WASHINGTON, November 29, 2012 – The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved a new project to help Albania improve the management of water resources and irrigation. An International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) loan of Euro 31 million and a grant from the Swedish Government of Euro 3.88 million aim to establish the strategic framework to manage water resources at the national level and in the Drin-Buna and Semani river basins, and to improve, in a sustainable manner, the performance of irrigation systems in the project area. Over 80,000 farmers, including over 5,000 women, are expected to benefit directly from this project.
The new operation will improve water resources management and irrigation by: (i) rehabilitating and modernizing selected dams and irrigation systems; ii) improving the performance of organizations that provide irrigation and drainage services, including recruiting private operators in pilot irrigation schemes; iii) preparing a National Integrated Water Resources Management Strategy and River Basin Management Plans for the Drin-Buna and Semani river basins, and iv) establishing a national Water Resources Database. The last part will be financed through the Swedish Grant.
“The new project aims to lay the foundations for more rational and accountable water resources management, and to improve the performance and financial viability of irrigation and drainage,” says IJsbrand H. de Jong, the World Bank Project Task Team Leader. “This will help the country satisfy requirements associated with EU accession and remove some of the obstacles to growth. This is also urgent, as climate change will require strong sectoral governance to ensure rational allocation of limited water resources and reduce flooding, and since dam safety is threatening to undermine the sustainability of the irrigation sector.”
The Bank has funded three irrigation investment operations in the past in Albania. These projects provided investments in the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes, strengthened capacities, and implemented institutional reforms. Lessons learned from the implementation of these projects have been incorporated into the design of the current project in order to improve the quality of water resources and irrigation service delivery, including the need to (i) work with Water User Organizations, local governments and the private sector, (ii) address dam safety concerns and (iii) adopt a more comprehensive and strategic framework for addressing water resources management at the river basin level.
Albania became a member of the World Bank in 1991. Since then, 72 projects totaling US$1.2 billion have been supported by IDA and IBRD, and 49 projects totaling US$225 million by IFC. Currently in Albania there are 8 active projects in social sector, health, education, natural resources, water and energy, municipal infrastructure, and public sector management that are helping Albania to achieve sustainable economic and social development and pave the way for European integration.
