ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT IN THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN

Philip Weller, ICPDR Executive Secretary

Ivan Zavadsky, Regional Programme Director

THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN

» 10% of Europe;» 81 Mio Inhabitants;» 19 Countries;» Historical differences and

economic disparities;» Established commission –

ICPDR.

KEY PROBLEMS

» Nutrient pollution;

» Loss of riverine wetlands;

» Need for transboundary cooperation in developing IRBM;

» Impact of the Danube on the Black Sea.

CHALLENGES OF THE PROJECT

» Strengthening capacities of the institutions in the Danube region;

» Addressing disparities in legislative and policy framework of the Danube countries;

» Evolving SAP (1994) to Joint Action Plan (2000) and River Basin Management Plan (2009).

THE APPROACH

» Close cooperation with the Commission:

» ICPDR – co-executing body;

» Embedding of the project into the existing structure;

» Adaptation to the basin needs:

» Supporting non EU countries in the work of the ICPDR on equal basis;

» Responding to the evolving priorities of the countries.

THE INNOVATIONS

» Technical solutions to support policy implementation:

» Harmonized approach for River Basin Management;

» Validation of wider policy concepts through pilot demonstration;

» Developing tools for tariffs reforms and investment strategies;

» Assessing the impact of the Danube to the Black Sea.

THE INNOVATIONS

» Focus on public participation and communication:

» Strengthening the Danube NGOs;

» Direct linking of Small Grants Programme to key project objectives;

» Developing communication tools to increase impact of the project.

RELEVANCE OF THE DANUBE INNOVATIONS

1. Strategic and political:

» Institutional and legal framework in combinations with long-term programmatic approach of donors (e.g. 15 years of GEF in the Danube Basin).

» Partnerships:

o GEF Danube – Black Sea Strategic Partnership;

o Danube – Black Sea Commissions’ Memorandum of Understanding;

o Partnerships with other multilateral donors (e.g. EU).

RELEVANCE OF THE DANUBE INNOVATIONS

2. Operational / technical

» Joint programmes of actions

» Evidence based information

» Best technologies in practice

3. Communication

» Civil society participation and public outreach

Fulfilling the three key requirements

(political – operational – communication)

will ensure sustainability of project results.