Voice of the Danube
We proudly present the "Member of the Month" special feature series that provides insights into the work of our members, the successes they achieve, the challenges they overcome, and the thinking behind their IAWD memberships.
We introduce "Member of the Month" because we all know very well that IAWD's success is driven by lively communication, mutual support and shared know-how and experiences. The better we get to know each other, the more positive energy feeds into our community.
SHUKALB's Core Activities
Advocacy. SHUKALB advocates for policy changes to benefit its members. Its major success has been the establishment of a National Training and Certification Program for operational staff, in partnership with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, supported by USAID. Ongoing areas of advocacy include asset management, wastewater management, as well as workforce and capacity development issues.
Member Engagement and Networking. SHUKALB maintains close relationships with its members, especially water utilities, to address sector challenges and foster solutions. It regularly hosts forums and roundtables, with the annual Balkans Joint Conference being its key event, attracting 500 participants from the Western Balkans and Europe. In 2022, SHUKALB co-organized with IAWD, the Danube Water Forum, and previously co-organized the Regional Utility Management Conferences, together with IWA.
Capacity Development and Projects. With over 20 years of experience, SHUKALB has strengthened Albania's water supply and sewerage sector through donor-funded projects and collaborations with central and local governmental institutions. SHUKALB offers technical assistance and capacity development to water utilities, and other relevant institutions such as Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, National Agency for Water Supply and Sewerage (AKUK), and the Water Regulator. SHUKALB has developed and owns over 46 documented training courses in Albanian and English, covering management, water supply, wastewater treatment, and cross-cutting topics, which it delivers based on an annual training calendar informed by a needs assessment, and with the engagement of its national trainers from a roster of around 100 professionals. SHUKALB is also a proud member of D-LeaP and as such it has successfully established Hubs in Asset Management, Water Safety, Utility Benchmarking (jointly with SHUKOS), Commercial Efficiency, and coming Access to Financing. In addition, SHUKALB is part of the RCDN Program.
Water Awareness and Outreach. SHUKALB is committed to water awareness through long-term education and outreach programs, partnering with the Ministry of Education and Sports and water utilities. SHUKALB has a well-developed line of education and outreach programs addressing different levels of the education system, which are delivered since 2007, as part of framework agreement with the Ministry of Education and Sports. These efforts promote the protection of water resources and include celebrating World Water Day and National Water Week annually.
The company's mission
SHUKALB is a professional, not-for-profit Association of water supply and sewerage professionals, who wish to improve the management of the Water Supply and Sewerage Sector in Albania, making it efficient, sustainable and effective in accordance with the current laws and regulations in Albania.
SHUKALB Vision: Acknowledged leader in advancing quality performance and sustainability in the water sector.
Three figures and facts
SHUKALB’s most significant achievement so far has been the establishment of an Institutionalized National Training and Test-Based Certification Program, in 2018, for the operational staff of Water Supply and Sewerage Utilities in Albania, by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy (MIE) of Albania. This was the result of SHUKALB’s close work in partnership with Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, and the engagement of other institutional stakeholders and the donor’s community, in the framework of a Project grant from USAID.
Balkans Joint Conference and Exhibition
The Balkans Joint Conference and Exhibition is an annual event organized jointly by SHUKALB with the Water and Wastewater Works Association of Kosova (SHUKOS), every year since 2013, alternating its location between Prishtina and Tirana. The event has firmly established itself as a premier knowledge-sharing and networking event within the Western Balkans water sector, drawing an audience of over 500 participants each year.
Children’s water awareness program “Friends of Water”
The Friends of Water is the most popular and genuine program of SHUKALB, implemented since 2007, under an agreement and in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth of Albania. The Program provides students in selected elementary schools across Albania with the essential building blocks to understand basic concepts about the sources and uses of water, with an emphasis on conservation and protection. The overall objective of the Program is to increase the awareness amongst children of the 3rd grade, regarding water issues, at an early age.
In 2008 it was recognized as the "Best Educational Program for Schools" by the International Water Association (IWA), in an international competition and has reached over 35,000 children from all over Albania.
Do you have a Young Water Professionals (YWP) chapter in your association?
SHUKALB is a pioneer in supporting YWP in the Western Balkans. In 2011, SHUKALB with support and in partnership with the Austrian Young Water Professionals Chapter, established the Albanian YWP Chapter. The YWP Chapter was very active for many years and it supported the establishment of the Kosovo YWP Chapter. Since 2017 both chapters started organizing each year the YWP Forum, an event held prior to the Balkans Joint Conference, gathering YWP from both countries. The Chair of the Albanian YWP Chapter, Arlinda Ibrahimllari, was the Chair of the Emerging Water Leaders of IWA, from September 2016 to September 2018.
SHUKALB recently reactivated the group to provide information, resources, and events that enhance networking and career opportunities for the next generation of water professionals. This initiative also aims to increase their contribution to the sustainable management of water.
Why should young people work in the water sector?
Young people should work in the water sector because it offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on public health, environmental sustainability, and global resource management while developing innovative solutions for one of the world’s most critical challenges. In the context of Albania, where an aging workforce and the migration of skilled professionals are pressing concerns, the involvement of young talent is even more critical. By staying and contributing locally, young professionals can bring new ideas, modernize the sector, and help address the country’s challenges.
Why did you become an IAWD member?
SHUKALB joined IAWD to leverage the benefits of regional collaboration and enhance its capacity development efforts. As a member, SHUKALB actively engages in the Danube Learning Partnership, which delivers regionally developed capacity-building programs tailored to Albanian water sector. This membership facilitates valuable exchanges of knowledge and best practices, supports the development of Albanian water utilities, and strengthens SHUKALB's role in advancing water management practices within the Danube region.
*pictures provided by SHUKALB, Tirana
