For companies interested in pursuing donor-funded opportunities in Southern and Central Balkan countries in the water, environment, solid waste, energy, public finance, and corporate governance sectors, we introduce the Prishtina-based Kosovar Institute for Water and Environmental Research (KIWER).
With more than 20 successfully implemented development projects, the organization has a well-earned reputation for being a reliable partner for major donors operating in the Balkan region. Over the last 10 years, the consultancy firm has added GIZ, SDC, EBRD, USAID, and KFW funded projects to its portfolio.
Water and sanitation
Registered under Kosovo legislation, KIWER has been engaged in the development of multiple local water supply and wastewater networks, transforming 36 municipal companies into consolidated providers with clear-cut assets and regulated tariffs. The company was involved in improving the Prizren and Prishtina wastewater treatment plants as well as another seven smaller rural facilities and has also worked with water and sanitation companies.
Furthermore, the company’s CEO, Ramiz Kokollari, participated in the establishment of the Kosovo Regulator for Water and Waste which oversees the sector’s standards and regulates cost-recovery tariffs. As a chartered accountant and auditor with 20+ years of professional experience in waste, water, transportation and the public finance sector, KIWER’s CEO leads a team of professionals with decades of experience and background in various sectors.
Waste management
A new approach to waste management based on a circular economy is yet to be established in South-Eastern Europe and the Balkans. KIWER has assisted the local Ministry of Environment to design the waste strategy and the waste master plan and to establish a reporting system and cadaster of hazardous waste. At the same time, KIWER has helped more than 20 municipalities in Kosovo to exercise legal mandates that consist of designing and implementing municipal waste management plans, conducting tariffs processes, drafting regulations, identifying capital investments, and development of recycling concepts, etc. At the country level, the organization’s expert team has provided support in:
- The establishment of the Kosovo Regulator for solid waste collection and disposal and the implementation of economic regulations for waste collection and landfill operators
- The elaboration of Waste Management Master Plans
- Establishment of a cadaster of hazardous waste and chemicals
- Extended producer responsibility for specific waste streams
- Deposit refund system for beverage containers
- Design and supervision of special waste management facilities such as sanitary landfills, material recovery facilities, composting plants, closure of dumpsites, etc.
- Establishment of a Waste Management Information System
- Developing the necessary legal basis and statutes (by-laws, rules, and regulations)
- Strengthening the capacities of the institutions dealing with the waste management
- Proposing specific allocation of functions and methodologies
Institutional development
Kiwer has played an important role in institutional development in both Kosovo and abroad. Kiwer has established the economic regulator of Kosovo water and solid waste and has implemented regulatory processes. Kiwer has professionally assisted the authorities to reform the water and waste enterprise sector by implementing the processes of unbundling, merging, consolidating, and incorporating municipal enterprises into self-sustaining business entities built on corporate principles. Kiwer has helped Kosovo’s water sector to improve its operational, financial, commercial and corporate performance. Kiwer has assisted the Kosovo authorities with the drafting of legislation regarding water, waste, environment, and public finance management. Kiwer has implemented corporate development projects for water utilities in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
Development of capital infrastructure
The Kiwer engineering team has a proven track record of developing capital infrastructure for water supply and wastewater treatment, waste management facilities, landfills, road infrastructure, etc. The KIWER team completed the main design, procurement for, and supervision of the construction of the Prishtina Water Treatment Plant which has a capacity of 700 l/s. As well as this project, other notable engagements include the detailed designs for waste management facilities comprised under Task 3 of the Waste Master Plan which included a material recovery facility and composting plant for the Prizren region, a material recovery facility for the Peja region, a material recovery facility and civic amenity site and upgrade of the existing transfer station in the Ferizaj region and sanitary landfill and an access road in Zvecan. The KIWER team was also engaged in the development of the road infrastructure in Kosovo.
International development
KIWER’s portfolio encompasses a wide range of assignments linked not only to the Kosovo context but also the international business environment having implemented projects in Albania, North Macedonia, Romania, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
In Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, Kiwer assisted the Khujand Water and Wastewater Company, the Kyzylorda Water and Wastewater Company, and the Aktobe Water and Wastewater Company to improve financial and operational performance. As a result, the companies increased their revenues and improved their fee-collection efficiency, reduced the NRW and water losses, optimized energy consumption, and improved both environmental performance and public and customer relations.
In the Romanian port of Constanta, KIWER has helped the local water supplier to hire a specialized partner who, through a performance-based service contract, will help the company to reduce NRW in a five-year program.
Headquartered in one of the most dynamic emerging regions of Europe, Prishtina in Kosovo, KIWER intends to further expand its presence. By completing demanding ambitious projects throughout its 11 years of existence, KIWER has created long-term solutions for global challenges.
KIWER’s company profile with a full portfolio and performance audit is available at this link.
