On Tuesday 9 June in Ulcinj, Montenegro launched the Third Integrated Training Workshop and the Third Meeting of the Expert Working Group on Water Resilience to Climate Change, organized within the framework of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Project “Building Technical and Institutional Capacity in the Water Sector in Montenegro to Facilitate Inclusive Climate Resilience Initiatives.”
The three-day event, taking place from 9–11 June 2026 at Azul Montenegro by Karisma, gathers representatives of national institutions, technical experts, members of the Expert Working Group, and other key stakeholders involved in climate adaptation and water management. The training forms part of the broader national effort to strengthen institutional capacities, improve climate finance readiness, and support the development of climate-resilient investments in the water sector.
Advancing Climate Finance and Water Resilience
Opening the workshop, Mr. Novak Čađenović, Senior Officer at GWP-Mediterranean and Head of the GWP-Med Office in Podgorica, welcomed participants and highlighted the progress achieved through the project so far, as well as the importance of continued cooperation among institutions responsible for water management and climate policy.
“Through a series of integrated trainings and collaborative activities, this project is helping Montenegro strengthen the knowledge, tools, and partnerships needed to address growing climate challenges in the water sector. Building institutional capacity today is essential for developing high-quality climate investments and securing future climate finance“
From Capacity Building to Investment Planning
The training programme focuses on practical aspects of climate finance programming and climate-resilient investment planning. Participants will review the status and achievements of the GCF Water Readiness Project, discuss the results of the assessment of investment needs for climate resilience in the water sector, and explore pathways towards the development of Montenegro’s Climate-Resilient Water Investment Plan.
A significant part of the workshop is dedicated to strengthening participants’ understanding of climate finance mechanisms through specialized training sessions led by international and national experts. The programme includes practical exercises on the application of tools for assessing and prioritizing climate-relevant projects and programmes, enabling participants to translate climate resilience objectives into concrete investment opportunities.
Strengthening Collaboration Through the Expert Working Group
The third day of the event is dedicated to the Third Meeting of the Expert Working Group on Water Resilience to Climate Change. The meeting will provide a platform for reviewing progress, discussing key findings and recommendations emerging from project activities, and strengthening coordination among institutions engaged in climate adaptation and water sector planning.
The Expert Working Group plays a central role in supporting the preparation of strategic project outputs, including the Climate-Resilient Water Investment Plan and the development of a transformational Green Climate Fund (GCF) funding proposal aimed at enhancing climate resilience in Montenegro’s water sector.
Following the completion of the training programme, members of the Expert Working Group and key stakeholders will engage in a collaborative process to develop the project proposal. The proposal is expected to build on the findings of the climate risk assessment, identified investment priorities, and the Climate-Resilient Water Investment Plan, with the objective of mobilizing international climate finance for transformative adaptation actions in the water sector.
Supporting Montenegro’s Climate Resilience Agenda
The GCF Readiness Project, implemented by the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO) and GWP-Mediterranean in cooperation with the Government of Montenegro, aims to strengthen Montenegro’s technical and institutional capacity to plan, prioritize, and mobilize resources for climate adaptation in the water sector. The project supports the development of strategic investment planning tools, capacity building initiatives, and climate finance readiness measures that will contribute to the country’s long-term resilience to climate change.
Building Technical and Institutional Capacity in the Water Sector in Montenegro to Facilitate Inclusive Climate Resilience Initiatives is a 24-month Green Climate Fund Readiness Project implemented by the Global Water Partnership Organisation (GWPO) and GWP-Mediterranean in cooperation with the Government of Montenegro. The project aims to strengthen climate resilience in the water sector through capacity development, investment planning, stakeholder engagement, and support for the preparation of climate finance proposals.