REDEEM Kick-off Meeting
On 28 September 2026, I participated in the online REDEEM kick-off meeting between the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Montenegro (MAFWM) and E3 Consulting. The meeting introduced the consultancy’s delivery approach and implementation schedule, alongside the role of the Inception Report in establishing the operational framework for the assignment.
My contribution focused on presenting the REDEEM Gantt chart, detailed work plan and timeline of activities, connecting the Ministry’s project responsibilities with the consultancy’s tasks and deliverables.
Translating responsibilities into a work plan
REDEEM addresses water resilience in rural Mediterranean areas through the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus. It combines analysis of cross-sector relationships with governance development, stakeholder engagement and demonstrations of technological and nature-based solutions.
E3 Consulting supports MAFWM through technical analysis, capacity building, carbon footprint assessment, stakeholder events, communication and implementation support.
In presenting the work plan, I explained how these components relate to one another. WEFE mapping and stakeholder feedback provide evidence for learning resources and dialogue; pilot findings support wider adoption and replication; and data collection underpins carbon footprint calculations and mitigation recommendations.
The Gantt chart brought these relationships into a common schedule, showing the sequencing of activities and the inputs needed to progress between tasks.
Aligning project and consultancy timelines
An important planning consideration was the difference between the two start dates. REDEEM began on 1 September 2025, while the consultancy began on 1 September 2026, with completion scheduled for 31 May 2029. Consultancy month one therefore corresponds to project month thirteen.
I presented this alignment to clarify how consultancy activities fit within the wider project timetable and six-month reporting cycle. The planning approach also provides for reviewing outstanding requirements and adjusting sequencing where activities depend on partner inputs, shared methodologies or data availability.
Establishing the implementation baseline
The meeting also addressed the Inception Report as the document that would consolidate the methodology, schedule, responsibilities and coordination arrangements.
My presentation positioned the Gantt chart and work plan as management tools to be updated as implementation progresses. Their purpose is to make dependencies visible, support timely coordination and maintain a clear connection between planned activities and the evidence required for each deliverable.
This planning framework supports MAFWM’s contribution to REDEEM, from territorial WEFE assessment and stakeholder consultation to pilot uptake, water resilience planning and policy dialogue.
