PROJECT NAME:

Bridging regions

SECTOR:

Climate, Environment Waste Management

PROJECT VALUE:

EUR 1,016,252.86 EU funding EUR 688,714.56

DURATION:

24 Months

IMPLEMENTING PARTNER:

Municipality of Vitia, Kosovo – Lead Applicant

DIRECT BENEFICIARY:

• Local inhabitants of Gostivar Municipality and Vitia Municipality (in total 128,412), • indirect beneficiaries are the population that lives along the course of the Vardar and Morava River, potential tourists within the Vitia and Gostivar region.

COVERAGE/IMPACT:

Cross Border area Municipality of Gostivar, North Macedonia Municipality of Vitia, Kosovo

OVERALL OBJECTIVE:

To contribute on reducing the environmental pollution and increasing the quality of life of the citizens in the border region of Kosovo and North Macedonia

PROJECT PURPOSES:

S01: To reduce river pollution through common actions for preventing illegal waste dump and S02 To create preconditions for green transport for citizens

ACTIVITIES:

Phase 1: Project set-up activities 0.1 Establishing of project team 0.2 Establishing of Advisory Board in Kosovo & North Macedonia 0.3 Kick-off meeting and launching press conference R.1 Reduced illegal dumpsites and enhancement of the areas 1.1 Identifying and cleaning of illegal dumping sites for cleaning in both regions with proper mechanization 1.2 Levelling the ground and preparing for implementing recreational parks within the area in both sides of the river Vardar, planting needed horticulture 1.3 Levelling the ground and preparing for implementing recreational spots within the area in one side of the river Morava, planting needed horticulture R2 Creation of reliable infrastructure for enhancing environmental protection 2.1 Construction of pedestrian Bridge adapted for persons with special needs in Gostivar and Buzovik bridge in Vitia 2.2 Training responsible staff for maintenance of the bridge 2.3 Implementing software and Visual Digital Display for counting the number of people using the bridge in Gostivar 2.4 Construction of 400m pedestrian path of the Vardar River in Gostivar 2.5 Construction of 1300m pedestrian path of the Morava River in Vitia 2.6 Morava Riverbed paved with stones 760 m length 2.7 Construction of five septic holes in vicinity of river Morava for filtering the wastewater from other flowing 2.8 Construction of one pilot septic hole in vicinity of river Vardar for filtering thewastewater from other flowing R3. Providing of equipment for the sustainable creation of recreational sites in Gostivar and Vitia that were affected from the solid waste 3.1 Procurement of benches (25 pcs), trashcans for selective waste (10 sets), and biking parking instalments (5 pcs) for park in Gostivar 3.2 Procurement and mounting of streetlights poles with LED + photovoltaic lights in Gostivar (60 pcs) 3.3 Installing of two cameras for live broadcasting from the sites 3.4 Construction of five resting wooden huts nearby Morava River and three resting wooden huts in the Gostivar Park 3.5 Procurement of garbage bins for selective waste (5 sets) R.4 Increased awareness of the population for environment protection 4.1 Kick-off meeting and launching press conference 4.2 Conference for presentation and discussion of the Environmental protection law. 4.3 Creation of Promotional vides for the promotion of environment protection. 4.4 Development of promotional material for the awareness campaign for the environmental protection law 4.5 On the spot Campaign for benefits of clean areas 4.6 Social media campaign for protecting environment in alternative ways 4.7 Innovation Green Open Day for gathering innovative ideas for environment protection 4.8 Closing Conference for presentation of the outputs from the action and final exhibition of the sale by women's associations from the two countries Kosovo and North Macedonia, in rearranged location nearby Morava River R.5 Raised capacity building of the stakeholders A5.1 Developing and delivery of 2 courses for students regarding separate collection of solid waste A5.2 Developing and delivery of 2 courses for the environmental maintenance workers regarding separate collection of solid waste

RESULTS:

Result 3.1: Future interventions to address environmental pollution are well coordinated and harmonized, equally benefitting women and men. Result 3.2: The management of solid waste and wastewater as well as sewage systems is improved, equally benefitting women and men Expected outputs EO1 Illegal dumpsites removed and arranged ground for recreation of the pedestrians and cyclists EO2 Small scale infrastructure works implemented - Construction of bridges, septic holes and riverbed for better management for preventing environment pollution EO3 Most frequented city sites affected by solid waste are arranged and equipped with urban equipment EO4 Environmental awareness raised for sustainable urban development EO5 Increased capacities of the local institutions and youth to deal with the problems related to environment protection