MMPPH: Switzerland will support North Macedonia in the management, use and protection of groundwater

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Izet Mexhiti, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, Cvetan Tripunovski, and Director of the Hydrometeorological Directorate, Igor Lazarovski, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Swiss Ambassador Veronique Ullmann on the topic "Program for the management, use and protection of groundwater in the Republic of North Macedonia".

As announced by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, this Program is designed for the long-term transformation of water resources management, by building the capacities of all parties involved, by providing the necessary mechanisms for cooperation, and by improving the legislation and planning framework.

“Water resources, and especially groundwater in the Republic of North Macedonia, are a strategic natural resource, but their potential has not been sufficiently explored, exploited, monitored, recorded, protected or managed. Strengthening the capacities of responsible institutions, legal regulation and harmonization with EU law are needed. Also, low awareness of the status of surface and groundwater is reflected in low public pressure and weak mobilization of the public and civil society on water resource management issues.”

"By the end of 2027, the program envisages: to strengthen the capacities of key institutions and stakeholders for integrated and sustainable management of water resources, to harmonize and consolidate the legal framework, to develop a draft Vardar River Basin Management Plan, and to implement pilot projects with farmers, public services, the private sector, and municipalities."

"The main beneficiary and bearer of the program is the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning (included in all three components), and the program (in two components) also includes the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy and the Hydrometeorological Directorate," say the MEPPH.

They further add that the program is financially supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation in a total amount of 4,600,000 Swiss francs until 2027, and the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia provides domestic participation through two ministries, namely the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning with 300.000 Swiss francs (over three years) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy with 200.000 francs (over two years).

“The program is implemented by the Consortium Skat Consulting Ltd (Switzerland) and PointPro Consulting (North Macedonia), and is designed in 2 phases: phase 1, from January 2024 – December 2027 and is planned to continue with phase 2, from 2028-2031. The Government of the Swiss Confederation is represented by the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which acts through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).”

"The Memorandum of Understanding contains a detailed description and dynamic plan of activities and tasks and will be the basis for the implementation of the "Program for the Management, Use and Protection of Groundwater of the Republic of North Macedonia"", say the Ministry of Water Resources and Environment. /Telegraph/