During the 2nd WWF in The Hague decision was made to focus GWP activities on the ground, i.e. on a regional and national level. The discussion on the needs for establishment of water stakeholders platform on a national level in CEE countries started even before the Hague meeting.
The concept of national platforms for promotion of GWP in the countries was futher developed during the CEETAC meetings in Bled, Bratislava, Bucharest. First steps in this respect in Lithuania were initiated in summer 2000. Various water stakeholders have been contacted and concept idea of water partnership discussed.
Later in order to facilitate dissemination of information and communication between the interested parties the web page was designed and disseminated among the water stakeholders. Informal discussions with various water stakeholders are carried on and some concrete actions for establishment of Water Partnership in Lithuania taken. The water partnership has his office - a library of GWP documents and meeting place of the partnership members.
Members of the Water Partnership in Lithuania could be people who:
a) Are aware and take care of water problems;
b) Are known and recognised by the state institutions and can influence national water policy;
c) Active representatives of society not indifferent to a future of water;
d) NGO’s;
e) Representatives of youth who will be responsible for water problems in future.
The main tasks of national water partnership are:
- Collect and store information on the activities of water institutions and companies;
- Facilitate implementation of IWRM;
- Promote co-operation between water professionals and society on one hand and water professionals and politicians (decision makers) on the other hand:
(i) Foster collaboration between professional associations, academic sector community based organizations (CBOs), Non Government Organizations (NGOs) and the private sector;
(ii) Create an adequate mechanism and a coherent framework for the collaboration between the Water Partnership, GWP, local resource centers, including training, information and research organizations;
(iii) Build the capacity of institutions and professionals by making full use of the experience of successful Water Partnerships in CEE and other regions.
- Propagate necessity to secure water resources - life source for present and future generations and environment;
- Continue implementation of water vision and FFA on the national level.
Water Partnership - is a non-profit organization, co-ordinator and catalyst for co-operation between local, regional and international water partners, society and decision makers.
The real practice proved that promotion of water partnership idea should be organised on a permanent basis. Partnership activities could start from the meetings and informal discussions with various water stakeholders. Later water partnership should deal with real and practical problems.
The following topics are important in Lithuania and will be discussed in the water partnership:
. the main goal of Water Partnerships should be able to bring a lot of people together who represent different interests, in order to listen to other problems and to reach a mutual understanding;
- EU accession and its implication to water sector
- Rural water supply:challenges and possible solutions
- IWRM in Lithuania: present situation and future perspectives
- a) Institutional reforms of water management framework: needs and possibilities;
- or b) Links with water sector NGO’s (optional
- Available international funds for water projects and application procedures
It is expected that with CEETAC support the water partnership in Lithuania has to become stronger and more active.