National Water Resources Management Tajikistan (NWRM)


The last phase of the mandated Tajik National Water Resources Management Project-III of Syr Darya river basin will focus on sustainability and aims at improving rural livelihoods through an efficient and integrated management of water resources. The project will lead to climate resilient use, protection and development of basin water resources, improved irrigation efficiency, decreased risks of water-related disasters and allows smallholder farmers to increase incomes from agricultural production. 

Pays/région Thème Période Budget
Tadjikistan
Eau
Agriculture et sécurité alimentaire
Changement climatique & environnement
Politique du secteur de l’eau
Ressources en eau à usage agricole
Politique de l’environnement
01.12.2022 - 30.11.2026
CHF  5’640’000
Contexte The Syr Darya River is one of two main rivers of the Aral Sea Basin. It originates in the Tian Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan and eastern Uzbekistan. It flows for 2,790 kilometres west and north-west through Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and southern Kazakhstan to the northern remnants of the Aral Sea. The Syr Darya River flows over 105 kilometres over Tajik territory on an area of about 12.7 km2. This is about 4% of the total length of the river. There are about 2 million people living in the Tajikistan Syr Darya Basin area. Irrigation is the largest water user but with very low water efficiency. This is mainly due to (i) outdated and deteriorated infrastructure (ii) weak management and (iii) high energy costs for pumping irrigation schemes.
Objectifs Improved livelihoods of the rural population in the Tajik Syr Darya Basin Zone through integrated water resources management.
Groupes cibles

Direct beneficiaries of the project are the farmers in Aksu-Isfana-Tomchasay-Khojabakirgan-Arkasay-Samgar water-sheds in the Tajikistan Syr Darya Basin, especially vulnerable women and men.

The indirect beneficiaries are the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, the River Basin Organization and the River Basin Council of Tajik Syr Darya Basin Zone, the Agency of Land Reclamation and Irrigation, the Committee of Environment Protection, the Committee of Emergency Situation, the Sughd Oblast and District Local Government, the District Irrigation Agencies, and the Water User Associations. 

Effets à moyen terme

Outcome 1: The Parliament adopts the IWRM relevant elements of legislation and ensures the coherence of the legislative framework, and the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources coordinates and monitors the enforcement of this legislation.

Outcome 2: The Tajik Syr Darya River Basin Organization, River Basin Council, and basin local authorities implement IWRM at the basin, sub-basin, and watershed levels.

Outcome 3: Farmers use irrigation water effectively, and WUAs and irrigation agencies manage the systems efficiently and sustainably in a long-term perspective.

Résultats

Principaux résultats attendus:  

  • The Government adopts an amendment for integration of local socio-economic development plans in the River Basin Management Plans
  • The Ministry of Energy and Water Resources has the capacity to coordinate and monitor enforcement of IWRM legislation
  • The Tajik Syr Darya Basin Water Monitoring System provides quality data, validated, and used by the Tajik Syr Darya River Basin Organization, and integrated in the National Water Information System
  • The Khojabakirgan Integrated Watershed Management Plan is developed and the Aksu, Isfana and KB Integrated Watershed Management Plans are integrated in the sub-basin and basin planning
  • Priority Khojabakirgan Integrated Watershed Management Plan Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation measures are implemented together with additional Aksu and Isfana IWSMPs measures, including across borders
  • The irrigation stakeholders are aware of the long-term consequences of climate change and implement Disaster Risk Reduction


Principaux résultats antérieurs:  

  • The NWRM Project was the first to start Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) basin dialogues. It led to the creation of the first River Basin Councils in Tajikistan
  • Tajik Syr Darya River Basin Organization was created in June 2020 and received state financing as from September 2020
  • The Syr Darya River Basin Management Plan developed, agreed and adopted by the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources on 20 July 2022
  • The NWRM phase-I and II project successfully introduced promotion and application of watersaving irrigation technologies at farmer’s level
  • The project supported 20 Water User Associations in monitoring water distribution measurement systems


Direction/office fédéral responsable DDC
Crédit Coopération au développement
Partenaire de projet Partenaire contractuel
ONG internationale ou étrangère
Secteur privé
Institution étatique étrangère
  • Central State of South East
  • Other international or foreign NGO North
  • Secteur privé étranger Nord
  • The implementation of the NWRM-III will be mandated to the Consortium of Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation and the Agency for Technical Cooperation (ACTED). Helvetas as a Consortium leader will sign the Project agreement with the SDC and the Consortium agreement with ACTED.


Coordination avec d'autres projets et acteurs The project will work with key partners such as: the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, the Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation, the Committee of Environment Protection, the Committee of Emergency Situation, the Sugd Oblast and District Local Governments, District Irrigation Agencies, the Water User Associations and other water projects implemented in the basin (Comprehensive Water Supply and Sanitation as well as NWRM projects in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan). 
Budget Phase en cours Budget de la Suisse CHF    5’640’000 Budget suisse déjà attribué CHF    3’050’000 Projet total depuis la première phase Budget de la Suisse CHF   15’060’000 Budget y compris partenaires de projet CHF   20’060’000
Phases du projet Phase 3 01.12.2022 - 30.11.2026   (Phase en cours) Phase 2 01.12.2018 - 30.09.2023   (Completed) Phase 1 01.02.2013 - 30.11.2018   (Completed)