1. Swiss Engagement in the Water Sector in the Western Balkans
Water Team Days 2014
Swiss Engagement in the Water Sector in the Western Balkans
Frank Wiederkehr
Regional Advisor for Water and Environment
Swiss Cooperation in the Western Balkans

2. Geographical focus
Water Team Days • Bern • Frank Wiederkehr

3. Volume of the Swiss Engagement
…in the water sector:
Albania: approx. 3.5 million € / year
36.75 million over the last decade
Bosnia i Herzegowina: approx. 3 million € / year
Kosovo: approx. 6.5 million € / year
63.73 million € between
Macedonia: approx. 9 million € / year
41 million € since 1994
Currently approx. 27 million CHF/year
One of the biggest bilateral donors in water sector
Water Sector Dissemination Seminar • Belgrade 20./ • Frank Wiederkehr

4. Highlights
Water Sector Dissemination Seminar • Belgrade 20./ • Frank Wiederkehr

5. Highlights
Water Team Days 2014 • Bern • Frank Wiederkehr

6. Challenges Framework conditions Lack of regulation in the sector
Water tariff policy
Poor capacity and/or lack of commitment
Transfer of knowledge and experiences
Relationship Local Government – Public Utility …
Technical sustainability
O & M
Non-revenue water (up to 80%!)
Purchase of technical equipment, asset management
Financial sustainability
Cost-efficiency
Problem of accumulated debts (mostly energy)
Non-revenue water
Water Sector Dissemination Seminar • Belgrade 20./ • Frank Wiederkehr

7. Lessons learnt Performance based approach
Enhancement of municipalities’ leadership and coordination role in the programme’ implementation,
Greater ownership by the public utilities in the programme design and its implementation
Customer participation
Increase investments in existing network in parallel to investments in new infrastructure
Solve property issues “pre-project”
Tailor made corporate development measures
Improve protection of ground water resources
Water Sector Dissemination Seminar • Belgrade 20./ • Frank Wiederkehr

8. Thank you very much!
Water Sector Dissemination Seminar • Belgrade 20./ • Frank Wiederkehr