Given the poor institutional framework in Armenia, KfW agreed to support the Armenian government in the endeavor of sector decentralization. A regional company for water supply and wastewater disposal for Armavir, Metsamor and the villages of Baghramian was established in June 2000 as NOR AKUNQ (New Spring), founded by the state and 12 municipalities, with extensive assistance of the MACS team. Since 2001 a Specific Assistance and Training Program has supported improvements in water supply through the utilization of locally available groundwater resources and the coverage of the most critical technical deficits (repair, maintenance, and leak detection). Financial self-sufficiency through adequate tariffs and appropriate collection efficiency is a key facet of the NOR AKUNQ concept.
MACS was contracted with assistance in utility management, elaboration of the institutional and tariff concept as well as designing, implementing and maintaining a customizable software for data management and billing.
Matthias has a degree in agricultural science and postgraduate honors in rural development and more than 20 years of professional experience in international development projects. At MACS he developed into a prolific Project Manager and Institutional Expert as well as Team Leader who played a major role during the very successful rehabilitation program for water and sanitation in Batumi (Georgia).
In the field of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Matthias has developed a profile for himself and MACS through his work of coordinating the finance division for energy projects in the framework of the Green for Growth Fund (GGF), which has earned a reputation as one of the leading EE/RE funds today.
As one of the Partners and Managing Directors of MACS, Matthias is responsible for operations and financial management at MACS.