Draft 2006 MED EUWI Work Programme

Work Programme 2006
DRAFT
 

ABREVIATIONS

A. The Mediterranean Component of the EU Water Initiative

A.1. Introduction

The European Union Water Initiative (EUWI) was established as a key contribution to the implementation of the WSSD agreements and programme of action and to help achieve water-related MDGs and WSSD targets, providing a platform for strategic partnerships.

The Mediterranean Component of the EU Water Initiative (MED EUWI) shares all its objectives and it seeks to make significant progress in poverty eradication and health, in the enhancement of livelihoods, and in sustainable economic development in the Mediterranean and Southeastern Europe . It also seeks to serve as a catalyst for peace and security in the region.

A.2. Objectives

The main objectives of the MED EUWI are to create a higher efficiency of water-related development by providing a platform to co-ordinate and streamline existing and future activities, aiming to:

• Reinforce political commitment to action and raise the profile of water and sanitation with view to poverty reduction
• Promote better water governance arrangements including stronger partnerships between public and private sectors and local stakeholders and build institutional capacity
• Improve co-ordination and co-operation moving towards sector wide approaches, assisting multi-stakeholder processes to reinforce partnerships for action
• Develop regional and sub-regional co-operation by assisting in the application of integrated water resources management including transboundary waters to contribute to sustainable development and conflict prevention.
• Develop additional and innovative funding mechanisms and catalyze additional funding.

A.3. Partnerships and Modalities

MED EUWI is open to all partners willing to commit to the objectives, targets, and guiding principles, having genuine willingness to work with others seeking practical solutions. Partnership refers to partnership between the EU and the Mediterranean and Southeastern European countries as well as partnership between government, civil society and the private sector. Non-EU donors and international organisations (including the OECD, UN Organisations and Agencies, IFIs etc) are also invited and encouraged to joint the Initiative.

In line with the general Organisational Framework and Modalities for the EUWI, a regional Multi-Stakeholder Working Group guides the development of the MED EU WI and of its priorities for action while a Multi-Stakeholder Forum provides related advise. The Component is led by the government of Greece (Ministry for Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works and Ministry of Foreign Affairs). A MED EUWI Secretariat, within the Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean Secretariat, provides technical support and day-by day running.

Political commitment for the development of MED EUWI has been already expressed at various Ministerial Conferences and Meetings, inter alia: the EU Informal Council of Environment Ministers (May 2003, Athens), 5th Pan-European Ministerial Conference of the "Environment for Europe" process (May 2003, Kiev), Euro-Mediterranean Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs (May 2003, Crete), two meetings of the North African Ministers Council on Water (February and October 2003, Cairo) as well as at the EU Council of Environment Ministers (December 2003).

A.4. Geographical context

The area of activity of MED EUWI comprises, the following non-EU Partner Countries:

In the South and East Mediterranean - Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.

In the Southeastern Europe - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Former Yugoslavic Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Serbia and Montenegro as well as Bulgaria and Romania which have currently a special status in relation to the EU (accession countries).

The following Map presents the area of activity of MED EUWI.

A.4. Themes

Τhe MED EUWI focuses on the following Themes:
 

A three-year MED EUWI Activity Plan has been elaborated and discussed among competent stakeholders in 2004. Its purpose was to translate the agreed Themes into interrelated Programmatic Objectives, Outputs and specific Actions, where possible according to available resources and interest from partners and donors.

The Programmatic Objectives that have been defined in the Activity Plan were nine (9); these are divided to four (4) Thematic (1-4) and five Horizontal (5-9) Objectives. The MED EUWI Programmatic Objectives are:

Objectives 1-4 respond to respective priority Themes identified as areas of implementation during the MED EUWI Preparatory Phase. Their related Outputs described in the Activity Plan are mainly developed through small scale pilot demonstration activities aimed to be implemented at national and local levels, supported by regional / national baseline assessments.

Horizontal

Objectives 5-9 respond to horizontal priorities of the EUWI aiming to assist in building the knowledge basis, facilitating better coordination and enhancing effectiveness through activities at the regional and national levels.

The following table presents the framework linking the MED EUWI Themes with the Programmatic Objectives.

A.5. Expected results

The MED EWI gives particular emphasis to the regional priorities of the Mediterranean and Southeastern Europe, within the EUWI overall scope. These priorities, needs and strategies are defined in partnership with governments, the Commission and major stakeholders, targeting to

• assist design of better, demand driven and output oriented water related programmes,
• facilitate better coordination of water programmes and projects, targeting more effective use of existing funds and mobilization of new financial resources and,
• enhanced cooperation for project's proper implementation, based on peer review and strategic assessment.

MED EUWI is expected to contribute to major processes in the region ie. the New Neighbourhood Initiative, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development, etc.

In addition, a Joint Process between the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and MED EUWI has been launched IN 2004. The Joint Process is a tool for combining EU and non-EU expertise and means under the umbrella of the EUWI to facilitate the implementation of sound water policies.

Key areas where the MED EUWI could make a difference are likely to include:

• Promoting water as a cornerstone of sustainable development
• Raising the programmatic profile of water in PRSPs and NSSDs of partner countries
• Coordinating funding for water in a better way among the partners of the Initiative
• Linking together the wide range of financing ideas, networks and mechanisms that currently exist for water in the Mediterranean and Southeastern Europe so as to cover gaps and needs in partner countries
• Supporting better project preparation facilities
• Supporting the elaboration of a wider range of models for water sector restructuring in addition to involving private sector participation by competent international operators.
   

EU WATER INITIATIVE
WORK PROGRAMME 2006
WORKING GROUP: MEDITERRANEAN

January 2006, Draft

Activities of the MED EUWI Work Programme 2006 serve the following MED EUWI Objectives (as described at the Activity Plan):

• Obj 2. Initiate programme to support national and transboundary IWRM plans
• Obj 4. Initiate programme on non-conventional water resources
• Obj 5. Strengthen underlying institutions and build capacity
• Obj 6. Improve coordination between the actors involved in water resources management at the country level
• Obj 7. Enhance funding for the supply, management and development of water resources and sanitation

More actions may be included in the Work Programme 2006, pending on interest by partners and funding opportunities, with the subsequent budget modification

Activities of the MED EUWI Work Programme 2006 serve the following MED EUWI Objectives (as described at the MED EUWI Activity Plan):

• Obj 1. Initiate programme on water supply and sanitation
• Obj 2. Initiate programme to support national and transboundary IWRM plans
• Obj 4. Initiate programme on non-conventional water resources
• Obj 5. Strengthen underlying institutions and build capacity
• Obj 6. Improve coordination between the actors involved in water resources management at the country level
• Obj 7. Enhance funding for the supply, management and development of water resources and sanitation

MED EUWI Objectives respond to the objectives of the overall EUWI initiative, namely:

1. Reinforce political will and commitment to action
2. Promote improved water governance, capacity building and awareness
3. Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of water management through multistakeholder dialogue and coordination
4. strengthen coordination through promoting river basin approaches
5. identify additional financial resources and mechanisms to ensure sustainable financing.