IDRON
Description
IDRON (Innovative Dual sustainable solutions for Rural water scarcity and use OptimizatioN) is a transnational project co-funded by the Interreg Euro-MED programme. Its mission is to tackle water scarcity in rural Mediterranean regions by developing, testing, and scaling up nature-based, technical, and social innovation for more efficient and sustainable water management.
Objectives
– Co-develop innovation: design and test both technological and nature-based solutions for dual water systems (e.g., reuse, rainwater harvesting, smart irrigation).
– Strengthen governance & governance capacity: foster participatory water management models involving communities, LAGs, public authorities, and farmers.
– Pilot in real territories: implement pilot actions in selected rural Mediterranean regions to demonstrate the benefits and feasibility of the solutions.
– Facilitate knowledge exchange: organise peer-learning activities, study visits, and capacity-building workshops across partner regions.
– Promote replication and scaling-up: produce guidelines, policy recommendations, and toolkits to support other rural areas in adopting effective water management practices.
Main activities
Baseline analysis & mapping of water use, governance, and risk in pilot areas.Co-creation labs with local stakeholders (farmers, LAGs, municipalities) to design water-saving solutions.Real-life piloting of technologies (e.g., smart irrigation, irrigation scheduling, recycled water) and nature-based measures (e.g., wetlands, infiltration systems).
Workshops and peer exchange, including study visits to demonstrate successful water-efficient interventions.
Development of toolkits and policy briefs to guide replication in other rural contexts.
ELARD's contribution as an associated partner
End-user & disseminator: ELARD helps disseminate project results, tools, and good practices to rural communities across Europe.
Observer & strategic supporter: participating in workshops, peer-learning sessions, and study visits. Our experience in LEADER/CLLD ensures that community-led, bottom-up principles are embedded in IDRON’s work.
Facilitator of transfer: bridging the project with local development actors, especially in Mediterranean regions affected by water scarcity.