Promoting IWRM and Transboundary Dialogue in Central Asia

1. Promoting IWRM and Transboundary Dialogue in Central Asia Natalia Alexeeva, Water Programme Coordinator for Central Asia Jürg Staudenmann, Water Governance Advisor International Coordination Meeting Responding to the Compound Crisis in Central Asia: A Framework for Action Almaty, Kazakhstan, 20-21 July 2009

2. Key Messages / Outline Common Water Framework Central Asia Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty In addition to short-term, long-term interventions(“development”) are necessary to achieve CARRA objectives • UNDP-EC programme “Promoting IWRM and Fostering Transboundary Dialogue in Central Asia” • Aras of interventions / Studies, processes and synergies Partnershipsenhance efficiency (more results/$) and effectiveness (more sustainable impact) • Emerging partnerships and joint programming For that, coordination is key ! • Central Asia Water Sector Coordination Initiative (CAWSCI) • Summary and Next steps Jürg Staudenmann, UNDP Bratislava - 18 Nov 2008 2

3. EmergingChallenges • The hydrological settings • Complex institutional and legal frameworks • From a “Water-Energy-Nexus” towards Integrated Water, Energy and Food Security • Climate Change • The emerging financial crisis Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty

4. UNDP’s responses • Improved, integrated water governance (IWRM) • Focus on national, non-divisive action instead of transboundary, complex trade-offs • The need for a concerted approach amongst the partners • All with a vision to potentially embark onto a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP) in the Central Asian Water Sector in the long-term Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty

5. Addressing the need in IWRM – Joint UNDP-EC IWRM Programme • Name - “Promoting IWRM and Fostering Transboundary Dialogues” • Aims to promote Integrated Water Resources Management and Foster Transboundary Dialogue in Central Asia through interventions mostly at national and local-transboundary level. • Partners: UNDP (BRC/Almaty hub and relevant country offices – implementing agency), EC, Norway • Duration: 2009-2012, inception phase in 2009 and full-scale operations since 2010. • So far covering Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on the national level, Kazakhstan (and, potentially, China) – on the basin level (Ili-Balkhash), aiming at coordination with IWRM UNDP project in Uzbekistan and relevant activities in Turkmenistan. Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty

6. Areas of intervention under the IWRM Programme • Rural water supply and sanitation • Water-health and sanitation aspects • Small-scale hydropower solutions • Irrigation efficiency • Groundwater’s use and interrelations with surface waters • Climate change resilience/adaptation • Capacity building Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty

7. Expected outcomes • In Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - development and implementation of IWRM and Water Efficiency Strategies at national and basin level • including concrete interventions to improve the situation of irrigated agriculture and living conditions of people in rural areas, • with special attention to water supply, sanitation, and energy service delivery, • cooperative activities in selected transboundary river basins (such as Zerafshan). • In the Ili-Balkash River Basin - transboundary dialogue and enhanced cooperation between Kazakhstan and the People’s Republic of China. • implementation of IWRM principles in the shared basin via support to joint transboundary planning, information sharing and operations. • At regional level – • a joint IWRM training plan with GWP, SDC and possibly other partners and initiatives, • knowledge management and experience exchange support, • trans-regional trust-building and coordination interventions. This Programme will be implemented in close cooperation with UNDP Uzbekistan and UNDP Turkmenistan projects/activities on IWRM, in order to stimulate the regional perspective and transboundary cooperation in shared basins. Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty

8. Emerging partnerships and joint activities • Swiss SAC and GTZ – Zeravshan valley • EC – funding partner, “Water Governance” project and coming groundwater projects • Norway – funding partner, water& health aspects • HRBA to WG – Tajikistan assessment and, potentially, pilot projects • CARRA – Almaty hub & water-related UNDP activities • IFAS – expert support to Actions Programme and possible capacity assessment • ENVSEC – monitoring & water quality and climate adaptation • CPR – Isfara region Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty

9. Processes, studies and synergies • IWPM Programme/UNDP products/deliverables: • Small-scale hydropower feasibility review for CA • Water& sanitation situation in Tajikistan • Situation assessment in HRBA in Tajikistan • Climate change adaptation needs assessment in CA (national strategies) • Joint capacity building strategy (SDC-GWP) • Labour-intensive approaches towards rehabilitation of water/irrigation infrastructure (in discussion process) • Other third-party processes/concepts to build on • NDP in Kyrgyzstan (UN ECE) • Financing feasibility studies (OECD and EAP Task Force) • Tajik small-scale hydropower strategy (UNDP Tajikistan) • SIVA process in Tajikistan (UNDP Tajikistan) Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty

10. Coordination mechanisms and tools – CAWSCI (name) • Start: Jan 2008, Kyrgyzstan EUWI “NPD kick-off meeting” • 3 new projects with similar topics | goals | approach: • UNECE (IWRM NPD) • OECD EAP Task Force (WSS NPD) • UNDP/EC (new IWRM & transboundary dialogue programme) • Need for a coordinated approach • Insight that proper alignment brings synergies (e.g. build on each others results) • PLUS Kyrgyz request to fully coordinate interventions Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty

11. Considering: Norway Italy Romania Cap-Net / GWP FAO USAID … EAP Task Force Initiative Status The partners to date SDC World Bank GTZ CAREC Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty

12. Initiative Status:8+ Processes | Initiatives • Central Asian Regional Risk Assessment (CARRA) • EUWI – EECCA Working Group • The Kyrgyzstan National Policy Dialogue (NPD) • The Turkmenistan National Policy Dialogue • The Tajikistan National Policy Dialogue • The German “Water Unites” Initiative • EU Regional Environment Programme • Joint IWRM Capacity Building Programme … Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty

13. Initiative Status (15 May 09): 100+ Projects • UNECE/OSCE: Transboundary Cooperation in the Chu-Talas River Basin • UNECE: Roadmap of the Kyrgyz National Policy Dialogue (NPD) on IWRM • OECD – EAP Task Force: Roadmap of the Kyrgyz NPD on Financing Urban and Rural WSS in the Kyrgyz Republic • UNDP/EC (tbc): “Promoting IWRM and Strengthening Transboundary Dialogue in Central Asia”) • UNDP (Uzbekistan): “National Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and Efficiency Plan for Uzbekistan” • UNDP (Tajikistan): “Establishing a dialogue involving all key stakeholders to improve implementation and sustainability of rural drinking water projects” • UNECE/UNEP: Enhancing regional exchange of water resource information (CAREWIB phase II) • The European Commission programme in Central Asia • EC: “Water Governance in Central Asia” • CAREC/EC: “Harmonization and Approximation of Water Standards and Norms in Central Asia” • EC: Regional Environment Programme • EC/World Bank: “Ust Kamenogorsk-Environmental Remediation Project • EC: “Developing Sustainable Hydro Technology in Kyrgyzstan” (under preparation) • CAREC: “Local multi-sectoral efforts for the CAI Water Dialogue” • German Foreign Ministry / GTZ: “Water Unites” – Central Asian programme & projects (tbc) • Nato (ENVSEC): Microbiological safety of drinking water • UNECE (ENVSEC): Dam safety in Central Asia: capacity building and sub-regional cooperation • PRELIMINARY ENTRY (TBC BY ADB) ADB: “Improved Management of Water Resources in Central Asia II” • UNEP/UNDP (ENVSEC): Amu Darya Assessment of Environment and Security Linkages and Impact • UNEP/UNDP (ENVSEC): East-Caspian Assessment of Environment and Security Linkages and Impact • ... Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty

14. Identified Commonly Shared objectives Support Central Asian countries to • introduce IWRM & build capacity at all 3 levels • Analyze / Identify priority goals at national & regional level • Plan & Implement policy reform • Strengthen capacity on WSS infrastructure planning • Design and implement Integrated River Basin Plans • Mobilize and effectively allocate financial resources for reaching water-related MDGs • Promote transboundary water dialogue Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty

15. Identified Commonly Shared Strategic approaches • Approaching transboundary and divisive themes from a national and mutually beneficial angle • IWRM approach • EUWI NPD linked to concrete implemen-tation on the ground Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty

16. Summary and next steps • IWRM Programme • Inception phase (2009): • National planning and workshops (Sept-Oct) • Regional inception workshop and SC meeting (Nov) • Implementation of the Programme (2010-2012) • CAWSCI updates and contribution to the coordination activities and mechanisms • Joint workshop with EC on Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP) • Other cooperative initiatives and ideas in CA Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty

17. Thank you! www.undp.org http://WaterWiki.net

18. It AIMS at: Describe partners and their work (who does what) Map & analyze existing approaches & initiatives A “living document” | process Constantly growing & updated Under periodic revision based on partners consultation A tool to support partners Offer orientation Identify opportunities for cooperation Promote synchronization Quick | flexible | (almost) real-time …the beginning of a SWAP? It’s NOT: Not an attempt to define partners’ roles and responsibilities No direct ambition to develop any new strategies or projects Not a “publication” Not final at any point No “set-in stone” provisions No legally binding framework (MoU or the like) which would rather restrict partners or their activities vis-à-vis others Avoiding to be constantly outdated due to “correctness” (endorsement & approval processes) Summary: What the initiative aims at (and what not) Juerg Staudeman&Natalia Alexeeva, 20 July, Almaty