Sustainable Water Integrated Management Support Mechanism

The overall objective of SWIM-SM is to actively promote the extensive dissemination of sustainable water management policies and practices in the region of its implementation, in the context of increasing water scarcity, combined pressure on water resources from a wide range of users, and desertification processes, in connection with climate change.
SWIM’s specific objectives comprise the following:

· To draw the attention of Partner Countries' decision-makers and stakeholders on existing and forthcoming threats on water resources, on the necessity to adopt a more appropriate water consumption and water use model, as well as on the existence of solutions to tackle the problem;
· To support Partner Countries in designing and implementing sustainable water management policies at the national and the local levels, in liaison with existing international initiatives in the area concerned;
· And to contribute to ensuring institutional reinforcement and the development of the necessary planning and management skills, in line with Horizon 2020 objectives, and facilitate know how transfer.

The objectives will be pursued with a view to addressing the four interlinked issues referred to in the new UfM Strategy for Water in the Mediterranean (i.e. water governance, water and climate change, water financing and water demand management and efficiency, as well as non-conventional resources) and the three sources of pollution (municipal waste, municipal wastewater, industrial emissions) of the Horizon 2020 Initiative to De-Pollute the Mediterranean. Operational linkages with the objectives of the Mediterranean Component of the EU Water Initiative (MED EUWI) will be also secured.

SWIM will be implemented through two Components:Component A: SWIM Support Mechanism which is the purpose of the current assignment. 
Main activities of this component inter-alia include:

· Contributing to empowering water-related institutions and increasing stakeholders' capacities (target groups: water utilities, relevant ministries, such as agriculture, environment, industry, tourism and trade, river basin organisations, municipalities, water users associations, universities, regional and national research centres).
· Providing strategic assistance to the development and/or implementation of sustainable water management plans, including through promotion of principles adopted for the EU Water Framework Directive, involving inter-sector dialogue as well as collaboration between stakeholders and incorporating water saving targets. 
· Increasing awareness of decision-makers, stakeholders, and the general public of water value and of the continuous depletion of water resources as a consequence of water wastage, climate change, water pollution, demographic pressure and modification of life-styles, particularly in urban areas;
· Contributing to replicating good practices and state-of-art integrated approaches at national and regional levels. 

Component B: SWIM -DM Demonstration projects (which will result from an EC Call for Proposals to be held during 2011). 

The Demonstration projects will be awarded to consortia of beneficiaries of more than 2 countries in order to emphasize the regional character. The main project activities will touch upon the main principles of IWRM and practical, replicable and sustainable projects will be chosen. 
The two Components are inter-related and integrated. The Support Mechanism will support through technical assistance the selected Demonstration Projects, as well as ensure liaison and flow of information, identification of best practices and replication potential. Furthermore it will also guarantee regular feedback to governments on progress and results of the pilot projects and will facilitate the dialogue between government, based on real-life examples of how regional dialogue can enhance IWRM and the impact it has on the common people.