ICIWaRM Subject Matter Experts Lead Shared Vision Planning Pilot in Tisza River Basin

Tisza River Basin. Source: International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River.

At the request of the US Embassy in Hungary, a team of ICIWaRM subject matter experts is assisting in a Shared Vision Planning (SVP) Pilot to support water management by the JOINTISZA member nations (Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, and Ukraine). These nations share the waters of the Tisza River Basin which is alternatively subject to severe urban flood risk and drought imperiling critical economic sectors. The uneven distribution and quality of water resources can magnify conflicts, generate population dislocations, and threaten fragile alliances in the region.

Shared Vision Planning is a tool and strategy which provides a structure for stakeholders to solve complex problems, and the basis for legitimizing the resulting solutions. Specifically, the SVP Pilot will help to balance the outcome of prior infrastructure investments in flood risk reduction by individual nations with projected future requirements for withdrawals across the river basin.

Teammates, including Dr. Hal Cardwell and Mr. Rich Gifaldi, traveled to Hungary from 25-27 October 2017 to kick start the Shared Vision Planning process via a capacity building workshop with local subject matter experts. They were supported by Drs. Guillermo Mendoza, Jennifer Olszewski, and Kristin Gilroy and lead by Ms. Roselle Henn Stern.