The Extended Drin Basin, shared by Albania, Kosovo (United Nations administered territory under Security Council resolution 1244 (1999)), Montenegro, and North Macedonia - is no ordinary watershed. It spans a complex network of rivers, lakes, and aquifers - including the White Drin, Black Drin, Buna/Bojana Rivers, and the Prespa, Ohrid, and Skadar/Shkoder Lakes - and is home to over 1.61 million people across 1,450 settlements. These water resources are vital for energy production, irrigation, tourism and fisheries, while also harboring a biodiversity treasure trove. Yet, the basin faces mounting pressures: pollution, ecosystem degradation, flood risks, and competing demands across borders.
On 27 March 2025 a new phase of the project "Implementing the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) of the Drin Basin to Strengthen Transboundary Cooperation and Enable Integrated Natural Resources Management", financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), was launched in Tirana by the Global Water Partnership Mediterranean, UNDP and UNECE. With its USD 7.1 million budget and five-year timeline, the project will advance sustainable transboundary action to tackle these challenges head-on, building on a legacy of cooperation that began nearly two decades ago.
In November 2011, the Drin Riparians signed the Drin Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), committing to sustainable management of the Drin Basin. This agreement established the Drin Core Group and Expert Working Groups, with the Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean serving as the Secretariat. UNECE has been a long-standing partner in this process supporting transboundary cooperation and integrated water resource management in the Basin. Over time, UNECE provided tailored technical and advisory support to the Riparians, on legal, policy and technical aspects of cooperation.
The journey reached a crucial milestone in 2020 with the endorsement of the Strategic Action Programme (SAP), a comprehensive roadmap reflecting the Riparians' collective vision. Now, the Drin SAP project brings that vision to life.
Deputy Minister of Tourism and Environment Sofjan Jaupaj emphasized: "Taking bold action on the Drin River will propel Albania forward in its EU accession journey, particularly in Chapter 27. As Albania accelerates toward EU integration, this project will significantly strengthen our efforts in the subchapters on nature and water resources. We face tough challenges - like protecting nature while developing infrastructure - but we must tackle them head-on to ensure sustainability and safeguard our environment."
Francesca Bernardini, Chief of the Transboundary Section of UNECE highlighted that "this project is an historical turning point for cooperation in the Drin basin as it will allow the materialization of many key aspects of the vision, in particular having a structured arrangement and a joint institution for cooperation. These components are crucial to ensure sustainable access to water resources needed to drive development in the region and resilience to climate change".
The Drin SAP project is structured around four key components, each designed to address the basin's multifaceted challenges:
Boosting Capacity: By equipping institutions and stakeholders with technical tools and deeper ecological understanding, the project fosters climate-resilient resource management at every level-regional, national, and local.
Consolidating Frameworks: Strengthened institutional arrangements and new policy instruments will pave the way for seamless cooperation across borders and sectors.
Addressing Transboundary Issues: From pollution to habitat loss, the project targets the root causes of environmental stress, accelerating SAP implementation.
Ensuring Participation and Sustainability: Inclusive mechanisms-emphasizing stakeholder engagement, gender mainstreaming, and robust monitoring-guarantee the project's long-term impact.
In this framework, UNECE will support the discussion on legal aspects for the finalization of a joint agreement consolidating official cooperation among Drin's riparians as well as the work of the Expert Working Group on monitoring and information exchange aimed at the creation of a joint monitoring system, which will be crucial to make cooperation work in practice.
In line with the principles of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes to which the riparians are Parties, the holistic approach of this new phase of the project integrates critical issues like biodiversity, energy, and water security, supporting the Drin Riparians' aspirations for European Union integration. It's a model of "source-to-sea" management, ensuring that actions upstream benefit communities downstream and protect the Adriatic's marine environment.
"For the Drin Riparians, this is more than an environmental project - it's a socio-economic lifeline. By fostering regional cooperation, the SAP not only safeguards a shared ecosystem but also builds resilience against climate change, supports sustainable development, and strengthens ties among riparians with a complex history" - said Francisco Roquette, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative who attended the event.
As the Drin SAP project unfolds over the next five years, it offers a blueprint for transboundary cooperation in a fractured world. The Balkans, often seen through the lens of past conflicts, are now showcasing a future of collaboration and sustainability. From the rugged headwaters of the Drin to the Adriatic coast, this project proves that shared resources can unite rather than divide.
