After project experts' missions in the Alazani basin on both sides of the border last year, the preparation of River Basin Management Plan for Alazani/Iori is now entering a new phase both In Georgia and in Azerbaijan. The terms of reference for hiring local contractors supporting the data collection and River Basin Management Plans preparation in each country have been published. After the selection and contracting period, the works are supposed to start in May 2018. This is a beginning of an eighteen months process in each country  which will result in basin management plans based on comparable results and a common approach acceptable to both countries.