The Drin basin
A shared river, a shared future
Lakes, rivers, wetlands and the people who live around them are linked by the same water.
One basin
Linked by the same water
Across the Drin basin, lakes, rivers and wetlands tie together the livelihoods and habitats of everyone who lives along them.
The pressures are shared too. Pollution, changing water flows, flood risk to settlements and strain on wetlands do not stop at borders.
In 2011, the basin chose cooperation
The riparian authorities signed a shared agreement, giving the river a common framework for working together.
01
Many hands
An agreement only works when people carry it across borders. Riparian authorities and the Drin Core Group, local communities and experts, and partners including GEF, UNDP, GWP-Med and UNECE all share the work.
02
Evidence from the field
Fieldwork, research and shared information built up a picture of the whole basin. That evidence supported the Strategic Action Programme, endorsed in 2020.
Fieldwork and shared information
03
Trying it out
At Skadar/Shkoder, a biomass pilot put ideas into practice. Vegetation was collected and turned into fuel briquettes, and the purpose and results of the activity were documented.
Collecting vegetation
From agreement to action
Fifteen years of working together
Cooperation on the Drin has grown one step at a time: a shared agreement, a programme of action, then practical trials on the ground. Follow the road below to see how.
The Drin story so far
2011
A shared agreement
The riparian authorities choose cooperation and sign the agreement that frames joint work on the basin.
2020
Strategic Action Programme endorsed
Research, fieldwork and shared information come together in a programme of action for the whole basin.
2025
Drin II begins
A new phase of the work starts, building on the agreement and the action programme.
June 2026
Stakeholder conference
Authorities, communities, experts and partners meet to take stock and look ahead.
To 2029
Drin II priorities
The next actions for the basin, each clearly labelled as ongoing or planned.
2029
The next chapter
Drin II, through to 2029
Drin II sets out the basin's priorities through to 2029. Each one is labelled as ongoing or planned, so everyone can see what is already under way and what comes next.
Be part of the Drin's next chapter
Talk to us about the work ahead for this shared river and the people who depend on it.
Get in touch