The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) held a two-day inception workshop from 14 to 15 July 2025 in Chisinau, Moldova, to officially launch a new regional project titled “Advancing Transboundary Co-operation and Integrated Water Resources Management in the Dniester River Basin through Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme (SAP).”
Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the OSCE as the executing agency and support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the initiative aims to support the SAP’s rollout. This science-based action plan focuses on restoring the Dniester River ecosystem and sustainably managing its resources.
The project targets multiple priorities: reducing water and accidental pollution, improving management of tailings storage facilities, enhancing legal frameworks, and addressing the impacts of climate change and natural disasters. A key objective is to strengthen cooperation between Moldova and Ukraine on shared water governance.
The workshop convened government officials, civil society, technical experts, and international stakeholders to guide early implementation steps and shape key strategic documents such as the Project Inception Report and Workplan for the Project Steering Committee.
This project continues over two decades of international collaboration in the Dniester River Basin and emphasizes inclusive, adaptive, and conflict-sensitive transboundary water governance. It also marks a new milestone in Moldovan-Ukrainian cooperation, reinforcing joint efforts toward sustainable and peaceful water resource management.
