MUNICIPAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR STRATEGY

The Strategy for the Municipal and Environmental Infrastructure (“MEI”) sector comes at a critical juncture in the development of EBRD’s activities in its countries of operations. First, the region remains embroiled in the continuing financial and economic crisis, which is having a severe and lasting impact on most EBRD countries of operations, with aftershocks still being feared. Second, the EBRD is in the process of expanding its geographic coverage to the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries as a result of the hoped-for democratisation of the ‘Arab Spring’, a development full of promises but also uncertainties.
The MEI sector should be a driving force in this changing environment, with its focus on people’s welfare and quality of life; decentralised, transparent and accountable institutions; engagement with stakeholders; and economic and environmental efficiency. The new Strategy therefore represents an opportunity to reinforce key operating principles that remain fully relevant in the new period as well as develop new approaches towards challenges that have emerged in recent years.