GEF project team members smile as their project gets off the ground

A central DRP objective is to enhance transboundary cooperation by strengthening the capacities of the ICPDR and its structures (expert groups, etc.) and of the Danube countries to implement the Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC), and increasingly, the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). A second focus is to develop and facilitate measures that help reduce pollution by nutrients and toxic substances - a priority transboundary issue in the Danube Basin and the Black Sea.
The UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project is comprehensive in scope, addressing most aspects of the ICPDR’s work and many issues central to river basin management. The project places a particular emphasis on capacity building and the strengthening of institutions, as well as increasing stakeholder participation and public awareness.
Given the central focus and commitments by EU states and EU ascession countries to EU water policy, the ICPDR has been chosen as the responsible institution to carry out the development of a Danube River Basin Management Plan in line with WFD requirements. The DRP is helping the ICPDR’s River Basin Management Expert Group to develop the necessary river basin management tools (GIS, typology and reference conditions, ecological classification, etc.) urgently needed for the River Basin Management planning process particularly given the strict time frame for implementation.

 

Apropriate water services

 

Much emphasis has been placed on the need to provide the Danube citizens with appropriate water services i.e. clean drinking water and appropriate wastewater treatment. It is known that governments will only be able to pay for mandatory future improvements in the frame of large investment projects if users cover the costs themselves. Thus, as part of efforts to develop appropriate economic instruments to stimulate environmental protection, the DRP is working to identify appropriate tariff schemes to support such needed investments.
Past pollution assessments have shown that pollution reduction can best be supported by instigating necessary policy, legal and institutional reforms. The DRP is supporting the development of appropriate policies in agriculture and industry as well as those related to appropriate land use and wetland rehabilitation that can lead to the desired water quality and ecosystem improvements.
As a primary transboundary concern, the restoration of the Black Sea ecosystem by reducing the stresses caused by the Danube River Basin is a key focus of the DRP. A joint working group bringing together technical experts from the ICPDR and the Black Sea Commission resumed its work in May 2002 to develop an appropriate framework for joint action towards common targets. As part of the GEF’s overall Black Sea Basin programmatic approach, the DRP is working closely with its sister project, the UNDP/GEF Black Sea Regional Project and with the World Bank/GEF Danube/Black Sea Nutrient Reduction Investment Fund.

 

Good start and exceptional motivation

 

Clearly, a principle focus of the DRP’s activities is the support of the ICPDR. This is being achieved by close collaboration with the ICPDR’s expert groups to enhance their respective efforts to implement the DRPC and the current ICPDR Joint Action Programme.
Given the excellent cooperation with participating Danube countries and the ICPDR and the exceptional motivation of important stakeholders in the Basin, it is expected that this good start of project implementation will carry on to lasting improvements in the quality of life in the Danube River Basin.