Project
Advancing transboundary co-operation and Integrated Water Resources Management in the Dniester River Basin through implementation of the Strategic Action Programme
Quick links
- Project period:
- 2025 - 2029
- Implemented by:
- Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, OSCE Mission to Moldova, OSCE Secretariat Extra-Budgetary Support Programme for Ukraine
- Fields of work:
- Economic activities, Environmental activities
Overview
The Dniester River Basin is one of Europe’s major transboundary river systems and a shared lifeline for the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. As the ninth largest river in Europe and part of the Black Sea basin, the Dniester stretches around 1,350 kilometers across a basin of more than 72,000 square kilometers.
The basin is of strategic importance for both countries. It is the largest river basin in the Republic of Moldova, covering around 57% of the country’s territory, and the fourth largest river basin in Ukraine, covering approximately 8.9% of its territory. More than 8 million people depend on the basin.
The Dniester provides drinking water for major cities, including Chișinău and Odesa, and supports agriculture, hydropower, industry, fisheries, wetlands, biodiversity and local livelihoods. It is also an important economic and environmental resource, sustaining rural communities, food production and ecosystem services across the basin.
At the same time, the basin faces growing pressures from climate change, floods and droughts, pollution, hydromorphological changes, increasing water demand and ecosystem degradation. As these challenges cross borders, they require joint governance, shared data, co-ordinated monitoring, basin-wide planning and sustained co-operation between the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
OSCE-supported co-operation in the Dniester River Basin dates back to 2004, when the OSCE and UNECE, at the request of the riparian countries, helped lay the foundation for Moldovan-Ukrainian transboundary water co-operation. Since then, this long-standing partnership has supported key milestones, including the Dniester Treaty, the establishment and operationalization of the Dniester River Basin Commission, the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and the jointly endorsed Dniester Strategic Action Programme 2021–2035.
Building on this foundation, the GEF-UNDP-OSCE project “Advancing transboundary co-operation and Integrated Water Resources Management in the Dniester River Basin through implementation of the Strategic Action Programme” supports the two countries in turning the Dniester Strategic Action Programme 2021–2035 into practical results and long-term impact.
The project advances integrated, climate-resilient and co-operative water resources management across the basin. Through stronger joint governance, improved legal and regulatory frameworks, targeted measures to improve ecological status, climate change adaptation and disaster preparedness, public participation, research, monitoring and data exchange, the project helps protect the Dniester as a shared source of water, security, resilience and sustainable development for millions of people.
Donor and partnership arrangements
The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) serves as the implementing agency, while the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) acts as the executing agency, with support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Project objective
The project aims to advance Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the Dniester River Basin and contribute to sustainable development by supporting the implementation of priority actions identified in the Strategic Action Programme for the Dniester River Basin 2021–2035.
What the project supports
- Enhanced co-operation: Support to transboundary co-operation and joint governance through the Dniester River Basin Commission and its Working Groups.
- Stronger frameworks: Improved governance, legal and regulatory capacity to implement SAP commitments, in line with applicable international and regional frameworks, including the UN Water Convention and the EU Water Framework Directive.
- A healthier river: Targeted measures to improve ecological status and reduce pollution, hydromorphological pressures and other key environmental impacts.
- Climate readiness: Strengthened climate change adaptation, flood and drought preparedness, and resilience to naturally induced disasters.
- Inclusive participation: Public awareness, stakeholder engagement, youth-oriented outreach and transparent information-sharing.
- Evidence-based decisions: Applied research, monitoring and data exchange to strengthen basin governance and support informed decision-making.
- Gender mainstreaming: Gender considerations integrated across all project components to promote equitable participation, inclusive benefits and gender-responsive water governance.
Project components
Component 1: Strengthening Moldovan–Ukrainian co-operation in water resources management
Support to transboundary co-operation and joint governance mechanisms, including enhanced capacity of the Dniester River Basin Commission and its Working Groups.
Component 2: Strengthening regulatory frameworks and national capacities
Support to SAP implementation and alignment with obligations under the UN Water Convention and the EU Water Framework Directive.
Component 3: Improving ecological status of the Dniester River Basin
Measures to reduce anthropogenic pressures identified in the SAP, including pollution and hydromorphological impacts affecting water bodies and ecosystems.
Component 4: Climate change adaptation and disaster preparedness and resilience
Support to flood and drought preparedness and climate-resilient water management approaches.
Component 5: Public awareness, participation and outreach
Inclusive public consultations, stakeholder engagement, project communications and outreach.
Component 6: Enhancing research and data for governance
Monitoring, data exchange, applied research and evidence-based decision-making in line with SAP priorities.
Expected results by 2029
- Stronger transboundary co-operation and governance, with improved functioning of the Dniester River Basin Commission and its Working Groups.
- Improved legal, institutional and regulatory frameworks supporting implementation of SAP commitments.
- Improved ecological status of the Dniester River Basin through targeted and replicable measures addressing priority pressures.
- Enhanced climate change adaptation and disaster preparedness, including greater resilience to floods, droughts and other climate-related risks.
- Better informed and engaged stakeholders, with strengthened participation of authorities, experts, civil society and the public.
- A stronger joint knowledge base, supported by applied research, improved monitoring and data exchange.
Selected expected outputs
| Area | Indicative outputs |
|---|---|
| Co-operation and governance | 4 Dniester River Basin Commission meetings; 8 Working Group meetings; 2+ twinning or capacity-building activities; 2 training activities on SAP, the UNECE Water Convention and the EU Water Framework Directive. |
| Regulatory frameworks | 2+ draft laws and/or regulatory instruments developed in Moldova and Ukraine to support SAP implementation. |
| Ecological status | 4 demonstration projects, 2 methodological guidelines and 2 facilitated investment plans to improve ecological status in the basin. |
| Climate adaptation and disaster preparedness | 1 updated Strategic Framework for Adaptation to Climate Change and Implementation Plan; 4 climate adaptation measures; 3 flood risk management plans and 1 drought management plan. |
| Public awareness and outreach | 6+ public outreach activities, including youth-oriented activities such as Colours of the Dniester contests and Dniester Summer Schools; 1 updated Dniester Commission website; 1 project sub-page; 1 Stakeholder Engagement Plan, 1 Communication Strategy and 1 Gender Action Plan. |
| Research and data | 2 Dniester Conferences and 3 applied research projects on SAP-prioritized issues, including biodiversity, wetlands and monitoring. |