Building on Progress, Shaping the Next Phase of Groundwater Cooperation

Halfway through the implementation of DIKTAS II, protecting a shared groundwater resource means asking a key question: are the scientific, technical and institutional foundations now in place to achieve lasting cooperation? 

That question shaped discussions during the 3rd Steering Committee Meeting and 4th Expert Meeting, held in Sarajevo from 8 to 10 July 2026, where representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro joined UNESCO, UNDP and project experts to review progress, assess priorities and provide base for the project's Mid-Term Review. 

Unlike field missions, where experts assess springs, monitoring sites and groundwater-dependent ecosystems, these meetings focused on a different challenge: ensuring that the project's many technical activities continue to form a coherent programme that responds to the needs of both participating countries and the institutions responsible for managing shared groundwater resources. 

Reviewing progress across the project 

Over three days, experts presented progress across the project's technical components, including groundwater monitoring, biodiversity, water governance, legal cooperation, stakeholder engagement and gender. 

The discussions highlighted how work carried out over the past two years is beginning to come together. Diagnostic analyses have identified common governance challenges across the participating countries, draft legal agreements have continued to evolve through national consultations, and proposed monitoring networks are becoming increasingly detailed through field verification and technical refinement. 

Presentations also demonstrated how the project is broadening its approach to groundwater management. Alongside hydrogeological monitoring, experts presented progress on biodiversity monitoring, stakeholder engagement and the project's first regional gender analysis dedicated entirely to groundwater governance—reflecting a growing recognition that effective groundwater management depends on both scientific evidence and inclusive decision-making. 

Preparing the next phase 

While the meetings provided an opportunity to review achievements, they also focused on the work still to be completed before the project concludes. 

Experts outlined priorities for the coming year, including progressing from monitoring proposals towards implementation, finalizing multilateral and bilateral cooperation agreements, completing Joint Action Programmes, expanding training activities and continuing to harmonise monitoring methodologies across pilot areas. 

Many discussions focused on practical considerations that will determine the long-term value of the project's outputs. These included ensuring monitoring equipment remains operational beyond the project, strengthening data exchange between countries, supporting national institutions responsible for implementation, and developing governance arrangements that can continue after DIKTAS II concludes. 

The meetings also highlighted the importance of maintaining consistency across countries while recognising differences in national legislation, institutional responsibilities, and existing monitoring systems. 

Listening to partners 

The Steering Committee provided an opportunity for government representatives and UNDP to review progress and share feedback on the project's direction. 

Discussions emphasised the importance of ensuring that technical outputs remain practical and accessible for policy and decision-makers. Alongside the project's scientific reports, Steering Committee members highlighted the value of concise communication products—including policy briefs, regular project updates and thematic articles—to help keep institutions informed and support the uptake of project results. 

Participants also encouraged continued coordination between experts, national authorities, and project partners to ensure that technical knowledge can be translated into effective groundwater governance across borders. 

Looking ahead 

The discussions in Sarajevo provided a base for the Mid-Term Review, which will provide an independent assessment of the project's progress and help guide its remaining implementation period. 

By bringing together governments, technical experts and international partners, the meetings demonstrated that protecting the Dinaric Karst Aquifer System depends on more than scientific expertise alone. It requires sustained cooperation, shared governance and continuous dialogue between the institutions responsible for managing one of Europe's largest transboundary groundwater systems. 

As DIKTAS II enters its next phase, the project continues to strengthen the foundations needed for countries to protect this shared resource together—through coordinated monitoring, harmonised approaches and long-term collaboration.