Flood Risk Management in the Polog Region, North Macedonia

Recurring floods in Macedonia have caused in recent years loss of lives and important economic setbacks. The Polog region is particularly vulnerable due to changing climate conditions, changing land use and land cover, poorly maintained flood defense infrastructure and weak flood-risk management policies and legislation. The proposed project is part of a joint SECO-SDC Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Program, which will be implemented by the United Nation Development Program (UNDP).

The overall objective of SECO/SDC program is to increase the resilience of Polog communities to flooding and strengthen the pathway towards sustainable and inclusive growth. SECO contribution to the program will focus on 1) mainstreaming flood risk mitigation and DRR priorities in future municipal urban and other development plans- 2) improving urban resilience through priority state-of-the-art flood risk mitigation infrastructure- 3) conceptualizing risk financing and risk transfer mechanisms and 4) sharing knowledge. SECO’s activities are in in compliance with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030. They should pave the ground for further interventions by the Macedonian Government and donors in the field of DRR in Macedonia.

Outcome 1: Authorities and communities have an improved understanding of flood risks in the Polog region and the capacity to manage them in an informed manner.

Outcome 3:Priority flood risk mitigation measures informed by international best practices are implemented to effectively reduce future risks in the Polog region.

Outcome 4:National legal and regulatory framework for disaster risk reduction is improved in line with the Sendai Framework and the EU Floods Directive and risk financing and risk transfer mechanisms are conceptualized.

Outcome 5:Key stakeholders at central and local levels have improved knowledge on DRR/flood risk management and prototyped innovative practices will serve as models for replication.

Expected results:  

Output 1.1 : A Flood Risk Management Plan for the Polog region is established in accordance with the EU Floods Directive and DRR principles.

Output 1.2 : Authorities are equipped with new knowledge to mainstream flood risk mitigation and DRR priorities in future municipal urban and other development plans.

Output 3.1: Urban resilience is improved through implementation of priority state-of-the-art flood risk mitigation infrastructure.

Output 4.2 : Risk financing and risk transfer mechanisms are conceptualized and advocated to become part of the national-level flood risk mitigation strategy.

Output 5.1: Project knowledge, lessons learnt and best practices are systematized and shared nationally and internationally.

Phase 1 01.12.2018 - 31.12.2024   (Active)