SHUKALB Conducts Visits and Training at Water Utilities in the Framework of the “Water Safety Plan and Crisis Management” Program

During June – July 2021, SHUKALB conducted three sessions of on-site visits and training at the water utilities of Gramsh, Belsh, Berat-Kucove, Lushnje and Patos, in the framework of implementing the D-LeaP Water Safety Plan and Crisis Management (WSP&CM) Program. The WSP&CM Program is implemented by SHUKALB in the framework of the Regional Capacity Development Network (RCDN*) Project. This activity builds up on the previous work started by SHUKALB in the beginning of this year, with a larger group of utilities, supported by GIZ “Open Regional Fund for Southeast Europe – Modernization of Municipal Services (ORF MMS), with the aim of providing support to Municipalities and Public Utilities in Managing the Covid-19 Crisis in Albania.

SHUKALB team was composed by the lead trainer Migena Kukli, co trainer Elton Hasanaj, as well the Executive Director Elisabeta Poçi.

The aim of the first visit, organized during 7-11 June 2021, was to work with the respective staff of the utilities in identifying risks for particular elements of their water supply system, while describing the system.  During this exercise, with the assistance from the trainers, the participants were able to design the key elements of the water supply system in Google Earth.  As part of this visit, the participants were also able to discuss and identify the positions within their utility, who would be assigned with key responsibilities as part of the crisis management team.

The 2^nd visit was organized during 15-19 June 2021 and its aim was to introduce participants with the roles in crisis management through role playing case studies, and to deepen their knowledge in risk analysis of the different potential risks identified for each water supply systems of the participating utilities. As part of this visit, the participants had the chance to continue working on the excel tool for risk analysis, assisted by the trainers.

The 3^rd visit was organized during 6 – 12 July 2021, and its aim was to develop a monitoring and improvement plan regarding the regarding the effectiveness of control measures for each of the identified risks. As part of this visit the trainers accompanied by the participants from utilities conducted field visits at different facilities of the water supply systems, to discuss from a practical point of view the potential risks identified for those particular facilities or elements of the system.

In addition to the presentations conducted by SHUKALB trainers, participants engaged in active exercises and discussions about the main concepts and topics of the respective training agendas. At the end of each training day, participants were given homework which were presented and discussed at the beginning of the next training.

SHUKALB has planed a final session of visits and trainings for the 5 participating water utilities during September 2021, and by the end of the Program, each water utility will have developed a standard Water Safety and Crisis Management Plan.

* RCDN is a project being implemented by the GIZ-Open Regional Fund (ORF) and financed by the Swiss and German Governments, and aims at establishing a self-sustaining Regional Capacity Development Network, with 16 local government and water associations in the region.[:]