RCDN+: Transforming Digital Engagement for a Stronger Water Sector

About the Project

The Regional Capacity Development Network (RCDN+) is a collaborative initiative dedicated to enhancing water and sanitation services (WSS) in South-East Europe. By connecting local governments, water utilities and professional associations, RCDN+ drives capacity building, knowledge exchange and policy dialogue to improve service sustainability and delivery.

To amplify its impact and better engage stakeholders, RCDN+ embarked on a digital transformation journey, launching a modern, user-friendly website (rcdnsee.net) and expanding its online presence across key communication channels

Challenge

Outdated Website & Poor User Experience

The previous website was built on an older WordPress version, making it slow, difficult to navigate and lacking key functionalities such as SEO optimization, multimedia integration and responsive design.

Visitors struggled to find relevant resources, project updates and event information.

Low Awareness & Engagement

Without a clear communication strategy, RCDN+ had limited digital outreach and struggled to engage its audience effectively.

The absence of a structured approach to social media and newsletters meant low visibility and inconsistent engagement.

Strengthening Stakeholder Communication

The website needed to serve as a dynamic hub for collaboration, offering training materials, success stories and key updates in an engaging format.

RCDN+ also needed a strategic approach to Social Media channels to reach industry professionals more effectively.

Approach

Using the Double Diamond methodology, we implemented a four-phase process:

Discovery

Conducted stakeholder interviews and competitor analysis to understand user pain points and industry best practices.

Definition

Developed a content strategy and website architecture that ensured intuitive navigation and clear information flow for diverse stakeholders.

Development

Designed mood boards, wireframes, and high-fidelity prototypes to bring the vision to life.

Integrated features that enhanced user experience, engagement and accessibility.

Delivery

Launched a modern, fully functional website (rcdnsee.net) with:

SEO optimization for higher visibility
Multimedia content (videos, infographics) to improve engagement
Responsive design for a seamless experience across all devices
Subscription and newsletter integration to expand outreach

Strengthening Stakeholder Communication

Organized a Public & Media Relations Training, equipping RCDN+ partners with:

Practical communication skills

Tools to build strong media relationships Strategies to advocate for sector-wide improvements

Results

Seamless User Experience & Accessibility: The new website features clear navigation, modern design and easy access to resources, events, and project updates.
Subscriber Growth Through Targeted Newsletters: Strategic email campaigns and an improved subscription model led to a significant increase in newsletter subscribers, strengthening direct communication with stakeholders.
Social Media Growth: The structured social media strategy resulted in a 20.3K% increase in reach, significantly boosting engagement.
LinkedIn became the key platform, where posts featuring success stories, industry insights and event highlights resonated strongly with professional audiences.
The Training empowered partners to better communicate their impact and engage with key stakeholders.
The website now serves as a one-stop platform for learning, collaboration and engagement, strengthening RCDN+’s role as a leading voice in water and sanitation capacity building.

With a revitalized digital presence, strong stakeholder engagement, and a more strategic communication approach, RCDN+ is now positioned for long-term impact in the Western Balkans water sector.