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CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

INTRODUCTION

SHUKALB and SHUKOS are pleased to invite you to join and participate in the Program of the 11th Balkans Joint Conference and Exhibition which will be held on 7 – 9 November, 2023 with a physical presence in Golem, Albania.

The theme of the Conference “Accelerating Change: Towards Safe, Reliable and Sustainable Services”, is inspired by World Water Day 2023 and in particular this year by the UN Water Conference held in March in New York City, and it is about accelerating change to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all.

Reaching the specific targets of SDG 6 by 2030, and achieving universal access to safe, reliable, and at the same time efficiently managed water supply and sanitation services, remains a challenge. The change that needs to happen calls for significant financing and investments especially when it comes to wastewater, innovative approaches and modernization of services embracing digitalization, and a particular focus on the precious human capital that manages and provides the water supply and sanitation services. In addition, more cooperation is needed among all stakeholders at local, regional and international levels, in order to accelerate the change that is needed.

The Conference Program allows for a broad range of topics covering from policy to technical, as well as management issues of the water sector. The conference provides a platform, where all professionals in the water sector gather, discuss and exchange experiences and share their good practices on issues of interest in the water sector.

The strength of the Balkans Joint Conferences, as evidenced from the collected participants’ feedback throughout the years, has been the delivery of high quality program with a diversity of plenary discussions, technical professional papers presented by well-known professionals in both countries and wider in the region. You are welcome to review the key themes and subject areas prior to submitting an Abstract for presentation. SHUKALB and SHUKOS look forward to welcoming you to the Joint Conference and to sharing our common interest for a better water environment for the larger Balkan region.

SHUKOS and SHUKALB look forward to welcoming you to the Joint Conference and to sharing our common interest for a better water environment for the larger Balkan region.

TECHNICAL PROGRAM COMMITTEE

To find more information about The Technical Program Committee, please view “PROGRAM COMMITTEE”, page linked here.

MAIN THEMES OF THE CONFERENCE

Prior to the submission of the Full Paper and PowerPoint presentation, the authors have to submit an abstract of their paper covering one of the following topics. The submitted abstracts will be further evaluated by the Technical Program Committee of the Conference. The authors of the selected abstracts will be invited to submit the Full Paper and Power Point Presentation. You are invited to submit an abstract on a wide range of water-related topics, including but not limited to:

GOVERNANCE AND POLICY FOR WATER UTILITIES

  • Development of Governance Policies and Institutional Relationships.
  • Selection, Establishment and Functioning of Utility Governing Bodies.
  • Organizational Management and Structure.
  • Regionalization of Water Supply and Sewerage Services and Implementation of Service Agreements.
  • Corporate Governance.

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

  • Licensing of Water Supply and Sewerage Service Providers.
  • Analysis of Performance of Water Supply and Sewerage Utilities.
  • Tariff Review and Approval Process.
  • Development and Application of Water Supply and Sewerage Services Standards.
  • Public – Private Partnerships.
  • Relationship between the Water Utilities and Local Government.
  • Management of Rural Water Supply and Sewerage Systems.
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Related Measures.

MANAGEMENT OF WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE
INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Capital Investment Absorption Capacities in Developing Countries.
  • Current Methods of Assessment and Prioritization of Investment Needs.
  • Development of Dynamic Master Plans.
  • Monitoring of Investments and their Sustainability.

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

  • Climate Change.
  • Balancing Water Demand Management and Conservation with New Source Development.
  • Water Supply Source Monitoring and Protection of Trans-boundary Waters.
  • Integrated Water Resources Management.
  • Drought and Flood Management.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF WATER UTILITIES

  • Financing Sources and Subsidy Policies.
  • Financial Risk Management.
  • Development, Implementation and Monitoring of 5-year Business Plans.
  • Financial Reporting to Support Performance Improvement.
  • Internal Auditing Instruments.
  • Debt Management.

TECHNICAL OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF
WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE UTILITIES

  • Water Demand Analysis.
  • Water Consumption Measuring Practices.
  • Water Loss Reduction– Best Practices.
  • Service Zone Mapping (GIS).
  • Application of Hydraulic Modelling – Practices.
  • Increasing Use of SCADA systems in the
    Operation of Water Utilities.
  • Water Safety and Crisis Management.
  • Benchmarking.
  • Energy Efficiency in Water Supply and
    Wastewater System and Facilities.
  • Integrated Asset Management.
  • Occupational Health and Safety.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND SLUDGE
MANAGEMENT

  • Wastewater Management in the Context of
    Circular Economy.
  • Wastewater Policy and Governance.
  • Construction and Operation of Waste Water Treatment Plants.
  • Constructed Wetland Treatment Systems and Challenges.
  • Selecting Treatment Technologies for Small and Rural Systems.
  • Sludge Treatment and Reuse.
  • Use of Sludge for Energy Production.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

  • Commercial Efficiency.
  • Organization and Operation of a Customer Service Department.
  • Customer Database Management.
  • Customer Service Contract.
  • Public Relations and Communications Management.
  • Management of Customer Complaints and the Use of GIS.
  • Implementing Service Disconnection as Debt Collection Policy.

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

  • Human Resources Management and Employment Policies.
  • Training Needs Assessments and Capacity Building.
  • Training and Test-based Certification.
  • Annual Staff Performance Review/Assessment.

IMPORTANT DATES 

Abstracts Submission:
Acceptance Notification:
Submission of the CVs:
Advanced program: 
Submission of the Presentations:
Submission of the Full Papers:

15 September 2023
26 September 2023
13 October 2023
01 November 2023
03 November 2023
15 November 2023

 


The official languages of the Conference are Albanian and English.

Simultaneous translation will be provided.

ABSTRACTS SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

To find more information about The Abstracts Submission Guidelines, please view “RULES AND GUIDELINES”, page linked here.