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Rivers are a natural resource that have been a focal point of transboundary governance for centuries. It is challenging to manage them for the benefit of riparian communities – especially if they are transboundary. This requires the development of a water infrastructure to harvest the socioeconomic benefits, while at the same time protecting the ecosystem for future generations.

River Basin Organizations (RBOs) have been established in many of the world’s basins to better coordinate different stakeholders’ actions and foster cooperation instead of conflict. Based on the experiences of several RBOs worldwide, several key characteristics for their effectiveness can be identified.

Albania, officially the Republic of Albania, is a country in Southeastern Europe. The country is located in the Balkans on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea. Albania has a variety of climatic, geological, hydrological, and morphological conditions. Albania boasts a significant diversity, with the landscape ranging from the snow-capped mountains in the Albanian Alps and the Korab, Skanderbeg, Pindus, and Ceraunian Mountains, to the hot and sunny Albanian Adriatic and Ionian Sea Coasts.

Sub-basins are smaller working units within a larger river basin or catchment area. They represent a distinct geographical area that is delineated based on the natural drainage patterns of rivers and their tributaries. Sub-basins are used to facilitate the management and assessment of water resources, allowing for more focused and localized analysis and planning within the broader context of the overall river basin.

Over-exploitation of water resources, water regime modifications, water contamination, and a growing number of flood events – negative effects of which are amplified by climate change – are all issues that require harmonised, integrated actions from management authorities in countries that share river basins.