Water Governance in Europe & CIS

This project will support the development of National IWRM plans for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and promote the linkage with similar on-going (Kazakhstan) and emerging (Uzbekistan) activities as well as transboundary dialogue and coordination in Central Asia in general. Based on the recently established „Roadmaps for Speeding up IWRM Planning“ in Central Asia (UNEP-UCC & GWP, 2006), the project will be conducted within the framework of the EU Water Initiative, linked to the emerging process of „National Policy Dialogues“ in the region, and acting as „pilot project“ for the respective EC programme on IWRM in the transboundary context, as adequate. 

The overall project goal is to establish national processes and institutional mechanisms in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and strengthen transboundary dialogue, knowledge exchange and coordination in Central Asia to strategically plan, manage and utilize water resources in an integrated and efficient manner.  

Project Startegy: This project, which has received broad endorsement from various institutions in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan , will aim at replicating the successful experience from the UNDP-led IWRM project in Kazakhstan under implementation over the past couple of years: Supported by UNDP and the Norwegian government and in cooperation with the Global Water Partnership (GWP), the government of Kazakhstan has developed a National IWRM and Water Efficiency Plan including targeted policy reform and capacity building measures, and the establishing of river basin councils. 

Adddressing the project’s aim to both establish national-level planning and coordination mecahnisms as well as support transboundary dialogue, knowledge exchange and action, the project will seek to:

• Support the creation of stable mechanisms for coordination and planning within and between water-sector relevant authorities in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan;
• Introduce the principles of IWRM and Water Efficiency Planning and build national capacities through an adequate communication, education and training programme for all key stekeholders, cokbined with the build-up of GIS and other adequate monitoring or information systems;  
• Promote existing or emerging transboundary forums, agreements, or other forms of dialogues and coordination processes, and establish effective capacity strengthening and knowledge codification & exchange mechanisms;
• Support the development of new – or the strengthening of existing – strategies and networks towards water protection and management at the water basin level, focussing on decentralized management;
• Strengthen platforms for both intergovernmental as well as local-level transboundary dialogue and coordination;
• Establish adequate public participation and monitoring mechanisms with all key stakeholders to ensure accountability and progress in implementation of all activities under this project.

During the Preparation Phase (Aug-Dec 2007), thorough stakeholder consultations will be conducted, as well as the detailed activities for the implementation phase identified, agreed upon, planned and budgeted.

The expected specific outcomes of the preparation phase are:

1. a clear understanding of the current situation, the political framework, as well as of relevant involved stakeholders
2. an understanding of opportunities for concrete interventions in the area of IWRM, based on the above set of lead activities, including national and transboundary dimensions
3. a strategy to align the foreseen activities with EUWI-NPD and other relevant processes; and
4. the creation and promotion of an enabling environment for regional dialogue and knowledge and experience transfer in view of supporting the implementation phase of the project.

The main deliverable for the first phase will be a finalized proposal for the main Implementation Phase (2008-10/11), agreed upon by all stakeholders and project partners, and ready for submission to other potential co-funding partners (incl. GEF), as adequate.  

The Implementation Phase (2008-20010/11) will focus on activities defined during the Preparatory Phase, aiming at necessary policy reform, capacity building measures, and other concrete interventions to achieve more sustainable and integrated management of water (and other natural) resources at the national level, and within the specific regional context of Central Asia.

The specific outcomes and deliverables will be defined during the Preparation Phase; they may include:  

• national IWRM plans for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan,
• established river basin councils and/or organizations,
• trained water sector technical and political personnel,
• fully involved public and civil society organizations and other relevant actors,
• new legislations or provisions at national and/or transboundary level,
• elements of regional water resources management strategies towards better coordination and cooperation in the water (and energy) sector and strengthening of IWRM in Central Asia.

Kyrgyzstan: Department of Water Resources (DWR) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Processing Industry (MAWRPI); State Agency of Environment Protection and Forestry (SAEF); Chief Admimistration on Hydrometerogemeteroology of Ministry of Emergency Situations; Ministry of Industry, Energy and Fuel Resources

Tajikistan: Ministry of Water Resources Management; State Committee on Environmental Protection and Forestry; Main Geological Institution; Committee on state inspection of the secure industrial works

Other partners: Global Water Partnership, GWP-CACENA (co-executing); UNDP Kyrgyzstan & Tajikistan;

(too early)