Across the Western Balkans, with support from the German Government (BMZ) and the Swiss Government (SECO), the Regional Capacity Development Network for Water and Sanitation Services (RCDN) continues to strengthen the long-term capacities of the public utility companies and local governments and their associations.
In June 2026, RCDN organised its third Master Training of Trainers (Master ToT) in Bar, Montenegro, bringing together the associations’ most experienced trainers and sector professionals from across the region.
The Master ToT is an advanced step in RCDN’s trainer development pathway. While delivered at the regional level, its impact is realised at the national level. Equipped with advanced methodological competencies, Master Trainers return to their associations to transfer knowledge, mentor future trainers and support the consistent delivery of high-quality capacity development measures.
Through this approach, RCDN continues to strengthen the internal capacities of partner associations by investing in their own experts. Instead of relying primarily on external trainers and consultants, associations are building a sustainable pool of qualified Master Trainers who remain within their organisations and continue supporting training activities, mentoring new trainers and further developing institutional capacities long after individual projects have ended. Furthermore, many Master Trainers are experienced professionals from water and wastewater utilities, combining extensive practical experience with modern training methodologies. This enables them not only to address challenges within their own utilities and local governments, but also to effectively transfer knowledge to colleagues across the sector, contributing to stronger professional competencies and better-performing water services throughout the Western Balkans.
By strengthening the capacities of the associations’ own experts, RCDN is creating a sustainable system in which knowledge is continuously transferred from the regional to the national level ensuring that expertise remains within the sector and continues to benefit water professionals and utilities across the Western Balkans.
