Section 8
Activities of International Partners in Central Asia WATER YEARBOOK: Central Asia and Around the Globe
8.1. Asian Development Bank
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided technical assistance support and made investments in the water sector in the Central Asia region since its rst lending (to Afghanistan) in 1970. Investments to date, totaling US $4.4 billion, include ood management, irrigation and drainage, clean water supply, sanitation, hydropower, institutional reforms, and knowledge and capacity building support. Regional technical assistance support for transboundary water resources management have been more bilaterally, such as the enhanced river basin management in the Chu-Talas (with Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic) and Pyanj river basin (for Afghanistan and Tajikistan). Acting nationally with invest- across 31 villages. In addition, the program will ments and thinking regionally with technical ensure that detailed designs are completed for assistance support place ADB as a leading de- 12 villages and ready for implementation when velopment partner in the region. additional nancing becomes available. In Uzbekistan, the Second Tashkent Province ADB investments in 2019 have focused on Water Supply Development Project will support irrigation rehabilitation and integrated water rehabilitation and expansion of a regional resources management. Investment approvals water supply system located in the Yangiyul and in 2019 include for Kazakhstan, the Irrigation Chinaz districts of Tashkent province. The Rehabilitation Project which will (1) support the project also supports institutional reforms and rehabilitation and improvement of irrigation capacity building for Tashkent Province networks serving about 171,100 ha of land in Suvokova, the WSS services provider. East Kazakhstan, Karaghanda, Kyzylorda, and Zhambyl provinces; (2) promote the diversica- The Project Readiness Financing (PRF) for tion from traditional low-yielding and low-value urban services projects in Georgia, Pakistan, grain crops into high-value cash crops; and (3) and Uzbekistan will support early preparation of build the capacity of farmers and Kazvodkhoz engineering designs and procurement docu- for improved water and irrigation manage- ments as part of advanced actions prior to pro- ment. This project is ADB’s rst local currency len- ject approval to ensure timely start up and ding directly to a state-owned enterprise in the completion of project activities irrigation sub-sector. In Afghanistan, the Arg- handab Integrated Water Resources Develop- ADB has supported the Central Asia Regio- ment Project will improve the availability and nal Economic (CAREC) Program. A partnership management of water resources in the Arghan- of 11 countries supported by six multilateral dab basin in Kandahar province by (1) increa- institutions,55 it is working to promote develop- sing the storage capacity of the Dahla Dam by ment through cooperation, leading to accele- raising its height, (2) increasing the reliability of rated growth and poverty reduction. In 2017, irrigation water supplies downstream of the CAREC introduced agriculture and water as a dam, (3) improving agriculture water producti- key pillar under the CAREC 2030 Strategy. This vity by providing on-farm support to farmers to now provides a conducive and trusted platform improve crop production, and (4) strengthe- to engage in addressing water scarcity and ning institutions in water resource management. water productivity issues as a step towards future cooperation on regional water resources Efforts continue to improve water supply and management. In 2019, ADB held the rst CAREC sanitation (WSS) infrastructure and services in side session in Tashkent, Uzbekistan involving Central Asia. In 2019, ADB approved a results- development partners to discuss opportunities based lending (RBL) operation to the Kyrgyz for advancing water cooperation in the region. Republic for the Naryn Rural Water Supply and As a follow-up, ADB will help conduct a scoping Sanitation Development Program. The program study to outline the water pillar and its key will cover 64,000 people in Naryn and will objectives. support the design, construction, and rehabili- tation of WSS facilities and institutional capacity ADB, in partnership with ICID and Indonesian to provide sustainable and safe WSS services National Committee for ICID supported the
55 Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, People's Republic of China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
182 Section 8. Activities of International Partners in Central Asia
3rd World Irrigation Forum (1-4 September 2019, share experiences on the importance of sus- Bali, Indonesia). This provided a suitable oppor- tainable agricultural water management. tunity for participation by government repre- sentatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Source: Asian Development Bank Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to collaborate and
8.2. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia. Headquartered in Beijing, AIIB began operations in January 2016 and have now grown to 100 approved members worldwide. AIIB has approved a US $3.2 million loan for the Water related activities in 2019 Obigarm-Nurobod Road Project (October). The In October, AIIB initiated a Call for Public Con- Obigarm-Nurobod road section of the existing sultations on its Draft Water Sector Strategy. AIIB M41 highway will be inundated once the Rogun invited a diverse stakeholder group to provide HPP reservoir is lled to operating levels and will their comments and suggestions on the pro- require construction of a new 76-km M41 high- posed approach to the water strategy. The Wa- way alignment through mountainous terrain. ter Sector Analysis provides additional informa- Task is divided in three sections between AIIB, tion regarding how the draft strategy was de- EBRD and ADB. AIIB will nance Section 3, which veloped and how the draft strategy will be im- includes an approximately 800-m bridge over plemented once approved. In December, 18 the Rogun HPP Reservoir, and 640 m of roadway civil society organizations from 12 countries of approaches to the bridge. The objective of the Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas submit- Project is to maintain and improve connectivity ted to the AIIB initial comments on the proposed between Dushanbe, the northeast region of draft strategy with a hope to start meaningful Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic via the M41 consultations on key environmental and social highway. AIIB also continued co-nancing the issues specic to river basin management and Nurek Hydropower Rehabilitation, Phase I pro- water infrastructure development. ject that was approved in 2017 (US $60 million)
Projects in Central Asia in 2019 In 2019, AIIB has approved co-nancing of AIIB has approved a US $46.7 million loan for the US $82 million for the Prosperous Villages Project construction and operation of a 100-megawatt in Uzbekistan seeking to improve access to ba- wind power plant in southern Kazakhstan which, sic infrastructure and services by rural popula- when completed, will be the largest in Central tion in the Ferghana Valley and other lagging Asia (December). The Zhanatas wind power regions of the country. The Bank has been also plant, supported by a Memorandum of Under- considering for nancing the Bukhara Region standing between AIIB and the Ministry of Ener- Water Supply and Sewerage in Uzbekistan, gy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, will, on a year- which was approved in April 2020 (a US $ 385.1 ly basis, provide the country approximately 319 million sovereign loan). gigawatt hours of renewable energy and re- duce carbon dioxide emissions by 260,623 tons. Source: https://www.aiib.org/en/index.html
8.3. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was established in 1991. It European Bank invests in projects facilitating the transition to for Reconstruction and Development open market, as well as the development of business activity. The EBRD work in Central Asian water supply, wastewater treatment, RES, and countries on water issues is very broad, including increased climate resilience.
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In Kazakhstan, EBRD focuses on diversication, (currently being adopted). In addition, EBRD balancing the role of state and market and and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic sustainable energy. To date, the cumulative Affairs (SECO) allocated funds for the Rehabili- EBRD investments in 264 projects in Kazakhstan tation Program at the Khujand Wastewater amount to €8,422 million. Current portfolio of Treatment Plant began in late 2018. The invest- projects is €2,732 million. ment was supported by grants from EBRD and SECO collectively worth US $1.4 million. In No- In 2019, the Kazakhstan Renewables Frame- vember, EBRD launched Green Economy Finan- work, worth US $300 million, was expanded to US cing Facility (GEFF) Tajikistan (GEFF Tajikistan), $345 million. EBRD has allocated about US $100 which will offer loans for investments in high- million for the construction of solar power plants performing technologies that improve the use in southern Kazakhstan: 100 MW plant in Zham- of water, energy and land resources in Tajikis- byl province, 10 MW plant in the Zhanakorgan tan. GEFF Tajikistan is supported by EU, GCF and District, and 50 MW plant in Challakurgan. South Korea.
In the Kyrgyz Republic, EBRD focuses on foste- In Turkmenistan, EBRD focuses on expanding ring sustainable growth; enabling SMEs to scale private sector operations in the corporate and up; promoting the sustainability of public utilities; nancial institutions sectors, targeted policy dia- strengthening the nancial sector; and suppor- logue and fostering coordination among IFIs ting critical infrastructure. To date, the cumula- and donor organizations. To date, the cumula- tive EBRD investments in 189 projects in the tive EBRD investments in 75 projects in Turkmenis- Kyrgyz Republic amount to €788 million. Current tan amount to €293 million. Current portfolio of portfolio of projects is €199 million. projects is €56 million. In 2019, no water projects were initiated. In 2019, EBRD signed an agreement on nan- cing two more water projects in the Kyrgyz Republic. About €8.125 million, including a sove- In Uzbekistan, the EBRD’s new Country Strategy reign loan (about €4 million), an investment adopted in 2018 identies: enhancement of grant from the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund competitiveness by strengthening the role of (€4 million) and from the EBRD Water Fund (€125 the private sector’s role in the economy; promo- thousand), were provided to nance the se- tion of green energy and resource solutions ac- cond stage of the Rehabilitation of the Water ross sectors; support increased regional and and Sewerage System in Jalalabad Project. A international cooperation and integration. To loan of up to €2 million by EBRD and a grant of date, the cumulative EBRD investments in 78 up to €3 million from EU will nance a number of projects in Uzbekistan amount to €1,854 million. critical water supply system improvements in the Current portfolio of projects is €948 million. municipalities of Jalal Abad, Myrza-Ake, Kur- shab and Don Bulak. In May, EBRD and the Kyr- In 2019, several water-related projects in gyz Republic launched a Climate Finance Cen- Uzbekistan were under consideration by EBRD. tre (CFC), which will attract necessary invest- Loan agreements were signed to fund the ment for climate projects in various sectors ran- Rehabilitation of Kashkadarya Oblast's Waste- ging from energy and water to agriculture and water Infrastructure Project (€53.5 million) and a health in the Kyrgyz Republic. similar project in Khorezm province (€80.3 mil- lion). Namangan Regional Water and Waste- In Tajikistan, EBRD focuses on stabilizing and re- water and Rehabilitation of Water Infrastructure building trust in the banking sector, developing in Surkhandarya Province projects are on hold private enterprises and agribusiness, improving pending the approval. Concepts were revie- the availability, reliability and quality of munici- wed for the following projects: rehabilitation of pal services and improving the quality of energy existing HPPs on the Chirchik River at Nizhne- supply, regulation and energy efciency. To da- Bozsuy HPP Cascade (HPP-18, HPP-19, HPP-22, te, the cumulative EBRD investments in 130 pro- and HPP-23); Modernization of Pumping Stations jects in Tajikistan amount to €699 million. Current Used for Irrigation Water Conveyance to enhan- portfolio of projects is €394 million. ce the resilience to climate change and Uzbe- In 2019, EBRD considered the allocation of kistan Climate Resilience Framework. €7.5 million to Tajikistan to improve water supply and wastewater services in the city of Kulob Source: https://www.ebrd.com/
184 Section 8. Activities of International Partners in Central Asia
8.4. European Union
A New Strategy on Central Asia. On 17 June 2019, the Council adopted con- clusions on a new EU Strategy on Central Asia, adapting the EU policy to new opportunities which have emerged in the region. The EU updated its Central Asia strategy to focus on resilience (covering areas such as human rights, border security, environment), prosperity (with a strong accent on connec- tivity), as well as regional cooperation. The Council reafrms its commitment to conclude and implement ambitious, broad- In addition to those programs, several others are based and mutually-benecial enhanced part- in preparation: EU’s contribution in MPTFHS, up- nership with the interested countries of the regi- graded phase of the Border Management in on and emphasizes the joint interest of the EU Central Asia program, and new technical assis- and of Central Asian states to intensify coopera- tance to support law enforcement capacities tion to promote peace in Afghanistan. and regional cooperation in countering terro- rism. EU-CA Ministerial meeting and new programs. High-level political and security dialogues On 11 November, an agreement was signed between EU and CA have been held regularly for €5.2 million with EU to support MPHSTF (see since 2013. The 15th EU-CA Ministerial meeting Section “UNDP in Uzbekistan”). was held on the 7th of July in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Re- public. To underpin the EU's political commit- EU regional environment programs ment and kick-start the implementation of the in Central Asia new EU Central Asia Strategy, High Representa- tive for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice- EU is currently supporting two regional coopera- President of the European Commission, Federi- tion programs in Central Asia on environment- ca Mogherini, presented a set of EU funded re- gional programs. Coming on top of over €1 bil- related issues: (1) Central Asian Water and Ener- lion of bilateral and regional assistance for the gy Program (CAWEP) implemented jointly by EU, period 2014-2020, these programs, worth €72 mil- WB, Switzerland and UK to promote water and lion, will benet all CA countries and Afghanistan energy security at the regional and national on the following areas: levels (see Section “World Bank”); (2) Regional coordination and support to improve the EU-CA n Sustainable energy: EU will invest €20 mil- Platform for Environment and Water Coopera- lion in a new HPP in Tajikistan, with addi- tion (see further). tional support from Germany. This hydropo- wer plant will create new opportunities for “European Union – Central Asia Water, Tajikistan to meet increasing demand, and Environment and Climate Change to export excess electricity to neighboring Cooperation (WECOOP)” countries, including to northern Afghanis- tan; The WECOOP project, with its third phase star- n Economic empowerment: EU will invest ted in October 2019, aims to enhance environ- €2 million in the economic empowerment ment, climate change and water policies in of women in Afghanistan. This project will Central Asia through approximation to EU stan- be implemented together with Kazakhstan dards and to promote green investments in and Uzbekistan; relevant sectors with the aim of contributing to measurable reductions in man-made pollution, n Education: EU also launched a new €36 mil- including CO2 emissions. Project activities lion program in support of the education among others include support to the EU-CA sector in Kyrgyzstan; Platform for Environment and Water Coopera- tion: organization of annual meetings of the EU- n Inclusive sustainable growth: EU has exten- CA Working Group on Environment and Climate ded the activities of the SWITCH Asia Prog- th ram, with an amount of €14 million. The Change (WGECC) and the 7 EU-CA High-Level programme will support sustainable con- Conference in 2022; support to the EU Water Ini- sumption and production and promote tiative National Policy Dialogues meetings orga- inclusive sustainable growth. It aims to re- nized by UNECE; provision of trainings, policy ad- duce poverty and contribute to economic vice; assistance in preparation of green invest- prosperity in Central Asia. ment projects.
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Activities in 2019 Activities in the early 2020
Ministers and Heads of Delegations of the CA Over one hundred participants from Central countries, of EU and of EU Member States res- Asian States and EU Member States attended the 9th Meeting of WGECC chaired by the Italian ponsible for the environment, climate change Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea (12- and water policies met on 24 and 25 January 13 February 2020). Progress and achievements 2019 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, for the Sixth EU-CA in EU-CA regional cooperation and EU and CA High-Level Conference organized under the EU- policies in the area of environment and climate Central Asia Platform for Environment and Wa- change since the 8th Meeting of WGECC and ter Cooperation. The parties agreed that the the 6th EU-CA High Level Conference on Envi- EU-CA Platform for Environment and Water ronment and Water Cooperation were discus- Cooperation should continue to cover the follo- sed taking into account the new EU Strategy on wing priority areas: environmental governance, Central Asia. Moreover, the concept of the new circular economy, sustainable consumption European Green Deal was presented. and production, climate change (adaptation Source: https://ec.europa.eu, http://wecoop.eu/, and mitigation), and IWRM. WECOOP Project
8.5. German Society for International Cooperation
GIZ works with BWOs Amu Darya and Syr Darya to strengthen capacities and rendered also technical support. In 2019, the Program, toge- ther with the Kazakh Executive Board of IFAS installed sh saving technology at the Kok-Aral Dam at the Northern Aral Sea to prevent little sh The German Society for International Coopera- from slipping over the dam and dying there. tion or Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) implements the Trans- Technical assistance in the form of water boundary Water Management in Central Asia measuring devices, vehicles and IT equipment Program (2009-2020) as part of the Berlin Pro- was rendered to the partner organizations in cess. Turkmenistan. The Program also supported the experience exchange of Central Asian water The Berlin Process is an offer of the German specialists and decision makers at international Federal Foreign Ofce to the countries of Cen- events and within Central Asia. The Program ac- tral Asia to support them in water management tively supported the coordination of water ma- and to make water a subject of intensied trans- nagement between Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and boundary cooperation. It supplements the EU the Kyrgyz Republic in the Fergana Valley. In Strategy for a New Partnership with Central Asia Uzbekistan, GIZ entered 2016 into a delegation which was adopted during the German EU Pre- agreement with EU to implement component 1 sidency in June 200756. on water governance within the frame of the EU Program “Sustainable management of water re- The GIZ Program is coordinating with all do- sources in rural areas in Uzbekistan” (2016-2020). nor organizations active in the water sector in Central Asia. The Program is currently in its last Working on three levels – national, basin and phase which will end on 31 March 2020. It mainly local level – the rst digital data management is focusing on fostering regional institutional system (water and water infrastructure cadas- cooperation, strengthening transboundary river tres) were created, 60 ha of pilot sites planted basin management and implementing national with over 70.000 different fruit trees and equip- pilot projects. In 2019, support was given to the ped with water saving irrigation technology to development of ASBP-4, as well as to the regio- showcase best practice to local water mana- nal working group on institutional strengthening gement specialists and farmers. Two river basin of IFAS. In December, ASBP-4 was approved by management plans for Aksu and Shakhrihansay the regional working group. Rivers were developed.
56 A new European Union Strategy for CA was adopted in June 2019 (see above)
186 Section 8. Activities of International Partners in Central Asia
The Program developed an IWRM curriculum for practices on IWRM, water governance and Master studies at the Academy of Public Admi- legislation drafting as well as dam safety issues. nistration under the President of Uzbekistan and a new basin planning curriculum for the TIIAME Master studies. Study tours to European coun- Source: GIZ Transboundary Water Management in tries helped to exchange information and best Central Asia Program
8.6. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is a multidisciplinary inter- governmental organization comprising 36 mem- ber countries that provides a unique forum and the analytical capacity to assist governments to compare and exchange policy experiences, momentum for water policy reforms that contri- and to identify and promote good practices bute to water security and sustainable growth. through policy decisions and recommendations. OECD work in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus The OECD is working to help countries meet and Central Asia the water challenge, with focus on economic and nancial dimensions of water manage- In the region, OECD works with partner countries ment and improving governance and reform of through its GREEN Action Task Force, which pro- water policies. OECD has enhanced its conve- vides a unique forum for a mutual exchange of ning power and capacity to structure discussion best practices and challenges between the Eu- among stakeholders on water issues, by setting rasian region and OECD countries, building on up international initiatives including the Round- the OECD and its partners’ work on environ- table on Financing Water, Water Governance ment. The Task Force Annual Meetings have Initiative, and the Network of Economic Regula- been held to trace its Programme of Work since tors. Particularly, the following events were held the previous meeting. The 2019 Meeting focu- in 2019: sed on the topics of sustainable infrastructure development, cooperation with development n 2 Roundtables on Financing Water: focu- nance institutions to promote green invest- sed on the Americas (26-27 June, Washing- ment, strategic planning for water manage- ton); focused on Asia (26-27 November, ment, and the role of national environmental Manila). Making Blended Finance Work for funds. Several discussion papers and support Water and Sanitation was published; material were prepared by the OECD to facili- tate discussion at the meeting. Good progress n 12th Meeting of the OECD Water Governan- has been achieved in the implementation of all ce Initiative, where Applying the OECD areas of work, some of them bringing very con- Principles on Water Governance to Floods crete results on the ground, as for example: was presented (20-21 June, Berlin). It peer- completion of the revisions of the Environmental reviewed National Water Policy Dialogues Code in Kazakhstan, support to improving long- (NWPDs) with Argentina, Peru, and Brazil, term water security in Belarus, or revising mid- learned from Germany’s water governan- term action plan for water supply and sanitation ce, as well as discussed the role of women strategy implementation in Moldova. in water governance; The OECD assists EECCA in adopting a more n 2 webinars of the Working Group on Indi- integrated approach to water management, cators (20 May, 4 November) and of the applying robust economic and nancial ana- Working Group on Capacity Development lyses and improving multi-stakeholder participa- (20 May, 4 November). tion. It also helps in identifying and removing so- me of the key obstacles to effective and ef- The OECD Council Recommendation on Water cient water management, while reecting coun- captures policy guidance that can inspire wa- tries’ level of socio-economic development. This ter policy reforms in countries around the globe. work is part of the program of the European Non-member countries are welcome to adhere Union Water Initiative (EUWI), for which the OECD to the Recommendation with a view to create a is a strategic partner, together with UNECE, and is
187 WATER YEARBOOK: Central Asia and Around the Globe
aimed at improving river basin management menting the Concept for the transition to a green and water governance frameworks. The water- economy, in assessing progress and achieving related cooperation has focused on multi-stake- green growth. The results and conclusions of the holder National Policy Dialogues in both EaP and project were presented in the rst National Re- Central Asia countries and has assisted, amongst port based on the OECD Green Growth Indica- other things, in development of national long- tors in Kazakhstan (November). Water indicators, term water strategies and water policy outlooks. such as water productivity, freshwater availability In 2019, meetings of the Steering Committee of and access to drinking water, were also conside- the National Policy Dialogue on IWRM were held red among the 44 identied indicators. It is impor- in a number of countries: 15th meeting in Tajikistan tant that the project assessed qualitative indica- (28 June), 8th meeting in Azerbaijan (12 July), tors, for example, water use efciency rather 18th meeting in Armenia (15 October), 5th meeting than simply consumption of water resources, ac- in Moldova (25 October), 3rd meeting in Ukraine cess to clean water instead of general access to (5 November), and 2nd meeting in Belarus (5 De- water and so on. cember). Recent publications from the regional prog- Within the framework of the Agreement bet- ram include “Enhancing the Economic Regula- ween the Government of the Republic of Ka- zakhstan and OECD approved in 2018, the pro- tory System for Moldova’s Water Supply and Sa- ject “Introduction of Green Growth Indicators nitation” which aims at supporting the develop- and Preparation of the Report on Green Growth ment of a sound economic regulatory system for in Kazakhstan” was implemented. The main goal the water supply and sanitation sector in the of the project is to assist Kazakhstan in integrating Republic of Moldova. the measurement of green growth into the re- gular reporting and planning system, in imple- Source: http://www.oecd.org/
8.7. Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
national best practice at two national conferen- ces and two water related national platforms. POiD, together with the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MEWR) and the International The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (IICD) organized Europe (OSCE) has a long history in supporting its the International Conference “Water without Bor- Central Asian participating States in the area of ders” in Dushanbe. The event was conducted in regional water management, focusing on water the framework of the World Water Day with the governance and support for transboundary wa- aim of increasing the visibility of water resources ter management, training and capacity develop- issues in general and Tajikistan's Water Sector Re- ment, research and development of standards form Program 2016-2025 in particular. POiD sup- and legislation. Following are some highlights of ported the Agency of Land Reclamation and Irri- the OSCE's work in these areas during 2019. gation (ALRI) by facilitating one annual member- The OSCE Program Ofce in Bishkek (POiB) with ship meeting of the National Commission on Irri- assistance of the Ofce of the Co-ordinator of gation and Drainage (TajNCID) and conducting OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities a scientic and practical conference on “Deve- (OCEEA) organized water quality assessments in lopment of the Land Reclamation and Irrigation the territory of the Chu and Talas rivers and their Industry”. POiD jointly with GIZ and ALRI organized tributary basins. The assessments were conduc- a study tour for ve representatives of TajNCID to ted by the members of the Working Group on en- learn from advanced irrigation practices within vironmental protection under the Secretariat of Uzbekistan. The agenda of the trip focused parti- the Chu-Talas Water Commission between Ka- cularly on experiences in drip irrigation technolo- zakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. During the meeting of gies applied to orchards and cotton, as well as the Working Group held in Bishkek, the labora- advanced (digital) water ow meters (Smart tory results on the state of water quality of the Sticks). Finally, POiD organized its 3rd capacity buil- rivers were presented. They will be used for long- term planning of environmental protection acti- ding workshop for young researchers from Cen- vities in the basin. tral Asia and Afghanistan in water policy studies. Participants enhanced their theoretical and The OSCE Program Ofce in Dushanbe (POiD) practical knowledge to produce high quality contributed to the sharing of international and research papers.
188 Section 8. Activities of International Partners in Central Asia
The OSCE Program Ofce in Nur-Sultan (POiN) The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan worked together with OSCE POiB and OCEEA to (PCUz) continued its collaboration with the facilitate the activities of the transboundary ba- State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan sin council for the Chu-Talas Water Commission on Ecology and Environmental Protection in with an ultimate goal to strengthen cooperation monitoring of pollution in the Syr Darya River Ba- between the two countries. The Ofce suppor- sin and in the assessment of the transboundary ted cooperation between Kazakhstan and Kyr- impact of toxic wastes. The three critical areas gyzstan on carrying out surface water sampling (settlements of Vuadil, Madaniyat and Baymak and analysis of water quality. Collaboration with along the Shakhimardan, Mayluu-Suu and the Russian Federation was further enhanced Sumsar Rivers) were identied during previous by supporting joint activities on sustainable wa- phases of this project which aimed at monito- ter management of the transboundary Zhaiyk ring the composition of various pollutants in the (Ural) River and the organization of a technical water resources as well as supporting the go- meeting on the rational use of water resources vernment of Uzbekistan in the implementation of the Zhaiyk River, including an assessment of of efcient Disaster Risk Reduction mechanisms the impacts of climate change on water resour- in these areas. Furthermore, PCUz continued its ces. In collaboration with UNECE and the Slovak support to the GEF Agency of IFAS for regular Government, POiN supported a study tour for six monitoring of the development of biodiversity government and private sector ofcials on legis- on wetlands that have formed on the former lative aspects of hydropower plants manage- grounds of the Aral Sea. As part of its support to ment, technical and safety supervision and ICWC, PCUz published 48 copies of the 2018 Water Yearbook “Central Asia and Around the practical examples of transboundary water Globe”, drafted and compiled by SIC ICWC. management in Slovakia. Capacity building The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat (CiA) supported the organization of two regional events with the OCEEA: aim to promote regional dialogue and coope- ration among the countries of the Aral Sea ba- n organized a regional training course on sin, using the platform of IFAS. The rst event was water diplomacy with a special focus on the 2nd meeting of the Regional Working Groups gender-sensitive negotiation and media- on development of ASBP-4, which discussed the tion skills in partnership with CAREC and organizational structure of IFAS and the conti- SIWI in Almaty. nuation of the implementation of its regional initiatives. The second event was a regional se- n conducted a Training-of-Trainers on “How minar focused on innovative solutions and ad- to Mainstream Gender in Water Governan- vanced technologies for sustainable water ma- ce” in partnership with the OSCE Secretari- nagement and aimed to showcase the advan- at Gender Section and PCUz. ced regional experience in water manage- n ment and strengthen regional and interagency supported the participation of 5 partici- dialogue and cooperation for sustainable de- pants from Central Asia at the workshop on Water Diplomacy: Best Practices in Trans- velopment of the water sector. In addition, CiA boundary Water Cooperation organized in provided assistance in the publication of the collaboration with the Central Commission Outcome Report on Turkmenistan's Chairman- for Navigation on the Rhine in Strasbourg. ship in IFAS, which is a key reference document to provide management succession and policy Source: Ofce of the Co-ordinator of OSCE continuity within this regional organization. Economic and Environmental Activities
8.8. Swiss Confederation (SDC and SECO)
The Swiss Cooperation Strategy for Central Asia (2017-2021) features a special focus on water, infrastructure and climate change, aiming at (1) Supporting Central Asian States in their ef- forts to provide the necessary framework that allow a joint and equitable management of regional shared waters and (2) Enhancing equitable access to and use of well-managed water resources for households, agriculture and other economic sectors in a changing climate.
189 WATER YEARBOOK: Central Asia and Around the Globe
The Strategy is implemented by the two ope- meetings of the Regional Working Group on rational arms of Switzerland’s International Co- Water Quality, as well as a bilateral exchan- operation, the Swiss Agency for Development ge between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and Cooperation (SDC) under the Federal De- representatives on water balancing on the partment of Foreign Affairs and the Swiss State Chu-Talas Rivers. Secretariat for Economic Cooperation (SECO) under the Federal Department of Economic Finally, the Blue Peace Central Asia has been Affairs, Education and Research. supporting the relaunch of the Central Asia Youth for Water network (CAY4W), with the aim of en- In the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekis- couraging the emergence of a strong and ca- tan, the Swiss programs focus on National Water pacitated young voice for water in Central Asia. Resources Management, Water Supply and Sani- The network benets from the support of GKU tation and Disaster Risk Reduction/Climate and the International Secretariat for Water. Change Adaptation. Additionally, Switzerland is also active at the transboundary and regional Switzerland further contributes to the Central level, including through its program on water and Asia Water Energy Development Program peace, the Blue Peace Central Asia initiative (CAWEP), a multi-donor trust fund managed by (BPCA), which aims at supporting the countries in the World Bank. It aims at strengthening the reaching a mutual understanding and agree- ment in terms of regional water resources mana- enabling environment to promote energy and gement. Through the BPCA Dialogue platform water security at regional level and in the be- set up under this initiative, multiple exchanges neciary countries. The Program supports natio- between delegations of Central Asian countries nal as well as cross-border activities. National have been organized and facilitated, in coope- activities, such as institutional strengthening and ration with CAREC: efciency improvements, contribute to and pre- sent fundamental building blocks to strengthen n Together with other like-minded develop- national capacity to achieve energy and water ment partners and the countries of Central security, sustainable development and climate Asia, a series of dialogues on “water as a resilience at the regional level. Furthermore and key factor for sustainable development in as regards regional or cross-border operational Central Asia” was initiated, including a ses- activities, in 2019, Switzerland continued its sup- sion at the Astana Economic Forum (May port to the Chu-Talas river basins on the automa- 2019) and follow-ups during the Stockholm tion of water accounting as well as on improving World Water Week (August 2019). glacier monitoring in Central Asia.
n Various other exchanges between country Source: Regional Water Advisor for Central Asia, representatives were organized, including Embassy of Switzerland in Kazakhstan
8.9. United States Agency for International Development
vince). The event highlighted U.S. government contributions to increase, diversify, and add value to the production, post-harvest handling, and processing of agricultural products in an effort to address malnutrition and market surplus production in southwestern Tajikistan. The United States Agency for International Deve- lopment (USAID) works across the whole Central Turkmenistan Asian region to transform water sharing problems into cooperation that would lead to better and The USAID’s Smart Waters program handed over equitable water management. a US $170 thousand dredger to the State Commi- ttee for Water Resources of Turkmenistan to Tajikistan clean up the Murghab River (10 December, Tash- kopri, Mary province). It will help prevent ooding The US Embassy, together with the Ministry of Agri- in the densely populated Mary province, as well culture of Tajikistan, government representatives as prevent mud deposits in the Mary province’s of Khatlon Province hosted an event to celebra- water reservoir. te the accomplishments of the USAID Feed the Future Tajikistan Agriculture and Water Activity USAID and the Union of Industrialists and En- over the last four years (24 October, Khatlon pro- trepreneurs of Turkmenistan (UoIE) conducted a
190 Section 8. Activities of International Partners in Central Asia
fruit tree production workshop for orchard ow- fety, basin management, irrigation and draina- ners and agronomists (24 July, Ashgabat). USAID’s ge systems, and environmental aspects of water horticulture advisor shared key techniques and resources management. technologies to sustainably maximize production of high-value fruits with high export potential such The U.S. government-funded C5+1: Adapta- as cherries, apples, and grapes. By equipping or- tion Planning project held a two-day training chard owners with horticultural best practices workshop, where the participants learned clima- and supporting export promotion, USAID and the te change adaptation planning concepts and UoIE aim to build sustainable links between principles in the areas of agriculture and disaster Turkmen producers and new target markets. risk management to prepare the country for long- term climate change (13-14 June, Tashkent). The Uzbekistan participants were encouraged to develop a timeline and to identify concrete next steps for At a workshop conducted within the “Provision of carrying out adaptation planning in priority sec- Science Based Evidence on Climate Induced tors in Uzbekistan to reach the country’s long term Water Quality Challenges in Amu Darya Basin” goals and objectives. project, scientists presented ndings demonstra- ting the negative impacts of climate change on Regional activity water quality in the Amu Darya River basin (11 Ap- ril, Tashkent). Results from the research will help USAID supported a two-day region-wide work- authorities make better-informed decisions on shop on the Concept and Prospects for a Central water use and management. Asia Regional Electricity Market (CAREM). The meeting was aimed at providing support to With assistance from the USAID Smart Waters Central Asian countries to increase regional elec- project: (1) a second joint meeting of the Uzbek tricity trading. Power sector representatives from and Kyrgyz Padshaota River Small Basin Councils all ve Central Asian countries attended the was held to help boost local governance, ow- workshop and shared their nation’s experiences nership, and cooperation over shared water re- on recent developments and current priorities in sources between upstream and downstream their respective power sectors. International ex- countries in Central Asia (22 April, Namangan); perts presented best practices of electricity mar- (2) the annual two weeks Summer School Educa- kets successfully implemented in other regions. tion Program was launched with TIIAME. The par- ticipants learned about water infrastructure, sa- Source: www.usaid.gov
8.10. World Bank
Central Asian Water and Energy Program (CAWEP)
In 2019, the Central Asia Water and Energy Prog- ram (CAWEP) continued implementation of its phase III. CAWEP is a multi-donor trust fund with a Ongoing water activities focus on the following key issues: (1) Improving management of sub-ba- total budget of US $12.4 million nanced by EU, sins that have transboundary signicance by sup- Switzerland and UK. The program development porting an investment needs assessment; (2) Mo- objective is to strengthen the enabling environ- dernizing irrigated agriculture to bring water in ment to promote water and energy security at re- the region to its most productive use or more pro- gional level and in the beneciary countries (ve ductive uses with a focus on increased aware- Central Asian countries and Afghanistan), alig- ness and development of irrigation modernizati- ning with the World Bank’s regional engagement on vision and strategies in Central Asian countri- framework that aims at strengthening connecti- es; (3) National water management by focusing vity and increasing the economic value of water on policy, advisory and technical support to be- and energy resources in the region. The long-term net regional water security; and (4) Regional vision of the program is to promote sustainable water management to strengthen the capacity development and livelihood security within the of national hydrometeorological services to bet- region. The activities fall into three thematic pillars: ter deliver useful and demand-driven information (1) Water Security; (2) Energy Security; and (3) Wa- services to key sectors including water, energy, ter-Energy Linkages. disaster risk management, and agriculture.
191 WATER YEARBOOK: Central Asia and Around the Globe
As a part of the CAWEP effort to promote natio- assessment of the existing capacity in the region nal and regional water security across Central and improvement of the academic and research Asia, two technical workshops were organized. potential. They included: a stocktaking review One focused on irrigation modernization and and mapping of water-related knowledge and the other on water supply and sanitation (No- capacity building initiatives by international vember). Both considered the shared challen- partners in Central Asian countries; a review of ges of sustainability and climate resilience, and water-related academic and research capacity both shared information and experiences in Central Asian countries; and trainings for among sector professionals. The workshops researchers to improve their technical writing skills helped promote regional cooperation at tech- for peer-reviewed journals on water and energy- nical level and identify and prioritize follow-up related issues in Central Asia. CAKN supported the activities at national levels. First Aral Sea Summer School (10-18 August, Aralsk, Kazakhstan), organized by the Central Asia Youth A brochure Towards Water Secure Sustai- for Water Network in cooperation with the Ka- nable Economies (2019) was prepared to stimu- zakh-German University. The Summer School hel- late policy dialogue across Central Asia coun- ped future water leaders better understand the tries on the risks of continuing “business as usual” situation in the Aral Sea Basin and learn more and the opportunities from pursuing alternative about nature-based solutions, ecosystem-based water development pathways. Three action disaster risk management, climate change adap- areas are highlighted: (1) Invest in water supply tation, monitoring and assessment of water use and sanitation for social stability and human efciency, and data tools for research and moni- capital development; (2) Overhaul water re- toring such as the Central Asia Water and Energy sources and irrigation management for increa- Data Platform. The Data Platform, available in sed productivity; and (3) Invest in adaptation both English and Russian, provides access to data measures to build economic and social resilien- by collecting in one location much of the existing ce to climate change. publicly available spatial data and energy and water studies (and data behind them). E-learning The focus of energy activities is to contribute video modules were successfully integrated into to national and regional building blocks for the curriculum of the master's program “Integra- energy production and trade. Ongoing analyti- ted Water Resource Management” and the mas- cal work explores new electricity production ter course “Land and Water Interaction” at Ka- opportunities in the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan zakh-German University in Almaty, Kazakhstan. and Uzbekistan and regional energy connecti- vity and market development potential. Capa- Afghanistan was included as a beneciary city building activities aim at improving sus- country for the third phase of CAWEP. Afgha- tainability of the organizational capacity of nistan’s strong interest to connect more closely CDC “Energy” as the regional power system with its Central Asian neighbors is supported operator and strengthening national instituti- through two CAWEP-nanced activities. The rst ons, so they can deliver electricity services both activity, under the Water-Energy Linkages Pillar, to national customers as well as to regional sys- focuses on strengthening collaboration between tems. CAWEP helped design important policy, Afghanistan and Tajikistan on hydromet and regulatory, and nancial reform measures for ood risk management. As a result of two mee- the power sector that informed the Program of tings, Afghanistan and Tajikistan agreed on a ro- Financial Recovery of Barqi Tojik for 2019-2025, admap for further cooperation on early warning approved by the Government of Tajikistan in system in the Pyanj River, joint assessments, April 2019, and supported preparation of an climate change modeling, studies on glaciers, innovative and transformational program for re- use of data from satellites and mountain radar sults in Tajikistan – Power Utility Financial Reco- stations, and technical capacity development very Project (US $134 million IDA grant57). (June and November). The second activity, un- der Energy Security Pillar, explores technical, ope- The Central Asia Knowledge Network (CAKN) rational, and legal requirements for Afghanistan’s continues to connect people to enhance regio- integration in the Central Asian power system and nal knowledge and professional capacity in the will facilitate a synchronization dialogue between areas of water resource management, energy Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. and climate change in the Central Asia region. CAKN supported several initiatives aimed at Source: World Bank, “CAWEP”
57 Approved on 25 February 2020
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