Water and Sanitation Safety Planning in rural Romania and Macedonia
The aim of this project is to raise awareness about environmental protection and to take action particularly in the area of water quality and sanitation in rural communities.
27.10.2016
| Countries: | Romania and FYR Macedonia |
| Donors: | Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety Germany |
| Partners: | Aquademica (Romania), Journalists for Human Rights (FYR Macedonia) |
| Issues: | Water & Sanitation |
| Duration: | 05/2016 - 01/2017 |
The aim of this project is to raise awareness about environmental protection and to take action particularly in the area of water quality and sanitation in rural communities.
The introduction of a Water and Sanitation Safety Plan (WSSP) approach with an updated compendium encourages the population to promote local action for the improvement of water supply and sanitation systems, with the active participation of students, youth, teachers, locals and the authorities.
Romania joined the European Union in 2007, and has until 2018 to implement the EU regulations relating to the EU Water Framework Directive. There is still a great need for the construction and renovation of local infrastructure in rural areas.
Since 2005, (the Former Yugoslav Republic - FYR) Macedonia has been a pre-accession country in the EU. 99% of its households, both in urban and rural areas, are connected to the central water supply system, but many water shortages exist. Its water pipes were laid between 1960 and 1980, and a lack of maintenance has led to the poor condition of this water supply system. The population in both countries is often unaware of the interconnections between the quality of water, sanitation, hygiene and health.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has developed the innovative tool of Water Safety Plans (WSP) to ensure the quality of water systems, including small wells and small-scale local centralised water-supply systems. This helps minimise health risks. In these WSPs, civil society is considered of crucial importance, as are the authorities and local suppliers.
First aim of the project is to update the WSSP compendium and to translate into Macedonian, Albanian, Bulgarian and Romanian language so that it can be use in the whole region. The compendium will be then used in Macedonia and Romania and WSSP will be introduced in the regions TImis/Romania and Skopje/Macedonia. In a final conference in Timisoara, the project results will be shared with the interested audience.
Partners in this project are:
In Romania, WECF‘s partner is the Aquademica Foundation, based in Timisoara. It was founded in 2009 and is recognised as a national training and educational centre in the environmental field. The foundation has experience in the provision of highly qualified training sessions, applied knowledge and the development and implementation of innovative and modern strategies. Projects in water and sanitation are also part of its activities.
In Macedonia (FYROM) our partner is Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), an NGO working in the fields of youth development, equal rights, the elimination of discrimination against women in society and the environment, and freedom of speech. JHR is an important stakeholder in the process under the Protocol on Water and Health.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety Germany.
Related News
Calling for periods free from plastic & hazardous chemicals
Letter to Frédérique Ries, MEP, European Parliament on behalf of the #BreakFreeFromPlastics movement
04.09.2018
Together for sustainable sanitation and water security worldwide!
Stockholm, 26-31 Aug 2018: WECF participated in the World Water Week 2018 to further support the worldwide implementation of SDG 6
01.09.2018
Fifth meeting of the Expert Group on Equitable Access to Water and Sanitation, 26 - 27 June 2018
WECF shares experiences on developing and implementing Equitable Access Action Plans
27.07.2018
National Round Table and Training on Drinking Water Issues and Priorities in Macedonia
Working Package 2 – Educational measures for responsible institutions and drafting of regulations, among the on-going project „Water and Sanitation Safety Planning in Romania, Albania, and FYR Macedonia”
27.07.2018
Training for Teachers on Water and Sanitation Safety Planning
Women in Development and WECF organise a 2-day workshop in Shkodra region, Albania
27.07.2018
WECF's participation at the 21st WASH network meeting in Berlin
Presenting a case from Macedonia and results from session at IFAT in Munich
02.07.2018
Crowdfunder for ‘Environmenstrual’ Campaign from the Women's Environmental Network
WECF partner, the UK-based Women’s Environmental Network (WEN), have recently launched a ‘Crowdfunder’ for their new ‘Environmenstrual Campaign’. The goal of which is to spark a menstrual revolution and increase demand for healthy, eco-friendly menstrual products.
27.05.2018
Reinforcing capacity building on waste water treatment in An Oston
During a five days' workshop, the engineers Stefan Deegener and Tobias Ulbrich, have brought the expertise and experience to the villagers and decision makers of An Oston
14.05.2018
Eco-Activism: What it is and Why it is Relevant
In light of this year’s theme “New Activism”, Women and Environment Network WECF, Women Engage for a Common Future, will organize a workshop on eco-activism during Africaday in Amsterdam. What is eco-activism and what are its challenges?
13.04.2018 | Audrey Van Schoote
World Water Day 2018!
22.03.2018
