© GFA | Theth national par in Albania

FROM INVESTMENT TO IMPACT IN THE ALBANIAN WATER SECTOR

The Rural Water Supply Programme IV (RWSP IV) in Albania has come to a close — but its impact is just beginning to take root. After four years of targeted technical assistance, collaborative problem-solving, and institutional strengthening, the Programme’s Accompanying Measures (AM) concluded with a forward-looking workshop on June 2, 2025, bringing together key stakeholders from across Albania’s water sector.

A collaborative journey

Financed by the German government through KfW Development Bank, and co-financing from the European Union via WBIF and the Albanian government, RWSP IV was more than an infrastructure investment. It was an effort to transform how water and sanitation services are delivered in southern Albania. The transformation was supported by a consulting consortium with GFA Consulting Group GmbH in the lead, Kocks Consult GmbH, and Valu Add Management Services.

From its inception, RWSP IV embodied the principle of co-creation. The Albanian Development Fund (ADF) led the national implementation efforts. KfW provided strategic financing and oversight. Local governments, including the Himara and Vlora municipalities, played an active role in shaping and owning the process. And the consulting consortium brought international expertise, local knowledge, and a spirit of partnership to all the challenge at hand. Reflecting on the Programme’s achievements, Mr. Vangjel Tavo, Mayor of Himara, captured its essence:

“With these upgrades, families from Kuç to Qeparo finally have the reliable water service they deserve. RWSP IV shows how expert technical assistance, combined with the commitment of municipalities and utilities, can turn investments into real, lasting impact for our citizens.”

A moment of reflection

Mayors, utility directors, development partners, and technical experts participated in the project closing workshop in the coastal town of Himara. The event was highlighted by keynote addresses from Mr. Vangjel Tavo, Mayor of Himara; Mr. Ermal Murati, General Director of the Vlora Regional Water Utility; and Mr. Afrim Kalanderi, Director of Water, Sanitation, and Waste Management at GFA Consulting Group. Their speeches highlighted the strong commitment across local, regional, and international actors to ensure that RWSP IV delivers not just infrastructure but real, lasting change.

The event featured presentations by team leader Christopher Scharfe and expert consultants who led the accompanying measures. Together, they presented tangible results, lessons learned, and a roadmap for sustaining and scaling the gains achieved under RWSP IV.

Strengthening utilities for lasting change

To this end, the 1.39 million Euro contract covered the period of 2021–2025 and focused on six core areas, the key success features are highlighted below.

• Business planning and tariff reform – One of the Programme’s key achievements was the development of a five-year business plan and a socially balanced tariff strategy for the Himara utility unit based on key performance indicators (KPIs). This helped establish a transparent and predictable financing framework, balancing affordability for low-income households with the utility’s need for cost recovery.
• Boosting commercial performance – RWSP IV supported a deep clean-up of the customer database of outdated and inaccurate records. This set the stage for enhanced billing accuracy, clearer consumption patterns, and more systematic revenue collection. The consulting team also developed a debt-recovery roadmap and a utility aggregation strategy to increase financial sustainability and service reliability in the region.
• Operational improvements and WWTP management – In Himara, the local Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) became a flagship of improvedoperations and maintenance (O&M), when standard operating procedures (SOPs) and basic training for plant staff were introduced. As a result, the WWTP operated more safely and reliably – a crucial step for public health and environmental protection.
• Human capacity building and institutional reforms – Based on a review of the utility’s internal organisation, staff roles and responsibilities were realigned considering future needs. Tailored trainings covering operations, customer service, and financial management boosted institutional readiness, which increased the utility’s professionality, accountability, and service-orientation.
• Introducing sludge management solutions – As sludge disposal had been an unresolved environmental and operational challenge, the RWSP IV team developed phased sludge management plans for both Himara and Orikum in line with national and EU environmental regulations.
• Fostering public trust through communication – The consultants’ robust communications and visibility strategy addressed the fragile public trust in utilities with a historically weak service delivery. Activities included public awareness campaigns, media outreach, and local information sessions. These efforts helped reset the relationship between utilities and the communities they serve — turning citizens from passive recipients into engaged stakeholders.

Conclusions

While RWSP IV has formally ended on June 30, 2025, its outcomes are designed to endure. The closure workshop outlined key recommendations and next steps:

• Tariff strategy rollout needs to be approved by the regulator and implemented in phases, linked to improved service standards.
• Utility aggregation by replicating the Himara model to foster regionalized service delivery and shared operational costs.
• Sludge management needs landfill agreements and financing to implement the sludge plans.
• O&M institutionalisation through SOPs and training embedded into human resource and performance management practices.
• Sustained citizen engagement by means of digital platforms and local offices that help institutionalise transparency and public accountability.

As RWSP IV transitions from implementation to legacy, its story offers vital lessons. GFA Consulting Group firmly believes that infrastructure investments should be paired with strong institutions, skilled personnel, transparent operations, and citizen trust. These requirements will safeguard those services are not only built, but sustained – and not just sustained, but continuously improved.

Hence, the Programme’s close marks a beginning as much as an end. With new tools, capacities, and partnerships in place, the Himara and Orikum utilities – and the citizens they serve – are better prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

To learn more about GFA’s work in the water and sanitation sector or to request project materials, feel free to reach out to the GFA Water & Sanitation Team through Mariia Pavlova: mariia.pavlova@gfa-group.de