Component «Small Rivers»

«Sustainable water resources management of transboundary small rivers in Fergana Valley» (Component «Small Rivers» of Project «IWRM-Fergana»)

1. Introduction. As is well-known, use of water from transboundary rivers in Central Asia encompasses a huge conflict potential. Issues related to equitable water allocation between the regional states and to their mutually beneficial use are kept in view of the Heads of Central Asian state and form an integral element in national and regional policies, being an object of close attention of the international organizations.

2. Problem. During years of independence, major attention and attempts of the Central Asian Governments and of international organizations were focused on equitable interstate water allocation in the large rivers in the Aral Sea basin such as Amudarya River and Syrdarya River (regional level). At the same time, an issue of sustainable management of transboundary small rivers (TSR) in Central Asia is of the same importance (local level). At present, the interstate water allocation along the Amudarya and the Syrdarya is, to a considerable degree, well-ordered and is observed in contrast to water resources distribution in TSR between border areas of neighboring countries.

        The problem of equitable water resources distribution in TSR in Central Asia exists in Fergana Valley (between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan), in Tashkent oasis (between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan), Kopedag area (between Turkmenistan and Iran, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan). The problem of water management in TSR is particularly acute in border areas of neighboring countries in Fergana Valley, where solution of the problem affects local communities of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In Fergana Valley, the main TSRs are Isfairamsai, Shakhimardansai, Akbura, Aravansai, Sokh, Isfara, Mailisai, Padshaata, Chartaksai, Kasansai and Khodjabakirgan. The interstate water allocation volumes for TSR in Fergana Valley were established and agreed by Parties and set in 1980 by appropriate Protocols of the Ministry for Water Resources and Land Reclamation of USSR (centralized).

      Water management in TSR was greatly complicated in recent decade due to population growth and new land development in river upstream areas (mainly in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan). The earlier achieved agreements on water use in TSR and water allocation situation are complicated in dry years. Breach of the established water allocation, in general, results in intensification of social tension in border areas located in TSR basins that can be easily transform into international conflicts.

In this context, initiation and support of the idea on working out TSR water resources management in Fergana Valley by the Swiss Agency on Development and Cooperation within the Project «IWRM-Fergana» should be recognized as timely and exceptionally important.   

3. Relation to the IWRM-Fergana Project. At the present time Phase III of “Integrated water resources management in Fergana Valley” (“IWRM-Fergana”) is being implemented and covers the period 1 May 2005 - 30 April 2008. The Project objective is to improve water resources management effectiveness through IWRM principles introduction in pilot sites of Fergana Valley located within the territory of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The problem of water management in TSR directly affects the project area of IWRM-Fergana where water availability in the pilot canals such as Aravan-Akbura (Kyrgyzstan), Khodja-Bakirgan (Tajikistan), and South-Fergana (Uzbekistan) depends, though to different degrees, on inflow from border areas of neighboring countries located in TSR upstream (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan). Efforts on implementation of IWRM principles in the project area would be mocked if transboundary aspects of IWRM are not studied in Fergana Valley.  

4. Component coverage is two pilot TSRs –  Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan relating directly to irrigation infrastructure, covered by «IWRM-Fergana» Project, and in particular - to pilot canals «Aravan-Akbura» (Kyrgyzstan), «Khodjabakirgan» (Tajikistan), «South-Fergana» (Uzbekistan).

Component «Small Rivers» will facilitate to achieve the overall objective of «IWRM-Fergana» Project through working out legal, institutional, financial, technological, technical and other aspects of water allocation with involvement of wide public and local communities in border areas of neighboring countries (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) into this process.

5. Objective: «To provide sustainable water resources management of transboundary small rivers (TSR) in Fergana Valley based on IWRM principles».

6. Implementation period. The Component will be implemented during the period January 2007 – April 2008 (the end of Phase III of «IWRM-Fergana» Project). Activities on the Component will contain results, which are really achievable within given time space. SDC has been proposed to limit intervention to 2-3 pilot TSRs relating to «IWRM-Fergana» Project countries (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan). The experience on establishing joint River Commission will be used when implementing the Component for introduction of IWRM principles at basin level for transboundary rivers Chu and Talas flowing within the territory of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

7. The main objectives and measures. Three main objectives should be resolved when implementing the Component and measures should be realized for their solution:

7.1. Objective А: «Studying the status of water allocation and preparing legal frameworks for Transboundary Small Rivers (TSR) water allocation». Planned measures for resolving the objective:

    - Analyzing the status of water allocation from TSRs Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan;

        - Assessing the status of TSR water infrastructure (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) in border regions and determining a scope of work to improve it;

        - Studying legal aspects of interstate distribution of TSR water resources in IWRM-Fergana Project area;

        - Developing the principal provisions on IWRM introduction in TSR basins (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan).

7.2. Objective В:  «Preparing conditions for creating organizational structures for TSR water resources management». Planned measures for resolving the objective:

        - Mobilizing main stakeholders for supporting proposals for improvement of TSR water resources management (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan);

       - Organizing and holding roundtables and consultations on developing a concerted view on  TSR water allocation (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan);

       - Developing proposals for establishing Commissions on TSR water resources sharing (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) comprised of representatives from main stakeholders;

       - Developing draft Provision on Commission and draft Agreement on general principles of TSR water resources sharing (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan).

7.3. Objective С: «Capacity building of main coordination commissions and monitoring the process». Planned measures for resolving the objective:

- Conducting trainings for key stakeholders;

- Discussing proposals on selecting TSR basins (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) for IWRM experience adaptation with key stakeholders;

- Creating a database and an information system for TSR (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan);

         - Raising awareness and disseminating experience.

8. Partners and allocation of responsibilities. Component objectives are resolved by association of SIC and IWMI. As a whole SIC ICWC resolves Objectives А and С, IWMI – Objective В. SIC ICWC and IWMI assist each other in resolving objectives on the Component. In particular, the issues on developing draft Provision on Commissions and draft Agreement on TSR water allocation (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) with participation of water users and other key stakeholders, establishment of Basin Commissions for these rivers, introduction of IWRM principles within command areas of selected TSR and a number of others will be investigated jointly and under active involvement of key stakeholders. At that IWMI mainly engages in the issues on social mobilization, organization of negotiations between key stakeholders and institutional aspects, SIC ICWC – in particular, technical, technological and legal aspects.

9. Workshops. It is planned to hold (excluding Work Meetings) 5 workshops:

1. Introductory workshop – trilateral (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan). Tentative date – April 2007.

2-4 . Current workshops – bilateral (Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan, Tajikistan-Uzbekistan). Tentative dates: September-October 2007.

5. Final (trilateral). Tentative date: January 2007.

Executors of Component «Small Rivers» also take part in workshops and work meetings held within «IWRM-Fergana» Project for all components.

10. Expected results. It is planned to gain the following results:  

10.1. Regarding Objective А:

1.  A comparative analysis on normative and actual water allocation of TSR flow (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) for 1980-2005 was prepared.

2. Command areas with taking water from main canals and from TSR (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) were specified, crop irrigation schedule and crop pattern were analyzed in these areas.

3. The key stakeholders were identified and their view on water allocation from TSR (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) was revealed.

All materials prepared regarding results 1-3 will be discussed with the key stakeholders.

4. Status of water measurement and account, systems of information forecast and exchange for TSR (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) was evaluated and proposals on their improvement were developed.

Priority work scope regarding result 4 will be determined and agreed for introducing into planned measures and proposals on dates of their implementation have been given.

5. The tentative recommendations on improvement of existing legal framework on TSR water allocation or creation of new one were developed.

The recommendations regarding result 5 will be discussed with the key stakeholders.

6. The rationale on introduction of IWRM principles in TSR basins (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) was developed for the next period (2008-2011).

7. The recommendations on «IWRM–Fergana» Project experience adaptation were developed for TSR basins (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan).

8. IWRM composition for TSR basins was determined (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan).

9. The tentative proposals on «IWRM–Fergana» Project experience adaptation were developed for TSR basins (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan).

The rationale and recommendations regarding results 6-9 will be discussed with key stakeholders.

10.2. Regarding Objective В:

1. The survey of main target groups was carried out and the key stakeholders' awareness on TSR water resources management improvement (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) was created.

The views regarding result 1 will be revealed and the main target groups' awareness on investigated issues was achieved.

 2. The dialogue on TSR water resources distribution (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) was organized at different management levels as a basis for starting the negotiation process on shared TSR water resources use.

Agreed opinion regarding result 2 on need of improvement of legal framework on TSR water allocation in Fergana Valley will be worked out.

3. The proposals on number, staff and structure of Commissions on TSR water resources management (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) and their executive bodies on TSR water resources management (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) as technical joint committees were developed.

The proposals on number, staff and structure of Commissions are being developed in collaboration with the key stakeholders.

The proposals regarding result 3 are being agreed with representatives of border provinces and water management organizations.

 4. Draft Provision and Draft Agreement on TSR water sharing (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) were given to the key stakeholders for discussion.

5. The proposals and comments to draft Provision and draft Agreement on TSR water sharing (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) were received.

Prepared draft Provision on Joint Commission and draft Agreement on TSR water sharing (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) regarding results 4-5 are submitted for agreeing with the representatives of respective Parties.

        10.3. Regarding Objective С:

1. Trainings on the following issues were held:

- international and national water right in the context of TSR water use;

- conflicts and their resolution;

- exchange of hydrological information and forecast;

- databases;

- technical provision of water infrastructure with equipment;

- communications and others.

The reports on trainings and proposals of training participants regarding result 1 are submitted to «IWRM-Fergana» Project Direction for consideration.

2. Meetings on selecting TSR basin (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) for «IWRM–Fergana» Project experience adaptation for prospect (2008-2011) were held with key stakeholders.

It is planned to receive the rationale on selection of TSR basins (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) regarding result 2 for IWRM experience adaptation and to approve this selection by key stakeholders and «IWRM-Fergana» Project Direction.

3. Database structure was agreed and preliminary database population on TSR (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) was carried out and proposals on creation and improvement of information system on TSR (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) were developed.

The database structure and content, proposals on information system on TSR (Shakhimardan and Khodjabakirgan) regarding result 3 are submitted to key stakeholders and «IWRM-Fergana» Project Direction for agreeing.

4. Materials on the Component activity were prepared and disseminated.

Regarding result 4 web-site on «Small Rivers» Component of «IWRM-Fergana» Project will be opened; press-releases will be published periodically (quarterly) as well as other materials will be disseminated in hard copy (paper form).

The main results on Component activity will be reported to ICWC members.

11. Relations with other projects funded by the SDC. It is supposed to use experience from the Project “Regional Dialogue and Development” (subproject “Water as a Way to Peace” (2005-2006). The activities will be carried out with account of and for development of the positive results achieved under the mentioned and other related projects funded by SDC in Central Asia.

12. Resources for implementation of the Component (personnel and staff, transport, equipment and materials, financial resources) are determined by partners and agreed with SDC.

13. Perspective. It is planned to develop the next possible component phase IV of «IWRM-Fergana» Project in LogFrame based on the results on the Component «Small Rivers» during the period January 2007 – April 2008.

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