General Information
| Project Title | Integrated Sustainable Management System of Doirani Lake Ecosystem – Plan D.Oiran |
| Programme | Interreg IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Greece – Republic of North Macedonia 2014–2020 |
| Funding Source | European Union – General Budget of the Union |
| Period of Implementation | October 2019 – July 2020 (across all three contract lots) |
Project Objective
The overarching objective of Plan D.Oiran was to establish a permanent, common mechanism for the sustainable management and development of the Doirani Lake ecosystem, based on environmental and socio-economic axes in the cross-border region shared between Greece and North Macedonia. The project aimed to develop evidence-based strategic tools, raise community awareness, and build a strong digital presence to support long-term, integrated governance of the lake area.
Project Summary
Plan D.Oiran addressed the need for a structured, participatory, and scientifically grounded approach to managing Doirani Lake – a shared natural resource with significant ecological, cultural, and economic value for both countries. The project produced strategic studies, organized awareness workshops with local citizens and youth, and built a multilingual digital platform to disseminate project results and engage the wider public. GAUSS Institute was engaged as subcontractor for the technical and expert deliverables across three distinct lots.
Role of the GAUSS Institute
GAUSS Institute served as the expert contractor responsible for three interconnected lots of the project, covering strategic research, public engagement, and digital communications:
– Strategic Studies
GAUSS led the preparation of three interrelated analytical documents for the development of the Doirani Lake area:
- Strategic Foresight of the Doirani Lake Area – a forward-looking analysis identifying long-term development trajectories
- Scenario Analysis of the Identified Strategic Foresights – a structured evaluation of alternative futures based on key drivers and uncertainties
- Long-Term Strategies for Development of the Doiran Lake Area – an actionable strategic framework grounded in the scenario findings
– Awareness Actions
GAUSS designed and facilitated two participatory workshops targeting citizens and youth of the Doiran Lake area. The workshops focused on building local understanding of the strategic action plans and fostering community support for their implementation.
– Website & Identity
GAUSS designed and developed the project logo and the official multilingual website (plandoiran.eu), built on WordPress. The website served as the central public communication hub of the project, hosting news, partner information, documents, and blog content in English, Macedonian, and Greek.
Outputs
The tangible deliverables produced by GAUSS Institute under the project include:
- Strategic Foresight study for the Doiran Lake Area
- Scenario Analysis report for the Identified Strategic Foresights
- Long-Term Development Strategies for the Doiran Lake Area
- Two community awareness workshops (citizens and youth of the Doiran Lake area)
- Project logo and visual identity
- Official multilingual project website (plandoiran.eu) with full content management system
- WordPress administration manual for ongoing website management
- Progress and final reports for all three contract lots
Outcomes
- A shared evidence base and strategic framework for the sustainable development of Doirani Lake, usable by local governments, civil society, and cross-border institutions
- Increased awareness and civic engagement among local residents and young people regarding the ecological and developmental challenges of the lake area
- A functioning digital platform enabling ongoing public communication, transparency, and knowledge sharing between project stakeholders and the broader public
- Strengthened institutional capacity within the Macedonian Science Society for managing and communicating EU-funded project results
- A replicable model for integrated cross-border lake management that links strategic research with community participation and digital outreach
Significance
The Plan D.Oiran project holds important significance at multiple levels. Ecologically, Doirani Lake is a fragile shared ecosystem that requires coordinated, evidence-informed governance by both bordering countries. By producing rigorous strategic studies alongside participatory awareness actions, the project bridged the gap between expert knowledge and community engagement – a combination essential for durable environmental stewardship.
For the GAUSS Institute, the project demonstrated the institute’s capacity to deliver complex, multi-component expert services within the framework of EU-funded cross-border cooperation programs. It reinforced GAUSS’s role as a trusted partner for strategic research, digital communications, and community facilitation in the Western Balkans region.
More broadly, Plan D.Oiran contributed to the goals of the Interreg IPA CBC Greece–North Macedonia 2014–2020 programme by supporting cross-border environmental cooperation, building local resilience, and generating transferable tools for sustainable area management.