RCDN partners across the Western Balkans are taking significant steps to strengthen advocacy and policy dialogue in the water and wastewater sector, ensuring that utilities and local governments are better represented in national and regional decision-making processes.
In Albania, SHUKALB continues to lead the way with the Inter-Institutional Working Group on Human Resource Management in the Water Sector, bringing together utilities, regulators, and government representatives to address workforce challenges. SHUKALB also facilitated the drafting of a Position Paper on capacity development needs, providing evidence-based recommendations to national authorities and donors.
In North Macedonia, ADKOM established a Working Group on Communal Services, focusing on reviewing existing legislation and drafting proposals for legal amendments to improve sector governance. Similarly, in Kosovo, SHUKOS formed a Working Group on Asset Management, engaging member utilities to jointly address investment planning and maintenance issues through evidence-based proposals.
Meanwhile in Montenegro, the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (UoMM), supported by RCDN, has put in place a structured stakeholder dialogue mechanism, enabling regular discussions between municipalities, utilities, and state institutions on priority sector issues and investment needs.
Capacity development remains a key focus. In Republika Srpska, RCDN supported an Advocacy Training for the LGA ATMRS Sectoral Commission, equipping municipal representatives with practical skills in stakeholder engagement, policy dialogue, and evidence-based advocacy.
At the regional level, NALAS continues to drive policy dialogue by coordinating its Water Management Working Group, which recently produced a comprehensive regional report on water sector reforms to support evidence-based advocacy across the Western Balkans.
These initiatives demonstrate how RCDN is investing in local expertise, structured dialogue, and cross-border cooperation to empower partners to become credible advocates for change paving the way for better policies, sustainable investments, and improved water services for communities across the region.
