Goals and Objectives of Phase IV.

The overall goal of the project is contribution to more secure livelihoods, increased environmental sustainability, and greater social harmony, through improved effectiveness of water resources management in the Ferghana Valley. This overall goal of the project remained unchanged for all previous phases of the project and remains valid for this phase, too.

Three specific project objectives have been identified for phase IV:

A: Pilot Areas and selected TSR function according to IWRM principles. Approaches are consolidated and ready to be promoted in other areas of the region.

B: Governments and donors follow the same principles concerning the roles and scope of IWRM institutions from WUA to basin level.

C: There is clarity on financial and economic aspects as well as the ability to pay at the different operational and management levels.

Besides achieving these specific objectives during phase IV of the project, the following outcomes shall be achieved.

Within the pilot areas, modern water governance policies, appropriate institutional arrangements involving all water stakeholders shall be finalized. Institutional and organizational structures and related management procedures shall be consolidated, documented and further scaled up to basin levels. A similar outcome is expected, in respective trans-boundary river basins. All institutions developed through the project within it’s perimeters shall manage, distribute water and operate within identified hydrographical boundaries. Thereby reducing organizational losses in the irrigation system, the efficiency and effectiveness of the new management system shall be proved. It is expected to have a clear understanding of financial and economic implications of the project innovations, including ‘ability to pay’, and ‘who should pay for what’, etc. The creation of innovative mechanisms, putting into practice proven technological procedures and having a clear picture of economics of them as a whole should help create a common vision on WUA/WUG among collaborating countries and donors supporting the water sector in those countries. A proactive promotion of achievements and sharing of knowledge generated by the project among other water sector donors should lead to effective and sustainable institutional changes towards demand oriented, volume based water allocation and management. This common vision and approach should lead to institutional, organizational and management consolidation and promotion of IWRM principles within the Central Asian region.