Meeting a sister project is a chance to hear how another team approaches challenges we know well and discover ideas we can build on together. In Belgrade, we had that opportunity with SWIM project.
With both projects focused on migratory fish, their habitats and river connectivity in the Danube Basin, we had plenty of common ground. Our activities also overlap, making cooperation especially worthwhile: sharing what we learn, joining forces where it makes sense and avoiding repeated demands on the same stakeholders.
During our All Partner Meeting DANUBElifelines and SWIM partners gathered at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce in Belgrade for a joint clustering session to explore exactly that: what can we do better together?
Getting to know each other’s work
Both teams introduced their projects and presented their demo and pilot sites. In some areas, we work on the same stretches of river or focus on the same fish species, potentially involving the same stakeholders. Elsewhere, we approach similar challenges in different settings. This first introduction gave us a starting point for more detailed exchanges to follow.
SWIM also introduced its SWIM Alliance, a network connecting researchers, authorities and practitioners working on migratory fish and river connectivity. It provides another route for sharing expertise and helping results remain useful beyond the projects themselves.
Working together without asking twice
Stakeholder fatigue was a central topic. Authorities, practitioners and local communities may receive similar requests from several projects, each asking for interviews, workshop participation or feedback.
The coordinated outreach, aligned invitations and organising joint activities where topics and audiences overlap were the topics of the discussion. A proposed shared webinar series could provide space for regular dialogue.
Other opportunities included learning between sites, coordinating communication and bringing findings together to support clearer policy messages. The next step is to compare our activity plans in more detail and identify specific opportunities to take forward together.
Time to connect beyond the presentations
There was also time to test how well we know the Danube Basin with a quiz that brought some friendly competition into the afternoon.
Later, conversations continued during a shared Danube boat cruise. Away from the presentations, we had time to get to know the people behind the projects and pick up discussions started earlier.
We left Belgrade with new connections and ideas worth following up. Now it’s time to compare plans and put some of those ideas to work.
