The Law of Georgia on Water Resource Management (the Law), passed by the Parliament in its third reading on June 30, 2023, outlines the principles of basin management according to which the country will be divided into seven river basins, and corresponding basin management plans will be created.

On June 28, ReforMeter and the USAID Economic Governance Program hosted yet another public-private dialogue dedicated to assessing progress in water resource management reform. The draft law on "Water Resources Management" stipulates the establishment of a river basin management system and the introduction of economic instruments for water consumption.

In Georgia, a new law on “Water Resources Management" has been drafted, which involves significant and complex legislative changes. The country will have a new, unified system of managing water resources based on international approaches after the proposed law is implemented, satisfying the requirements set forth in the Association Agreement (AA) concluded with the European Union (EU).

If you are an undergraduate student of an accredited higher education institution or a student of a vocational education institution in Georgia and ongoing economic reforms in the country interest you, this call is for you!

Upon adoption, the Draft Law on Water Resource Management will replace the current Water Law (which is in force since 1997) and will become the new framework document for water resource management. The Draft Law introduces a river basin management system and establishes economic instruments of water use.