Enhancing the involvement of NGOs in the MedPartnership activities: the Drin Dialogue process

Within the framework of the MedPartnership activities, where MIO-ECSDE is responsible for the meaningful participation of civil society in the implementation of the project and the overall strengthening of civil society in the Mediterranean, an NGO networking meeting was organized on the 4th of April 2011 in Tirana back-to-back with the Albanian Consultation Meeting.

The main aim of the meeting was to provide information on the Drin Dialogue process and encourage/inspire NGOs to participate in the makings of the structured dialogue. The meeting was attended by 8 representatives of National NGOs (Albaforest, Eden Center, Institute for Nature Conservation, Instituti I politikave Mjedisore, Rainbow Environmental Association) and the main issues discussed were the following:

• main challenges in the Drin basin as well as possible responses;
• main obstacles and challenges to successful participation of NGOs and ways to strengthen the relations between the various organisations of the region;
• opportunities for NGOs to exchange experiences and/or build capacities related to their involvement in the development of river or lake basin management plans, either within the MedPartnership or the H2020 CB/MEP activities.

The outcomes of this meeting were briefly presented by MIO-ECSDE representative Ms. Thomais Vlachogianni, at the 3rd Core Group Meeting together with a number of other relevant activities that have been undertaken contributing directly and/or indirectly to a coordinated involvement of civil society, and particularly NGOs, in the Drin Dialogue. Read more here