September 2020 we have:

• Delivered the translated report on the international experiences in using differentiated tariff in water management and report on the road map to implement the differentiated tariff in water management in MENR Azerbaijan
• Held meetings with Georgian company Mindworks on developing on-line educational materials based on Kura Box for both countries to approve finalized videos for school children and teachers
• Conducted beta testing of Hydro-Heroes mobile app prior to launch
• Revised the procurement to purchase and install the Aquaponic system in Azerbaijan, delayed due to lack of qualified bidders
• Revised the procurement for the intake pump station and a groundwater intake gallery for the fish farm system in Krtsanisi Park and collect offers, delayed due to lack of qualified bidders
• Submitted COVID based no-cost extension to GEF in line with Project Steering Committee decision
• Held meeting to present project works in Krtsanisi Park with MEPA, NGOs, UNDP CO, and other stakeholders
• Held final Regional Working Group for Ground and Surface Water Assessment 10 September
• Held two Webinars to present Pollution Abatement Prefeasibility Studies to Ministries, similar companies, and potential financiers/donors, one on 23 September for Georgia, and one in 25 September for Azerbaijan
• Meeting with the UNDP AZ Acclab to discuss the project innovative outputs that can be useful for the Acclab work Held Environmental Flow Meetings with national and international experts for Georgia 14 September and for Azerbaijan 15 September
• Conducted the 11^th field campaign for environmental flow monitoring in Shamkir Chay and Alijan Chay Rivers in Azerbaijan and in the Aragvi basin in Georgia
• Finalized comic books and social marketing campaigns pending approval from Focal Point Ministries
• Continue to post actively on all project social media accounts and emphasize empowered awareness raising, until 27 September. Halted in Azerbaijan due to military law.*

In October 2020 we will:

• Finalize the procurement to purchase and install the Aquaponic system in Azerbaijan, delayed due to lack of qualified bidders
• Finalize the procurement for the intake pump station and a groundwater intake gallery for the fish farm system in Krtsanisi Park and collect offers, delayed due to lack of qualified bidders
• Launch social media marketing campaign in Georgia, pending in Azerbaijan due to military law*
• Monitoring harvests from agricultural rational water use demonstration sites to determine crop yields, water savings, and costs/benefits for extrapolation to larger scale use in both countries.*
• Conduct plantation in Hajigabol Constructed Wetlands to ensure sufficient functioning of the constructed wetlands, pending pump electricity connection resolution
• Installation of solar panels in preparation for pump station installation in Krtsanisi National Park in Georgia
• Virtually meet with National Focal Point for Georgia to update project developments in Georgia
• Hold kick off meeting for Georgia’s Krtsanisi Park oxbow lake river restoration project
• Release H2Otel online trainings for hospitality industry in Azerbaijan and Georgia
• Continue finalization of on-line trainings for IWRM Academy – 21 multi-block courses in Azerbaijani and Georgian
• Continued work with Hydro Heroes mobile app, pending conditions in Azerbaijan. Release delayed due to military law*
• Production of video on environmental flow methodology with inputs from national experts in Azerbaijan and Georgian eflow teams
• Finalization of catalog for all participants and trained water management professionals in Georgia and Azerbaijan UNDP-GEF Kura II IWRM Academy
• Publication of 2 volume set of comic books in national languages on water savings. Pending release due to military law in Azerbaijan*
• Closure of project training center in Tbilisi Georgia

*Please note that due the current conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and resulting military law, all public relations and project promotional work in Azerbaijan has been temporarily halted.