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The main activities of the centre include networking

in water management knowledge dissemination, with

a focus on capacity building and problem solving in

economic transition countries and taking into account

climate change and socioeconomic transformation. The

centre provides highly-specialized human resources and

management capacity building, and assists in the devel-

opment of baseline studies and water management plans.

Expected benefits

Several benefits are expected from the outcomes of the

centre’s activities. At the country level, these include

management capacity building at centralized and

municipal institutions in charge of water management

and the establishment of closer ties with scientific and

professional organizations, both from countries within

the region and beyond. The integration and enhance-

ment of water management capacities and knowledge,

and assistance in the development of studies and master

plans, are also key benefits expected at this level.

At the regional level, the centre will enable the networking

of institutions and all resources involved in water manage-

ment development and climate change programmes. These

activities include study and awareness raising about the

impact of economic transition and climate change on water

management, and capacity building.

Under UNESCO-IHP, the centre will enable advances

in capacity building and networking. Activities will be

aimed at identifying the impact of climate change on

water resources, and raising awareness of the issues

of transition countries and the impact of such issues

on water management. The centre will also focus on

improving north-south water management coopera-

tion in circumstances involving socioeconomic and

climate changes.

summary, major efforts need to be made during the next 15-20 years

to harmonize Serbia’s water sector arrangements with European

Union requirements, and at the same time achieve a water status

which reflects legitimate societal needs.

JCI actively monitors developments in the international arena and

has established close ties with a number of international institutions.

International cooperation

Special emphasis is placed on the following activities:

• collaboration with international associations such as the

International Water Association (IWA) and the International

Association of Water Supply Companies in the Danube River

Catchment Area (IAWD)

• cooperation with international commissions including the

International Commission for the Protection of the Danube

River (ICPDR) and the International Sava River Basin

Commission (Sava Commission)

• participation in international projects (FP, SEE etc)

• organization and hosting of international conferences:

• Groundwater Management in Large River Basins (2007)

• Planning and Management of Water Resources Systems (2008)

• Balkans Regional Young Water Professionals Conference (2010)

• IWA Specialist Groundwater Conference (2011).

JCI has made and continues to make significant scientific contribu-

tions. For example, it is actively involved in long-term research on

the ageing of wells and other groundwater abstraction facilities, in

relation to the aerobic state of the aquifer.

UNESCO Category II Centre

In order to satisfy Serbia’s water sector need, and to facilitate

networking and capacity building at the regional and international

levels, in 2012 UNESCO approved the opening of its new Category

II Centre for Water for Sustainable Development and Adaptation to

Climate Change at JCI. The centre has been operational since 2013.

The Krupac Water Spring in Eastern Serbia

A spillway on the Prvonek Dam in Southern Serbia

Image: JCI