Eduard Interwies Ecologic

1. River basin networks in Europe and the world:Possibilities and outcomes of twinning with EU networks/organizations on governmental and NGO level Eduard Interwies Ecologic 12/13 May, 2006: Transboundary Dniester River Management: Institutional and Public Participation Aspects

2. Presentation structure I. Introduction: Forms of collaboration Networks of River Basin Organisations “Twinning” II. Main aspects of river basin twinning III. Lessons learned for successful collaboration in river basin management IV. “Twinning” and the EU: framework for exchange experiences V. Possibilities for Ukraine and Moldova

3. I. Introduction: Forms of collaboration

4. I. Forms of collaboration 1. Networks of River Basin Organisations • Objectives: strengthen capacity and effectiveness of RBOs, improve water governance, advise on establishment of RBOs, others • Typical activities: sharing of information, organisation of workshops and courses, benchmarking, etc. • Networks usually implement twinning programmes!!

5. I. Forms of collaboration 2. Networks of River Basin Organisations (continued) Example: International Network of Basin Organisa-tions (INBO): • Founded in 1994; currently 153 permanent members or observers, from 52 countries • Open to Basin Organisations (in their various forms), government administrations in charge of water management, co-op. agencies, permanent observers • Main objective: to develop lasting relations between the organisations interested in comprehensive water resource management ... and favour exchanges of experiences and expertise among them.

6. I. Forms of collaboration 2. Networks of River Basin Organisations (continued) Example: INBO (continued): Lead by INBO + GWP: Associated programme for de-veloping & strengthening river basin organisations • TWINBASINxn project: promotes twinning through guides, scholarship (includ. support for pilot initiatives) • Aims to mobilise expertise of basin organisations through involvement projects, including as leader or partner in 15 eastern European “twinning agreements” • Networking of water documentation systems • Synthesis of available knowledge/best practices; others

7. I. Forms of collaboration 2. “Twinning” in general • Long-lasting co-operative relation between 2 organisations, involving exchange of information + experiences. • Various types of institutions: cities + towns (“sister cities”), educational institutions, national parks, professional institutes, waterboards, provinces, government departments, etc. • In River Basin Management (RBM): twinning typically of Basin Organisations (BO), but other options possible. • (Sometimes twinning is taken for staff-exchange only... concept should be clear at outset!!)

8. II. Main aspects of river basin twinning

9. II. Main aspects of river basin twinning • Aim for both networks and twinnings is mutual learning with respect to the operational, policy and institutional aspects of RBM • Twinning: more usual approach than creation of networks; both approaches complimentary • When twinning is part of larger framework (e.g. network), possibilities include diffusion of results, creation of specialised fora, etc.

10. II. Main aspects of river basin twinning • Twinning is considered as an effective tool for exchanging knowledge and expertise between similar organisations • Can generate improved functioning of partner(s) in terms of institutional capacities and in specific topics • Enables lessons to be learned from previous experiences; exchange of information on best-practices and failed experiments; enhance complimentarity and transferability of knowledge generated • Develops skills within basin or country that will remain there; no “consultants-leave-reports-and-go” problem

11. II. Main aspects of collaboration: twinning In RBM: Organisations usually River Basin Organisa-tions or International River Commissions Pillars of twinning: • exchange of information/experience • exchange of personnel Activities: • short visits (including site visits, field trips, and presentations) • long-term staff exchange • thematic workshops • training courses • benchmarking activities, others

12. II. Main aspects of collaboration: twinning Possible issues for co-operation: • Co-operation and exchange of information of: • technical nature, • legal nature, • administrative nature • institutional nature, • Water quantity and water quality • Ecology

13. II. Main aspects of collaboration: twinning Possible issues for co-operation (continued): • Integrated approach / implementation and integration of: • socio-economical issues and finances • co-operation with other competent (inter)national authorities • stakeholder participation • human resources management • gender issues • education • raising public awareness

14. II. Main aspects of collaboration: twinning Example: Twinning of La Plata and Rhine 2001: Initial contacts between the 2 international commissions (CIC Plata and ICPR) 2003: twinning agreement and working programme (first transboundary twinning agreement!!) Workshops, meetings, internships and internal dissemination of results on 2 Themes and 2 Cross-cutting issues. Rhine experts participated in workshops to define base situation and prepare proposals on water resource quality and hydrological warning systems

15. II. Main aspects of collaboration: twinning La Plata Basin (2.954.500 sq. km., 5 countries) Rhine Basin (172.900 sq. km., 9 countries)

16. III. Lessons learned for successful collaboration in RBM

17. III. Lessons learned 1. Characteristics of organisations to be twinned: • Some similarity in functions • Some similarity in responsibilities • (Institutional gaps that can be supported) • Some similarity in desired outcomes of water management (East Asian twinning often centres on large infrastructure such as dams; other twinning efforts centre on governance, e.g. move towards IWRM, public participation, compliance with WFD, etc.)

18. III. Lessons learned 2. Characteristics of river basins to be twinned: • Some similarity of environments (e.g. La Plata - Rhine twinning: both large transboundary basins with several riparian countries) • Some similarity of issues • Similar complexity of common issues • Complementarity 3. Characteristics of interaction: • Similar research themes • Usually emphasis on long-term, sustained interaction; continuity of involvement

19. IV. “Twinning” and the EU: framework for exchange experiences

20. IV. “Twinning” and the EU EU Twinning: projects financed by EU for “supporting enlargement of the Union and strengthening its co-operation with neighbouring countries.” Most often used to provide technical + administrative knowledge required by new members/candidate countries to include in their national laws(e.g. projects targeting WFD content and implementation in Hungary and Poland). Programmes: CARDS, MEDA, PHARE and TACIS Project proposals elaborated by candidate countries based on development programmes; presented yearly for approval + financing to EU Commission.

21. IV. “Twinning” and the EU Organisations: predominantly public institutions (e.g. ministries + agencies); also “EU mandated bodies”. EU Twinnings : • Usually includeat least 1 long-term consultants (Resident Twinning Adviser) active in partner organisation of candidate country for full length of project (12-24 months). • Project leader in organisation of Member State. • Seminars of short- and middle-term experts, traineeships, workshops, study trips, etc. EU Twinning light: • short- and middle-term experts, 8 months duration

22. Possibilities for Ukraine and Moldova

23. V. Possibilities for Ukraine and Moldova TACIS Twinning Programme in place till end of 2006. (Within TACIS, Ukraine has developed projects e.g. with Germany’s Federal Environmental Ministry) Starting 2007: Neighbourhood Programme, financed through European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument. Germany has been very active in twinning activities: more twinning agreements than any other EU Member State!!  Contacts to Elbe Commission established during Eco-TIRAS-visit in Germany (1/06)…start with Twinbasin?

24. Thank you for your attention! Eduard Interwies Ecologic, Pfalzburger Str. 43-44, D-10717 Berlin +49-30-86880-0,  +49-30-86880-100 interwies@ecologic.de, www.ecologic.de 12/13 May, 2006: Transboundary Dniester River Management: Institutional and Public Participation Aspects