1. Sandi Zulic, Chair, D-LeaP Committee Council
The Danube Learning Partnership – D-LeaP
Status, Challenges and Outlook
Sandi Zulic, Chair, D-LeaP Committee Council

2. Danube Learning Partnership
D-LeaP is a regional initiative of national water utility associations and IAWD to
act as integrated, sustainable and effective capacity development partnership of water utility associations in the SEE
offer to participating utilities and sector professionals a comprehensive set of learning and capacity development programs

3. The Operating Model
D-LeaP is a committee of IAWD

4. The Delivery Scheme

5. Capacity Building Philosophy
Programs are
developed regionally by Technical Partners, which train the local trainers
and delivered at national level by water utility associations and local partners (the Hubs) in national language
Continuous Improvement Cycle

6. The Program Design
Mix of face-to-face workshops and on the job training
Blended Learning approach: face-to-face training is supported via e- learning tools offered via D-LeaP Academy

7. www.d-leap.org D-LeaP Website
D-LeaP Website in English, including Hub Portals in national language operated by the Hubs

8. D-LeaP Academy
D-LeaP Academy is a Learning Management System offered as a service for Hubs by IAWD
Available in 21 European languages (Danube region languages included)
Allows administration of participants, providing training material, connecting participants and trainers etc.

9. Utility Benchmarking Program
Foundation Program to support utility companies in
identifying areas, where performance improvement is needed
utilities collect information about themselves and compare the results to several performance indicators from other companies
Several cycles successfully delivered.

10. The Programs offered

11. Progress Towards Delivery

12. Progress Towards Delivery
Those circles with the white frame are still under preparation

13. D-LeaP Facts and Figures

14. D-LeaP Threats
Willignes to pay for CD programs, products and measures on market in SEE due to the lack of responsibility of management at LGUs and PUCs
Lack of supportive regulatory framwork for CD delivery in SEE
Other regional capacity development initiatives
Reorganization of the IAWD
Lack of the understanding of role and responsibility of IAWD as D-LeaP secretariat by other actors
Less and less grants and subsidies for CD programs in SEE

15. D-LeaP Strengths Capacity Development Program Regional Delivery Scheme
Curriculum + Extending Training
Trainers (Regional / National)
Provision of equipment (50%)
On-line Support by Technical Partners and Trainers
Draft Financial Model -> (System Solution for sustainability)
D-LeaP Academy as Learning Management System
In addition, IAWD supports national water utility associations with grants for development of BP and implementation of activities from BP

16. D-LeaP Weaknesses
Insufficient selling of the capacity development products!
Lack of:
Understanding of the needs or importance of the CD programme
Experience in delivering CD programs
Capacities and skills for promotion and selling
Support to APUCs for promotion and sales
Proper planning and implementation of plans
Hubs capacities (human resources, organizational and institutional)
Perceived as a expensive CD program for water utilities
Willingness to deliver CD programs and commitment of some APUCs
No try first time to deliver! – No attempt to start!

17. D-LeaP Opportunities (1)
Cooperation with RCDN project -> Focal Points (promotion + generic ToT)
Development of business plan for the next 5 years
Strengthening project management capacities of D-LeaP Technical Secretariat
Capacitation of the National Water Utility Associations (NWUA):
Pear to Peer
Mentoring, Coaching, Backstopping from strong NWUA

18. D-LeaP Opportunities (2)
Develop and offer new regional capacity development projects (e.g. with EU),
Develop new CD products based on needs and demands from the market?
Intensify promotional and selling activities:
Through National Water Utility Associations
Through Danube Water Conference
Cooperation with NALAS and National Associations of LGAs

19. Outlook Cooperation: Curriculum:
Strengthen cooperation among national water utility associations,
Intensify cooperation among national water utility associations from SEE and Western Europe
Ensure close cooperation and coordination with RCDN project
Curriculum:
Waste water collection and treatment

20. Outlook Sustainability
Continue to support capacity development of national water utility associations
Focus more on D-LeaP business activities, as well as on promotion and selling
Apply result-based approach (rewards or incentives for successful cases)
Involve additional national water utility associations from the Eastern Europe countries (Ukraine, Moldova), including Croatia

21. Thank you Sandi Zulic sandi.zulic@aquasabih.ba
Chair of D-LeaP Committee Council
Aquasan Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosanskih banova 23
77000 Bihac
Bosnia and Herzegovina