Implementing organisation: UNECE

Duration: 2019 – 2022

Total budget: € 600,000 funded by the EU

Project partners: OECD for specific activities

Location: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

Keywords: NPDs, Water Cooperation, Integrated Water Resources Management in Central Asia

Contract number: 407-831

Key challenges the project helps to address

Growing demands create pressures on ecosystems and climate change pose immense risks to water security and quality in Central Asia. These risks, along with additional challenges resulting from population growth and increased pressure on resources require Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approaches and wise water management strategies.

Project Objective

The project will be implemented as part of the European Union-Central Asia Water, Environment and Climate Change Cooperation (WECOOP) programme with the objective to enhance IWRM and inter-sectoral coordination for water security at the national level in Central Asian countries to support sustainable development. Enhancing water policies at national levels and approximating them to EU standards and promoting green investments in the water sector in Central Asia are specific objectives of the project.

The project aims at sustaining and further strengthening the on-going intersectoral processes of the European Union Water Initiative (EUWI) NPDs in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. A robust analytical basis will substantiate policy dialogues through "policy packages" defined at the national level and focused on priorities selected by the national governments. Water quality issues in a transboundary context, including with regards to preventing accidental water pollution, are expected to feature high among the priorities. In Turkmenistan, discussions will be organized to re-launch the NPD process. In Uzbekistan, the option of launching an NPD process will be explored.

Methodology

The 3-month long Inception Phase will involve the UNECE's meetings with lead ministries/agencies in charge of NPD processes in Central Asia. The EU Delegations, national governments and relevant donors will be constantly involved in the policy dialogue. During the Inception Phase, country workplans will be drawn, followed by 33 months of implementation.

Expected results

• Water "policy packages" prepared for discussion at regular EU Water Initiative (EUWI) National Policy Dialogue meetings
• National Policy Dialogue Steering Committee and Working Group meetings operational in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
• EU Water Initiative National Policy Dialogue (re)launched in Uzbekistan and/or Turkmenistan
• Investment project ideas developed for the water sector