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Policy Brief Issue 02/2015 Inter-state cooperation, joint planning and management of transboundary river basins The example of the river basin

Tortgul Reservoir

Key Messages Summary

≈ A legal basis for the joint management of transbound- The GIZ Transboundary Water Ma- agricultural water users across both ary rivers is important in order to foster interstate coope- nagement in Central Asia programme countries. Alongside already esta- ration and sustainable water resources management. supports Tajik-Kyrgyz cooperation blished methods of transboundary on the shared Isfara river basin by cooperation in the basin, which has ≈ Transparent and accurate water flow data is crucial for means of sustainable basin planning complicated boundary issues, the he- building trust between riparian countries. and management through capacity reinafter described measures coun- building. In addition, the rehabili- teract latent tensions among Tajik ≈ Sustainable development of a river basin can only be tation of small-scale infrastructure and Kyrgyz communities over the li- achieved with well-functioning and properly maintained and automatised flow measurement mited resource of arable land, which hydro-technical infrastructure. systems ensure a safe and fair allo- is closely linked to water. cation of water resources. As a result, The GIZ Transboundary Water Ma- ≈ A common understanding and awareness of Inte- improved water management and nagement in Central Asia programme grated Water Resources Management (IWRM), basin infrastructure in the Isfara River con- is implemented on behalf of the Ger- planning, and basin management provides a basis for tribute to better information and wa- man Federal Foreign Office and co- fruitful cooperation and the implementation of joint ter availability for more than 200,000 funded by the European Union. basin planning measures. How to strengthen transboundary cooperation in water management?

The Isfara River and its catchment are located Joint management Well-functioning infrastructure in the southwestern part of the Ferghana Val- of transboundary rivers Most of the water infrastructure in the Isfara ley. The river originates in on the The cross-border nature of the basin is a river basin was built at the end of the 1960s northern slopes of the and particularly pertinent issue. The Isfara catch- and has not been rehabilitated since. Over flows northwards into the territory of Tajikis- ment includes, for example, the Tajik enclave the past decades, the technical conditions tan through the Ferghana Valley towards the of inside Kyrgyz territory. Water re- drastically deteriorated and parts of the in- . The total catchment area is appro- sources in the basin were managed indivi- frastructure were in a critical state. Conse- ximately 3,900 km². dually by each country, and there was a lack quently, the basin lacked a wholly safe and of transparency in the allocation of water. transparent system through which to alloca- The catchment transcends Batken Oblast Joint water management bodies and shared te water resources. (administrative unit) in Kyrgyzstan, Sughd strategies for basin management and plan- Oblast in , and includes Uzbek ter- ning did not exist. Improved capacities in basin ritories at the tail-end of the basin. The po- planning pulation of Batken Oblast is mainly ethnic Fair and transparent water Among staff from both countries working Kyrgyz, with large Tajik and smaller Uzbek allocation on the Isfara river basin, basin planning and minorities. As the basin’s water resources are In the Isfara river basin, flow measurements basin management capacities were weak. vital for all stakeholders, disputes on water were often conducted manually and recor- Different approaches and administrative distribution often occur between riparian ded on paper. As a result, the data could be procedures led to difficulties in cooperation countries. To increase social welfare for all inaccurate and could cause disputes among between neighbouring water management water users in the basin, and to ensure the riparian countries and local water users structures. There was no practice of joint project’s long-term sustainability, GIZ’s inter- about how water was being allocated. meetings or on-the-job training. vention addresses the following issues:

The Isfara River

Policy Brief 02-2015 Institutionalised cooperation on transboundary rivers

Since the largest part of the Isfara river basin is shared by Conceptualising necessary water Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, bilateral cooperation between administrations for the Isfara river basin the two countries is pivotal to its sustainable manage- ment. In 2007, both countries took important first steps The Framework Agreement will form the basis for coor- towards improving cooperation through creating an Inter- dinated planning and management of transboundary Ministerial Working Group to bring together the heads of water resources between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. It national, provincial, and district water agencies of both also provides for the establishment of joint institutions countries. Over a series of joint meetings, involving up to for river basin planning and sets standards for the deve- 12 competent governmental institutions from both sides lopment of joint management plans and the implemen- and with direct support from the GIZ Transboundary Water tation of joint investment projects in transboundary river Management in Central Asia programme, a draft version basins. of the Framework Agreement on Cooperation on the Joint Use of Water Resources from International Rivers was ela- borated.

The heads of the Kyrgyz-Tajik Inter-Ministerial Working Group congratulate one another on the Framework Agreement.

Foreseen joint administrative structures for the Isfara river basin

At the time of writing the policy brief at hand, however, Although the joint administrative structures are yet to be the Framework Agreement is still being refined and is pen- established, two Small Basin Councils for the Kyrgyz and ding signature from both sides. Nevertheless, the good Tajik parts of the basin were set up with the support of the level of collaboration within the Inter-Ministerial Working Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC). Group along with the agreed draft Framework Agreement As of February 2013, the Small Basin Councils are manda- both demonstrate an improvement in Kyrgyz-Tajik coope- tory, advisory bodies and meet on a regular basis. Council ration over transboundary water resource management members are stakeholders from different water-related and the potential for further developments. sectors as well as representatives from the general public.

Policy Brief 02-2015 Safe water infrastructure and transparent allocation of water resources

In transboundary river basins, accurate data and automatised water flow measurement systems are crucial for fostering trust-based cooperation, not only between riparian countries, but also between local water users and local water admi- nistrations. Several small-scale projects were implemented to improve the fair distribution of water resources and the safe operation of hydro-technical infrastructure.

Automatised flow regulation and measurement at the Isfara Headwork in Batken District, Kyrgyzstan

The Isfara Headwork is located 15 kilometres west of Batken Modern water flow meters and other technical devices City and regulates the abstraction of irrigation water from were installed to improve flow control and distribution, the Isfara River to the Tortgul Reservoir through the Pod- and to remotely operate the water gates. In parallel, staff vodyashni Derivation Canal. The facility was constructed in received training to ensure that the automated hydro-faci- 1971 and was in dire need of technical improvement. Staff lity was operated correctly. Computer-based data is collec- operating the headwork had no proper equipment with ted, analysed and distributed to the relevant authorities of which to accurately measure and control the water flow in the riparian states, ensuring greater transparency. the Podvodyashni Derivation Canal, and all measurements were conducted manually and recorded on paper, which led to disputes among water users in both countries.

Isfara Headwork in Batken Small-scale projects to assure safe and transparent water District, Kyrgyzstan supply in the Kyrgyz-Tajik Isfara river basin

Policy Brief 02-2015 Transparent water allocation In the course of 2013-2014, designs have been jik districts. Built in 1960, it has since suffered for the Kyzyl-Kyr Water Users’ drawn up for the restoration of the piezome- significant deterioration. Seasonal floods Association (WUA), Batken Oblast tric network and the rehabilitation of hydro- and mudslides filled the headwork struc- mechanical equipment, including strengthe- ture with soil, stones and gravel, destroying Members of the Kyzyl-Kyr WUA abstract ning the eastern tower’s service bridge. its concrete base and gates. This resulted in water from the Isfara River through the lo- The implemented construction works were a decrease in the headwork’s water intake cal water administration’s off-farm network. designed to ensure that gates in both of and, consequently, the amount of available During the irrigation season in particular, the reservoir’s outlet towers can be opera- irrigation and drinking water has gradually the lack of transparency in the allocation ted safely. The rehabilitated gates now im- fallen. and abstraction of water led to frequent fi- prove the reservoir’s water retention rate, nancial disputes between farmers and the and contribute to a fairer system of water allo- The main objectives of the rehabilitation local water administration. The payment of cation between the neighbouring countries. works were: to establish an uninterrupted abstraction charges by the WUA was often water flow into the main canal; to prevent delayed, which had a negative impact on runoff from solids; and to improve water the reliability of water supply. Rehabilitation of Zumratsho Head- flow control and overall operating condi- work in Sughd District, Tajikistan tions. The repaired headwork is now able to To demonstrate how transparent water serve more than 100,000 people in the Lak- allocation and abstraction helps to build The Zumratsho Headwork is located in Taji- kon Valley and has improved its water sup- mutual trust and understanding between kistan, 3 kilometres north of Isfara City and ply capacity by over 2,000 hectares of arable water suppliers and users, modern equip- approximately 15 km downstream from the land, thus enhancing the livelihoods of the ment to measure and control water flow automated Isfara Headwork in Kyrgyzstan. It local population. was installed and a database workspace set regulates the supply of irrigation and drinking up at the Kyzyl-Kyr WUA and the local water water and distributes water between two Ta- administration. In addition, local staff were trained on how to operate, analyse, and distribute digital data, whilst farmers are now invoiced on the basis of actual, verified withdrawals. Such measures also helped to reduce water loss and to increase agricultu- ral yields.

Safe operation of the Tortgul Reservoir

The Tortgul Reservoir is located in Batken District, 12 kilometres west of Batken City. It stores a total of 90 million cubic meters of water and supplies water to 9,000 hectares of irrigated land. The reservoir is fed by di- verting water from the Isfara River.

The reservoir has several serious technical issues such as a malfunctioning piezometric network and high water losses. Furthermo- re, the hydro-mechanical equipment in the two tower outlets has severely deteriorated, making the operation of the reservoir’s ga- Measurement of water discharge in the off-farm network tes a life-threatening exercise.

Policy Brief 02-2015 A common strategy for water resources management

Joint planning and management of trans- Public participation boundary water resources requires a common in basin planning understanding on water issues and comple- mentary strategies for water management. To ensure greater public participation in the Basin planning is a comprehensive process drafting of the basin plan, both countries held of water management, with the objective of public hearings, in which the plan’s goals and protecting and improving a river basin and its objectives were presented. The hearings were surrounding environment. It follows the main attended by representatives from different principles of Integrated Water Resources Ma- communities, as well as representatives of nagement (IWRM) including inter-sectoral co- government authorities, water management operation, public participation and strengthe- organisations, civil society organisations, NGOs, ning human capacities. etc. This exercise was particularly useful for in- forming the wider public about the content of the newly-developed Isfara River Basin Plan, An inter-sectoral approach the ongoing activities in the basin, and the po- to basin planning tential role that the basin’s residents can play. In Kyrgyz working group on basin planning the future, public participation will be maintai- An inter-sectoral working group was establis- ned through both countries’ newly-established hed for each of the two countries. They com- Basin Councils. prised representatives from agencies and or- Through this inclusive, multi-stakeholder ap- ganisations responsible for water resources, proach, public opinion is now taken into ac- climate change, the environment, health, natu- count in the water management organisation’s ral hazards, socio-economic development, re- decision making. gional and investment planning, local govern- ment and other beneficiaries. The two working groups – with mutual attendance assured – met on a regular basis to discuss and develop the basin plans for their parts of the basin.

Public hearings in Batken City, Kyrgyzstan

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)

is a process which promotes the co-ordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximise the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.

Water users in Batken District comment Global Water Partnership (2000): Integrated Water Resources Management. Global Water Partnership TAC Background Paper Series No. 4, p.22 on the Isfara River Basin Plan

Policy Brief 02-2015 Improved basin planning capacity

Transferring know-how By the end of the final training session, the wor- to establish a basin plan king groups had, based on their analysis and for the Isfara river basin conclusions, developed basin plans for their respective sides of the Isfara river basin. This The development of a basin plan calls for tho- approach ensures local ownership and susta- rough knowledge in all fields related to water inable processes. It enables state institutions, management. A training module on the stages as well as stakeholders and representatives of basin planning, conducted by the program- at a local level, to plan, implement and mo- me in cooperation with the Regional Environ- nitor the basin planning process unassisted. mental Center for Central Asia, equipped the working groups’ members with methodologies for the analysis and assessment of river basins Each country’s working group included repre- so that they could address existing problems. sentatives from the other country in order to Experts from the Central Asian Waters (CAWa) ensure transparency, coordination and compa- scientific network further introduced modern tibility in their basin planning processes right technologies to analyse the current basin situ- from the beginning. ation, map landscapes, assess existing risks of Members of the working group elaborate activities to implement the basin plan natural hazards, climatic developments in the basin, and its implications on water flow for- mation based on a long-term climate change assessment. With their newly-acquired know- ledge, local experts from both working groups conducted comprehensive analyses of the legislative and institutional frameworks in terms of basin planning, the state of the envi- ronment and natural resources, and the socio- economic development of the Isfara river basin.

Tajik working group on basin planning

Training sessions and expert evaluation for the preparation of the Kyrgyz working group Isfara River Basin Plan on basin planning

Policy Brief 02-2015 Improved basin planning capacity

Land use map of the Isfara river basin This Policy Brief was prepared by Elisabeth Dusik, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammen- arbeit (GIZ) GmbH Mayya Nurmamedova, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Data management Database systems were established Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Contributors: Dr. Volker Frobarth, Prof. Dr. Christopher Conrad, and processing at local Kyrgyz and Tajik water ad- Prof. Dr. Frank Schrader, Adam Kaznowski

in water management ministrations. These digitally collect This issue is based on experiences and outcomes of the “Transboundary Water Management in Cen- tral Asia” Programme implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit and store data on water use, hydro- (GIZ) GmbH. GIZ is responsible for the content of this publication.

Decisions surrounding water ma- technical facilities, and hydrological, Please cite this Brief as: Dusik E., Nurmamedova M. 2015. Inter-state cooperation and joint planning and management of nagement draw upon a large amount economic, and administrative con- transboundary river basins – The example of the Isfara river basin. of data and information. The program- ditions in the region. Members of Policy Briefs of the German Water Initiative for Central Asia No. 2. DOI: 10.2312/5.4.2015.002e me, with support from the Scientific the working groups were trained in You can find the Policy Briefs in Russian and English languages in the download area at the website www.cawa-project.net www.waterca.org Information Center of the Interstate mapping water and land resources Acknowledgements Commission for Water Coordination, using ArcGIS software, and taught The German Federal Foreign Office has provided support for the described project activities and the preparation of this Policy brief in the frame of the “German Water Initiative for Central Asia” (the the International Water Management how to use Google Earth’s open sour- so-called “Berlin Process”). Institute, and scientists from the Uni- ce remote sensing data. Access was Picture credits Tortgul reservoir, Elisabeth Dusik, p.1 / Isfara River, Günther Schorcht, p.2 / The heads of the Kyrgyz- versity of Würzburg, delivered com- possible via mobile internet connec- Tajik Inter-Ministerial Working Group, Alimjan Jorobaev, p.3 / The Isfara Headwork, Elisabeth Dusik, p.4 / Rehabilitated hydro-post of Kyzyl-Kyr WUA , Rustam Madumarov, p. 5 left / Automatised mea- prehensive training to members of tions in both countries. Preliminary surement of water discharge in the off-farm network, Elisabeth Dusik, p.5 right / Working group on basin planning, Maria König, p.6 above / Public hearings in Batken City,Kyrgyzstan, Elisabeth Dusik, p. the working groups on data handling, topographic, land-use, and mudflow 6 middle / Water users in Batken District comment on the Isfara River Basin Plan, Elisabeth Dusik, p.6 below / Members of the working group elaborate activities to implement the basin plan, Elisabeth databases, geo-information systems, risk zones maps of the Isfara river ba- Dusik, page 7 above / Tajik working group on basin planning, Zarrina Mirzoboeva, p. 7 middle / Kyrgyz the use of accessible remote sensing sin were produced, which constitutes working group on basin planning, Elisabeth Dusik p. 7 below Unless otherwise stated this content is licensed under: tools, understanding climate model a main outcome of the programme’s Imprint outputs, and how to use these tools activities. Additionally, local specia- Helmholtz Centre Potsdam to support water resource manage- lists received continuous on-the-job GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences Public Law Foundation ment. training. Telegrafenberg 14473 Potsdam/ Germany www.cawa-project.net

Policy Brief 02-2015