While the Aral Sea Basin is closed (water is limiting), improved governance and sectoral service delivery are among the key water management challenges in Central Asia, rather than absolute scarcity. This regional programme will build on successful experiences with introducing IWRM in Kazakhstan, and aims to promote transboundary dialogue and sustainable water resources management in Central Asia through interventions (i) at national level (mainly involving Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan), and (ii) at transboundary level (mainly involving Kazakhstan and China) in parallel.

In Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the objective will be to develop and implement national integrated water resources management and water efficiency strategies (IWRM Planning) at national and basin level.  In doing this, the project will focus both IWRM governance and institutional reform, as well as on concrete interventions to improve (a) irrigated agriculture, (b) the rural water supply and sanitation situation, and (c) small-scale hydropower service delivery. In the Ili-Balkash River Basin, the main focus will be on fostering transboundary dialogue and enhance cooperation between Kazakhstan and the People’s Republic of China, aiming at improved management of the shared River Basin system and its resources. On a regional level, the programme will focus besides efficient and effective programme management and project coordination on (i) capacity building – a joint IWRM training plan with GWP, SDC and possibly other partners and initiatives is under preparation – (ii) knowledge and experience exchange as well as (iii) trans-regional trust-building and coordination interventions.

Delivery in 2009 - $7000; 2010 - $128,000; 2011 - $137,654;