Programme description

Title: Transboundary water management in Central Asia
Commissioned by: German Federal Foreign Office (AA)
Country: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
Overall term: 2009 to 2011

Context

Central Asia is a region with scarce water resources, many of which cut across national borders. The various parties make intensive use of these resources, in particular to generate hydroelectricity and for irrigation purposes, and the use of these limited resources is leading to conflicts of interest.

The economies of the five Central Asian states rely heavily on the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers, as well as other transboundary river basins, to meet their water needs. Because of this, they are mutually dependent. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, the countries at the lower reaches of these two rivers, require considerable volumes of water to irrigate their agricultural land. Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which lie at the upper reaches, have scarcely any raw materials for generating power, and are seeking to make more intensive use of hydro energy.

The German Federal Foreign Office (AA) has commissioned the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH to help enable the relevant institutions in the region to create sustainable regional water management structures, which take account of issues relating to water use as well as energy and climate issues.

Objective

The expertise and management capacities of the regional water management institutions, such as the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), are enhanced.

For selected cross-border rivers, the institutional capacities of the river basin organisations for watercourse management are improved.
Water users and local and national administrations possess the necessary knowledge and capabilities to help achieve integrated water management.

Approach

The Central Asian states are jointly developing practical approaches to sustainable regional water management, for which they are implementing selected measures. They are supported in this by experts from GIZ and its partner organisations, who are also advising the regional, national and local institutions involved on matters such as the formulation of legal provisions and guidelines for water management and water monitoring. GIZ is training the personnel of these institutions on specifically requested issues, such as irrigation, dam security, adapting to climate change and water use and reuse. A process of this nature relies very heavily on the exchange of experience and interdisciplinary and cross-regional dialogue. To this end, GIZ sets up and facilitates forums.

The programme provides funds for technical equipment, such as measuring devices, or supplies this equipment itself. Financial support is also provided for selected measures, such as feasibility studies, the refurbishment of small-scale infrastructure facilities, demonstration facilities for efficient irrigation and small hydroelectric plants.

National programme components focus on the individual interests of the five Central Asian states, which were formulated during the preparatory phase. These include support measures for mini-hydropower schemes, more efficient irrigation, the reuse of wastewater and dam safety.

As a player with broad legitimacy, the United Nations is involved in the programme at the regional level. This helps build trust between the countries. GIZ works closely with national partners, including the Central Asian Institute for Applied Geosciences (CAIAG), international partners such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and German partners such as the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences.

Further information

• The International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS)
  http://www.ec-ifas.org
• Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia
   (in Russian and English)
  http://www.icwc-aral.uz/...