Switzerland’s support has enabled over 600,000 Kosovo citizens residing in rural areas, or a third of the Kosovo population, to gain access to safe and clean drinking water. The Rural Water and Sanitation Support Programme, representing a 60 million EUR investment by both Switzerland and Kosovo institutions over 17 years, is coming to an end. Switzerland remains however committed to improving the management of water resources of Kosovo. Future Swiss support will further benefit the people of Kosovo whilst also contributing to protecting the environment.

On 15 March, Switzerland and it implementing partners Dorsch, CDI and SKAT together with Kosovo responsible institutions and experts, capitalized on the achievements realized over the last 17 years and discussed about challenges ahead to secure the sustainable management of water and the provision of sanitation services throughout Kosovo.

Launched soon after Switzerland’s initial humanitarian aid in the aftermath of the war, the Programme was designed to ensure that the citizens of Kosovo would have equitable access to safe and clean drinking water. Accordingly, the Swiss support targeted 600’000 Kosovo citizens residing in rural areas, raising to 92% of the size of the Kosovo population having now direct access to safe and clean drinking water. This result also means that Kosovo has met the related Millennium Development Goals and is in line with the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030.

Over the years, the Programme has supported water sector institutions and built capacities to properly manage water supply and deliver high-quality public services.

Water sector reforms will remain an important priority for Switzerland in Kosovo. Switzerland’s present and future support will focus on the management of water resources by respective authorities’. It will also build on previous work aimed at increasing climate change resilience