Comparison of practices

Use of water resources

Use of water resources

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Province: Osh Region

District: Kara-Suu District

Country: Uzbekistan

Province: Andijan Region

Akbura River Basin

Uzbekistan’s section of the Fergana Valley; the Kara Darya River Basin

Start date: 01.01.2007

End date: 31.12.2017

Start date: 01.01.2001

End date: 31.12.2012

Low level of coordination among WUAs – as a rule, each WUA liaises independently with its water management organization (WMO).

1. Prior to the implementation of the IWRM-Fergana Project, SFMC was managed based on the territorial principle by 3 water management organizations (WMOs): Andizhan Regional Water Administration, Operation Department of the Main Fergana Trunk Canal, and Fergana Regional Water Administration.
2. On the borders between regions and districts (especially between Andizhan and Fergana Regions (Polvontosh Hydro Section)) frequent water distribution related conflicts took place;
3. The quality of water management (uniformity, stability and efficiency of water supply) was poor.

Methods of integration and social mobilization

The hydro-graphic principle of main trunk canal management

The AAMC-WUU is an association of legal entities in the form of Union – a voluntary independent non-profit public organization uniting legal entities (i.e. WUAs) based on common interests with the aim of coordinating actions and protecting shared interests and rights.  AAMC-WUU operates as per the Charter approved at the general meeting of water user representatives, has its own stamp and bank account.

Actions:

The creation of AAMC-WUU began with the establishment of the Initiative Group (IG).  The IG consisted of active water specialists, representatives of water users and other stakeholders who saw the need to transit to IWRM.  Further on, the IG carried out social mobilization, drafted necessary documents (the Union’s Charter, etc.), organized the general meeting of water users that approved the Charter and established the Union’s Council (Board).  After that, AAMC-WUU underwent legal registration and officially launched its work.

Results:

• AAMC-WUU established, legally registered and has been operating until present time;
• AAMC-WUU contributed to the following:
  - enhanced stability and uniformity of water supply to WUAs via state WMO;
  - better collection of water supply service fees paid by WUAs to state WMO.
• Representing the interests of water users as a member of the RMC Water Committee, AAMC-WUU also contributed to decreasing conflicts between WUAs and WMO.

Actions:

Instead of 3 WMOs established based on the territorial-administrative principle, one organization (Administration of the Southern Fergana Main Canal, ASFMC) was created on the basis of the hydro-graphic principle.  ASFMC is fully responsible for maintenance and operation of the SFMC from the point of water intake to the very end of the canal (see figures).

 Results:

 Transition to the hydro-graphic principle of establishing WMOs allowed to do the following:

• sharply decrease the number of water conflicts on the borders between regions and districts;
• enhance the uniformity (fairness) of water resources distribution;
• enhance the stability of water supply;
• reduce organizational losses.

Lessons learnt:

The effectiveness of AAMC-WUU depends on internal and external conditions: capacities (financial, institutional, etc.) of its members (i.e. WUAs) and the level of democracy and market development in a given country.  In turn, the growth of capacities of AAMC-WUU members depends on AAMC-WUU performance.

Recommendation:

Currently, WUAs capacities are rather poor which is reflected in AAMC-WUA own underperformance.  Considering that WUA represent the weakest link in water hierarchy and the role of water users in addressing national food, water and environmental security needs, the government should find opportunities to support (first of all, financially) WUAs/AAMC-WUU during transition period (until they become self-sufficient).

Lessons learnt:

1. Transition to the hydro-graphic principle of establishing WMOs constitutes an institutional tool of improving the quality of water management as it allows implementing a more objective and fair water management policy less dependent on local authorities;
2. Local authorities are not interested in transiting to the hydro-graphic principle and demonstrate resistance to the process.

Recommendations:

Transition to the hydro-graphic principle should be preceded by the following:

1. comprehensive analysis of water allocation issues along the target main canal;
2. training aimed at educating water-related personnel and decision-makers on integrated water resources management (IWRM).

Foreign tools (transfer of foreign experience)

• Traditional approaches that had been applied in water management earlier;
• International project (transfer of foreign experience).

1. Cost of implementation: High

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha:

3. O&M costs: High

4. Expert support: Not needed

1. Cost of implementation: High

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha:

3. O&M costs: High

4. Expert support: Not needed

Project title: Integrated Water Resources Management in the Fergana Valley (IWRM-Fergana).

Project duration: Jan 01, 2001-Dec 31, 2012 (12 years).

Project goal and objectives: overall project goal was “to contribute to safer living, environmental sustainability and wide social harmony, to support rural restructuring in Central Asian countries by enhancing water resources management based on the example of the Ferghana Valley”.

Project beneficiaries: WUAs, farmers in project sites.

Project implementer: IWMI, SIC of the ICWC, Project Steering Committee (PSC) consisting of 3 representatives of the Ministries of Rural and Water Management (MRWM) of project target countries, 3 heads of Regional Water Administrations hosting project target sites.

Project title: Integrated Water Resources Management in the Fergana Valley (IWRM-Fergana).

Project duration: Jan 01, 2001-Dec 31, 2012 (12 years).

Project goal and objectives: overall project goal was “to contribute to safer living, environmental sustainability and wide social harmony, to support rural restructuring in Central Asian countries by enhancing water resources management based on the example of the Ferghana Valley”.

Project beneficiaries: water users and water consumers within the project site.

Project implementer: Head Water Administration Office of the MAWM of the RUz jointly with ICWC SIC/IWMI

Guidelines on IWRM streamlining, Volume 1 (Institutional Aspects), Tashkent 2011.

SIC ICWC

SIC ICWC