Our story
The Territorial Context
Over 30% of the population in the Programme area lives under permanent water stress due to unsustainable use and overexploitation of water resources, with the agriculture and energy sectors representing ~90% of water consumption in rural areas. At the policy level, silo sector-specific approaches, still prevalent in RedeeM territories, constitute a major barrier to sustainable water management as they do not capture inherent complexities, i.e., the interlinkages and externalities between different economic sectors, as well as with the natural ecosystems; this often results in contradicting goals and measures that can even contribute to, rather than alleviate, water scarcity.
“>This fragmentation inhibits the efficient allocation of water resources between end-users, and the broad integration of water efficiency and/or ecosystem health considerations in sectoral practices. This is highlighted by a) the prevalence of unregulated or unauthorised water abstractions (esp. in ES, GR, PT, MT and CY participating areas) and water-inefficient agricultural practices such as flood irrigation (esp. GR, HR, BG, IT), b) the use of water-intensive cooling technologies in energy production (BG, MK, ME), and c) the establishment of dams and reservoirs for hydropower without fully assessing potential externalities, which have contributed to a vicious circle of ecosystem degradation (over 25% of the land is associated with very high or high desertification risk) that further exacerbates water scarcity.
RedeeM Partnership
RedeeM partnership brings together organisations with documented track record in addressing water scarcity, being actively involved in water management, ties with the food, energy, water and environmental management sectors in rural areas, and experience in stakeholder engagement.
The Energy and Water Agency - EWA (MT) | Lead Partner
EWA is responsible for Malta’s water management and energy policies, and a leading expert in nonconventional water resources, water conservation and infrastructure. As a policy maker for both water and energy, EWA is in a unique position to identify and address challenges pertaining to conflicting water uses and prioritisation.
Calabria Region - RECAL (IT)
The Regional Ministry for Forestry Management & Rural Areas of Extremadura (JUNTAEX) has significant experience in managing water resources, forestry, and rural development. Furthermore, the organisation focuses on modernising its irrigation infrastructure to enhance water efficiency, using advanced technologies such as remote water distribution systems; these efforts are essential in improving water retention and reducing scarcity across the region.
Ministry for Forestry Management and the Rural Areas -RG of Extremadura - JUNTAEX (ES)
The Regional Ministry for Forestry Management & Rural Areas of Extremadura (JUNTAEX) has significant experience in managing water resources, forestry, and rural development. Furthermore, the organisation focuses on modernising its irrigation infrastructure to enhance water efficiency, using advanced technologies such as remote water distribution systems; these efforts are essential in improving water retention and reducing scarcity across the region.
Region of Eastern Macedonia & Thrace - REMTH (GR)
REMTH is responsible for water management in its territory, mandated to tackle droughts, water scarcity, and flood risks and implementing policy initiatives and targeted interventions to address the (increasing) water scarcity in the Region.
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Montenegro - MAFWM (ME)
MAFWM plays a key role in formulating national policies on agriculture, rural development, and water management in Montenegro, being responsible for sustainable land and water use, and for integrating climate change adaptation provisions in national strategies.
Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning - MOEPP (MK)
MoEPP plays a central role in the development and implementation of environmental policies and water resource management in North Macedonia. The Department for Waters within MoEPP oversees critical areas such as water resource planning, and drought mitigation, which make them a key player for
advancing water governance in the country.
National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology - NIMH (BG)
The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH) has significant expertise in meteorology,hydrology, and agrometeorology, making it a valuable partner for addressing droughts and water scarcity. NIMH manages monitoring networks and develops hydrological and agrometeorological forecasts, crucial for managing water resources and mitigating drought impacts.
Development and Infrastructure Company of Alqueva - EDIA (PT)
EDIA was established in 1995 to design, construct, and operate the Alqueva Multipurpose Project (EFMA), a key infrastructure investment for efficient water management in southern Portugal, currently supporting the irrigation of 130,000 hectares. In 2023, EDIA initiated a highly innovative solar project, the installation of 4 floating photovoltaic plants (52MWp), in reservoirs integrated in the Alqueva
irrigation system, creating Europe’s largest floating photovoltaic project using over 100,000 solar panels.
Zadar Country Rural Development Agency - AGRRA (HR)
AGRRA is highly versed in environmental sustainability, rural development, and water resource management, which are all key components of its responsibilities. In this context, AGRRA actively supports initiatives that align with national and EU strategies in agriculture, rural development, and environmental preservation, with a strong emphasis on promoting sustainable practices.
Nicosia Development Agency - ANEL (CY)
ANEL is an agency specialising in managing environmental sustainability and water management projects that include the objectives of improving resilience to drought and desertification. ANEL promotes sustainable water management practices, which is crucial due to the significant water scarcity in Cyprus, particularly in rural regions where agriculture is a major water consumer.
Development Agency Koziansko - RAKO (SI)
RAKO is a public sectoral agency with extensive experience working in rural development in cooperation with municipalities,farmers, and environmental organizations.
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki - AUTH (GR)
AUTH is an expert in water resource management, drought mitigation, and climate resilience; it also supervises the UNESCO Center on Integrated and Multidisciplinary Water Resources Management which does interdisciplinary research in the environmental, technical, economic, and social areas. AUTH’s territorial relevance to the project is further strengthened by its work in Central Macedonia, a region grappling with high agricultural demand and frequent droughts.
