Today, we participated in the first event of “Vardar Days,” implemented within the framework of the Water Programme. With the presence of more than 100 representatives from public institutions, civil society organizations, and scientific institutions, we had the opportunity to present the work of our organization in the field of water management.
A central message of the event was the importance of transparency and public access to reliable water-related data, particularly on water quality, pollution sources, and the performance of water infrastructure. Improved data availability was identified as a prerequisite for informed decision-making, early detection of environmental risks, and increased institutional accountability.
Our presentation stressed the need to strengthen public participation in river basin planning, environmental permitting, and strategic decision-making processes. Meaningful involvement of local communities, civil society organizations, and the scientific community was recognized as essential for improving policy outcomes and building public trust in water management institutions.
Participants also highlighted the growing impacts of climate change on water resources, including floods, droughts, and ecosystem degradation, and the need to scale nature-based solutions as cost-effective and sustainable responses for water resilience, flood mitigation, and ecosystem restoration within the Vardar Basin.
Finally, the event underscored the value of multi-stakeholder cooperation and regional knowledge exchange, calling for continued collaboration among institutions, municipalities, civil society, academia, and international partners to ensure long-term protection and sustainable use of the Vardar River Basin.
The Water Management, Use, and Protection Programme is supported by the Government of Switzerland, under the patronage of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, and is implemented by the consortium Skat Consulting Ltd. and PointPro Consulting.
