustainable development. The goal of the paper is to offer an integrated strategy for achieving SDG objective 6B, which concerns stakeholder engagement, and specifically targets indicator 6.B.1. This indicator evaluates the extent to which local administrative units have established and operationalized policies and mechanisms for involving local communities in water and sanitation management.

A combination of in-person interviews, site visits, collection, and analyses of literature data on institutional and regulation framework, as well as a standardized questionnaire (all directed at local/regional water agencies), was used to describe and analyse the current state of water resource management in the three SEE countries.  The goal was to identify the more pressing needs related to drinking water and wastewater security. Subsequently, a thorough evaluation encompassing water and wastewater services, water infrastructure, policy issues, funding, and management aspects was conducted to provide a comprehensive review.

Water quality and quantity issues, as well as future infrastructure plans, legislation, and administrative deficiencies, are also explored to strengthen and increase the current level of trust in water supply agencies. Key areas of focus include the identification of priority needs, the need for water conservation plans/policies, the detection of areas where capacity-building efforts need strengthening, and the examination of potential barriers to the financial sustainability of the water utilities. The findings show the focal countries' deficiencies related to the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive water strategy that will support the efficient and timely achievement of SDG 6.  In this regard, a set of recommendations is proposed for each country.