Lessons learned from networking Northern Dimension Foundation Kaliningrad

Lessons learned from networking: Northern Dimension Foundation (Kaliningrad, Russia) and Sustainable Sweden Southeast AB (Kalmar, Sweden) Presentation by Lina Kramen, NDF Workshop: Sustainable Baltic Sea as a business model DG Regio/Tillväxtverket/Sida/Region Skåne Conference: ”Smart specialisation and growth in the Baltic Sea Region”, 5 -6 April 2011

http: //eur-lex. europa. eu/Lex. Uri. Serv/site/en/com/2001/com 2001_0026 en 01. pdf

Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, in transboundary regional cooperation • Euroregion Baltic (DK/LT/LV/PL/RU/SE) • Euroregion Saule (LT/LV/RU) • Euroregion Nemunas (BY/LT/PL/RU) • Euroregion Sheshupe (LT/PL/RU/SE) • Euroregion Lyna-Lava (PL/RU)

Who we are? Northern Dimension Foundation was founded as a Non-profit Foundation for Project Preparation and Implementation within the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership in Kaliningrad in 2006.

What we do? Implementation of investment projects under Kaliningrad Water and Environmental Services Rehabilitation Programme that has been developed and is financed by: Ø EBRD and NIB (international loans), Ø DEPA, NDEP, NEFCO and SIDA (grant funds), Ø The Government of the Russian Federation Ø The Government of Kaliningrad region, Kaliningrad City Administration Ø Project organizations MUE KH Vodokanal (Water and Waste water) and MUE Kaliningradteploset (District Heating). Project assistance and coordination in the exchange projects in the waste water treatment sector financed by Baltic Sea Unit, SIDA.

Initiative: Northern Dimension Foundation (Kaliningrad, Russia) Financial support: Baltic Sea Unit, SIDA and Swedish Trade Council

Project: Knowledge transfer within waste water treatment between Kaliningrad and Southeast Sweden (2009 -2010)

Overall project objective To create the basis for long term cooperation and experience exchange between Russian and Swedish partners.

Project participants From Swedish side: Ø Sustainable Sweden Southeast AB – project owner and co-ordinator ØVimmerby municipality ØVatten och samhällsteknik AB From Russian side: Ø Northern Dimension Foundation – local project co-ordinator ØZnamensk Rural Settlement Adminstration ØOzerki Rural Settlement Administration

Project activities Technical visits Workshops E-mail correspondence

Problems and challenges Frequent personnel rotations in local municipal administrations Low administrative and technical competence Limited possibilities for decision-making Limited local budgets (strong dependence on Oblast/federal level), lack of knowledge about possibilities for investment attraction Poorly developed technical infrastructure Lack of experience in project cooperation with foreign partners

Project outcomes Ø Increased awareness about rational water use and sustainable processes for waste water treatment Ø Enhanced knowledge about modern WWT solutions applicable for local conditions Ø Finding ideas for a new sustainable investment planning Ø New knowledge about administration and economic organisation of the waste water treatment sector in Sweden giving inspiration to initiate local reforms

Project outcomes Ø Improved competence in the WWT sphere Ø Gained opportunity to develop established contacts Ø Improved skills of working with foreign partners in the sphere of environmental project cooperation Ø Contributing to stronger environmental cooperation in the Baltic Sea region covering the area of a non-EU member.

Moreover… Cooperation between Russian and Swedish partners also developed into networking through two project coordination entities Sustainable Sweden Southeast AB (Kalmar, Sweden) and Northern Dimension Foundation (Kaliningrad, Russia).

Background In June 2010 Northern Dimension Foundation launched an information campaign within the framework of the international tender for supply of technological equipment for Kaliningrad Waste Water Treatment Plant being under construction.

Networking scheme

Benefits for all parties involved A new business opportunity for Swedish enterprises resulting in a commercial profit Introducing Swedish products and technical solutions to a new market Experience of working in a different business environment Stronger competitive capacity

Benefits for all parties involved Higher professional competence, possibilities for learning and information exchange Ensuring Kaliningrad WWTP good performance by installation of modern and high quality equipment Higher investment potential and thus possibilities for economic growth for Kaliningrad region Improving waste water treatment in Kaliningrad city and thus contributing to a better environment in the Baltic Sea Region in a long-term perspective.

Lessons learned Networking, making new contacts, developing strategic partnerships and cooperation Continuous learning and competence upgrading Necessity of a more open perspective-oriented approach Developing flexibility in project management Improving our role as an intermediary facilitating communication between the parties involved

Future Developing our contact network further Further cooperation in environmental and business spheres Finding new investment possibilities for Kaliningrad Region Initiating new projects Continuing putting the environmental issues high on agenda on the regional and local administrative levels

Thank you for attention! Our contact details: Northern Dimension Foundation Basseynaya 53, 236010 Kaliningrad Russia tel. +7 4012 34 77 51 fax. +7 4012 34 77 50 ndf. office@kaliningrad. ru