IAWD Partners

 

GIZ Open Regional Fund for Southeast Europe

(GIZ ORF)

The Open Regional Fund for Southeast Europe - Modernisation of Municipal Services was launched in 2007 by the German Cooperation to strengthen municipal services and foster cooperation between Logal Government Units (LGU) in the region. The ORF is supported by the Swiss Cooperation since 2013. It is closely coordinated with the program Local Leaders Southeast Europe: Lead for Change (LLSEE), also funded by the German Federal Ministry for Cooperation (BMZ) and aimed at strengthening the capacity of municipalities and public utilities in the water and sanitation sector via decicated training.

Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance

The Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA) helps water operators help one another to provide quality services to all. The Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA) is an international network created in 2009 to support water operators through Water Operator’s Partnerships (WOPs). WOPs are peer support exchanges between two or more water operators, carried out on a not-for-profit basis with the objective of strengthening operators’ capacity and performance to provide a better service to more people.

Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe

GWP CEE was founded in 1998 to foster integrated water resources management (IWRM) which is defined as the coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources in order to maximise economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of vital environmental systems.

In 2019, IAWD and GWPCEE signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which provides an excellent opportunity to complement the expertise and partnerships that the two organizations have built in their networks. Both organizations have extensive networks of partners/members, with which they work, and which could benefit from mutual experience and knowledge sharing. The missions of GWP CEE and IAWD are complementary, with GWP CEE focusing on advocacy for integrated water resources management and IAWD on sustainable development of water supply and sanitation services.

Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wasserwerke im Rheineinzugsgebiet

The International Association of Waterworks in the Rhine Basin (IAWR) acts as an umbrella organization for the following organizations and their members: ARW - Arbeitsgemeinschaft Rhein-Wasserwerke e. V., (Association of Rhine Waterworks), AWBR – Arbeitsgemeinschaft Wasserwerke Bodensee-Rhein (Association of Waterworks – Lake Constance/Rhine) and RIWA - Vereniging van Rivierwaterbedrijven (Dutch River Waterworks Association)

These organizations represent 120 water utilities in the six countries along the Rhine River: Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, France, Germany and the Netherlands. The roughly 30 million people living in this area depend on the Rhine, its tributaries and the lakes in its catchment area for the provision of drinking water. The IAWR feels responsible for the sustainable management of these water resources. The aim of the IAWR is to protect the Rhine, its tributaries and the lakes in the Alpine foothills so that so that it is possible to supply drinking water from them using natural treatment methods onl

Joint documents:

Groundwater-Memorandum 2004

Requests of the Waterworks related to the implementation of the EU – Water Framework Directive

Danube, Meuse and Rhine – Memorandum 2008

Memorandum regarding the protection of European rivers and water sources in order to protect the provision of drinking water

International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River

The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) works to ensure the sustainable and equitable use of waters in the Danube River Basin. The work of the ICPDR is based on the Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC), the major legal instrument for cooperation and transboundary water management in the Danube River Basin.

Since 2002, IAWD holds observer status with ICPDR. As an NGO (non-governmental organisation), IAWD may participate in all official events and meetings of ICPDR. Of course, the prime interest of IAWD is water quality in order to ensure durably safe, sustainable drinking water supply for the water companies in the Danube catchment area.

The fruitful co-operation between IAWD and ICPDR resulted in the organisation of the Ministerial Conference on 13 December 2004 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Danube River Protection Convention.

 

International Water Association

IWA members are situated in 140 countries worldwide, forming the largest international network of water professionals working towards a water wise world. Innovative, solutions- and service- oriented, IWA works across a range of areas that contribute to the progression of water management worldwide. Thematic Programmes provide IWA with a mechanism to respond to global challenges and support progressive agendas for the water and sanitation sector.

In 2008, IAWD was the regional partner in the organisation of IWA’s signature event, the World Water Congress. To acknowledge the position of the Danube region as one of the most interesting examples of transboundary water management a special Danube action Day was included in the conference programme. This focal event was organised jointly with ICPDR.

In 2017, IAWD has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IWA The agreement enables collaboration in the Danube and Black Sea region and focuses on four priority areas: Young Water Professionals, engagement of national water associations, capacity building, and events in the region.

 

Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South East Europe

NALAS is a network of associations of local authorities of South East Europe. The Network brings together 14 Associations which represent roughly 9000 local authorities, directly elected by more than 80 million citizens of this region. The NALAS Secretariat, based in Skopje, is responsible for the overall coordination and the implementation of the activities.

In 2016, IAWD and NALAS signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate together in issues related to improving the water services sector.

The World Bank

The World Bank has set two goals for the world to achieve by 2030:

  • End extreme poverty by decreasing the percentage of people living on less than $1.25 a day to no more than 3%
  • Promote shared prosperity by fostering the income growth of the bottom 40% for every country

The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. We are not a bank in the ordinary sense but a unique partnership to reduce poverty and support development. Since 2013, IAWD and the World Bank are successfully implementing the Danube Water Program funded by the Austrian Ministry of Finance.