Sustainable community development begins with dialogue, collaboration, and the joint search for solutions—especially where challenges know no borders. This was the focus of the inaugural workshop of the WASSER project, “Water Without Borders: A Joint Search for Solutions for Border Communities in Ukraine and Moldova,” which took place yesterday in Vinnytsia.
Oksana Oliinyk, Head of the Ukraine Component of the WASSER project, and Iryna Korlyakova, WASSER Project Advisor (GIZ), facilitated the session. Representatives from the State Emergency Service, the Hydrometeorological Service, border units, and other institutions involved in water resources joined the discussion.
The focus was on issues of access to quality water, infrastructure modernization, and the development of inter-municipal and cross-border cooperation. During the workshop, participants worked in group discussions, including a “world café” format: they exchanged experiences, built on each other’s ideas, and collaboratively developed practical solutions to address challenges in water resource management.
The Dniester—a strategic water resource for the region—is currently affected by climate change, environmental pressures, and infrastructure challenges. That is why cooperation among communities and partners is critically important for ensuring sustainable water resource management.
The Vinnytsia Regional Development Agency team joined the workshop and participated in the joint development of solutions and discussion of opportunities for community development.
A key outcome was the signing of memorandums of cooperation with the project by the Vinnytsia region communities of Yampil and Mohyliv-Podilskyi, which opens new opportunities for implementing infrastructure solutions.
Following the meeting, further steps for cooperation were outlined, and subsequent working meetings were scheduled to develop joint initiatives.