TRAINING AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM FOR VILLAGE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA

Environmental management is most successful when it is integral to the overall management of an institution. A technical and management team conducting community water resources development projects in which environmental management is based on institutional policy and environmental assessments is likely to effectively protect the environment, complete construction, and initiate operation of the new systems. Water resource development is inherently multidisciplinary but interdisciplinary sharing of information may not occur unless management establishes policies and procedures to facilitate it. Organisational learning should be facilitated to clarify the objectives of the project, including environmental protection, and to describe the informational needs of team members and resources available across the team disciplines. A village water supply program in Armenia demonstrated these principles. Environmental assessments conducted in collaboration with an effort to enhance the longevity of water supply wells led to interdisciplinary team-building and training for project managers and contractors. Improved cost-effectiveness and less environmental damage are anticipated.