28/12/2023 From 12 until 14 December 2023, in Vienna, Austria, in cooperation with GIZ, NALAS organised the second Networking Meeting of RCDN+, the new phase of the Project “Regional Capacity Development Network for Water and Sanitation Services (RCDN).
The Networking Meeting, titled “Achieving excellence through Quality Standards for training delivery” aimed at advancing the quality of capacity development services provided for the water and sanitation sector by the national associations, both Local Government Associations (LGAs) and Associations of Public Utility Companies (APUCs).
At the meeting, RCDN+ partners presented, discussed and improved the Quality Standards (QSs) templates for Training Delivery. Agreement was reached on the alignment of joint/regional QSs templates for Training Delivery, considering the lessons learnt from their implementation by the national associations. Finally, partners agreed on the RCDN+ Operational Plan for 2024.
“In the last five years, RCDN Quality Standards for Training made a huge difference in the water and sanitation services sector, putting the national associations on the top of the quality training providers for the sector”, said Ms. Jelena Janevska, NALAS Program Director, who moderated the Networking Meeting. “We do not stop here, but keep polishing the Quality Standards, based on the vast experience in the implementation, striving to achieve more with every new delivery”, concluded Ms. Janevska.
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About RCDN+
The overall impact of RCDN+ is increased effectiveness and efficiency of APUCs and LGAs in Western Balkans that contribute to better service provision towards and by their members, the public water utilities and municipalities, ultimately allowing to reach a large population with equitable, safe drinking water and sanitation services in line with the EU Acquis Communautaire (chapter 27).
Four outcomes will contribute to the achievement of the overall impact: The APUCs and LGAs are capable to perform the organisational functions in line with their mandate (outcome 1 – association development). They are capable to respond to the CD requests of their members (outcome 2 – CD products and CD delivery) and to advocate for the interest of their members and being recognised by competent national agencies (outcome 3 – advocacy and policy dialogue). Regional services add value to the APUCs’ and LGAs’ member services in the 6 Western Balkans countries (outcome 4 – regional services and digital learning).
