FinWaterWEI II projects

1. The economics of water security in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

• Implementing organisation: OECD / GREEN Action Programme Task Force  (former EAP Task Force)
• Key partners: Relevant Ministries and Governmental agencies in the countries
• 1 October 2015 - 30 September 2018

By strengthening the economic and financial dimensions of water resources management, this project will help achieve greater levels of water security in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Inter alia, the project will focus on better coherence between the agri-food and water policies, improving economic regulation of the water sector and business models in water supply and sanitation.

2. Implementation of national water and health targets in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan through National Policy Dialogues

• Implementing organization: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
• Key partners: Relevant Ministries and Governmental agencies in the field of water and health in the two countries, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe
• 1 September 2015 - 31 December 2018

Improving access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation and thus enhancing human health and wellbeing is a challenge for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The project will support the governments of these countries in revitalising and implementing their national targets in the area of water and health through developing a comprehensive action plan outlining how the countries could best realise their medium and long-term goals in line with the UNECE/WHO Protocol on Water and Health.

3. Strengthening cooperation on hydrology and environment between Tajikistan and Afghanistan in the upper Amu Darya River basin

• Implementing organisation: UNECE
• Key partners: Relevant Ministries and Governmental agencies in the countries, OSCE, Zoï Environment Network
• 1 September 2015 - 31 December 2018

The project aims at enhancing systematic and long-term cooperation on hydrology and environment between Afghanistan and Tajikistan on the Pyanj River.

4. Assessment of the water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus in transboundary river basins: The Syr Darya

(The Syr Darya nexus assessment)

• Implementing organisation: UNECE
• Key partners: GWP with Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and FAO, relevant Ministries and Governmental agencies in the countries, Civil Society Organisations and Research Institutes in the countries
• September 2014 - October 2016

The assessment resulted in presenting a broad picture of intersectoral links and in identification of concrete measures to make the use of water and related resources in the Syr Darya Basin more sustainable. The increased awareness through the consultative process and exchange of experience involving the key sector authorities contribute to a gradual shift in practices.

5. Strengthening cooperation on water quality management in Central Asia

(Water Quality in Central Asia, phase 2)

• Implementing organisation: UNECE
• Key partners: CAREC, national and regional water management organisations
• 1 September 2015 - 31 December 2018

The objective of the project is to reduce the deterioration of water quality in shared rivers of the five countries of Central Asia through improved basin-wide, regional cooperation on water quality. The project aims at institutionalising water quality cooperation in the Aral Sea basin.

6. Capacity building on surface water quality monitoring in Tajikistan

(TJK-Water)

• Implementing organisations: Finnish Environment Institute SYKE and the Committee of Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan
• Key partners: State Administration for Hydrometeorology of the Republic of Tajikistan (Tajikhydromet), Analytical Laboratory of the Committee of Environmental Protection
• 1 January 2015 - 30 October 2018

The aim of the project is to increase the capacity of the Analytical Laboratory of the Committee of Environmental Protection as well as the Surface water laboratory of Tajikhydromet in surface water quality monitoring.

Key Achievements to date (August 2016):

• Project coordination established (Project Steering Committee, Memorandum of Understanding between implementing partners);
• Field work and sampling practices learned during the first Study tour and visit of Tajik experts in Finland;
• Experiences shared on laboratory work, quality assurance practices and water monitoring database between the project and a similar institutional cooperation project in Bishkek (see #7);
• Technical upgrade of the laboratories started, essential chemical reagents, laboratory utensils and equipment provided in both project laboratories;
• Qualification trainings delivered on the methods of total Phosphorus analysis and the microbiological methods in the Analytical Laboratory. Trainings for calibration of field meters and on use of probes and sensors conducted in the Laboratory of surface water quality monitoring of Agency of Hydrometeorology.
• An introduction to environmental databases held in both laboratories and the Committee of Environmental Protection, building on the experience of Finnish data management.
• Plans made for follow-up activities during the course of the project: trainings for laboratory quality assurance, upgrade of methods and analyses as per international standards and an enhancement of the technical capabilities of the laboratories and their staff.

7. Formation of Decision-Making System Aimed at Ecological and Economic Development of Issyk-Kul Lake's Territory Based on Results of Environment Monitoring

(KGZ-Water/Issyk-Kul)

• Implementing organisations: SYKE and State Agency of Environment Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (SAEPF)
• Key partner: Agency on Hydrometeorology under the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzhydromet)
• 1 December 2014 - 30 September 2018
• More information: Project website

The main goal of the project is the creation of a decision-making system through improved environmental quality assessments in a pilot area of Issyk-Kul Oblast (Issyk-Kul Lake).

Within the project, the following products have been developed with SYKE expert support:

• Laboratory Information Management System – DigiLab. LIMS-DigiLab is a web application for automation of laboratory information and data management, including collection, processing, storage of laboratory data and automated generation of reports and protocols on the results of Lab analyses
• Structure of water resources register of the Kyrgyz Republic with complete description of climatic, physical, hydrological, chemical and other characteristics of Lake Issyk-Kul.

Other key achievements to date (August 2016):

• Capacity building trainings on quality control/quality assurance have been organized for specialists of state environmental laboratories.
• Expanded shoreline monitoring and deep water monitoring of Lake Issyk-Kul lake from research-scientific vessel ”Moltur” has been conducted.
• Preliminary reports of Lake Issyk-Kul water quality and environmental status have been prepared based on the results of the above-mentioned monitoring activities.
• Preliminary reports on Climate trends of the Issyk-Kul basin and on Issyk-Kul lake environmental status have been prepared, based on water quality monitoring results.

8. Enhancing climate resilience and adaptative capacity in the transboundary Chu Talas basin, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

• Implementing organisation: UNECE
• Key partners:  Chu-Talas Basin Commission, Department of water management and melioration under the Ministry of Agriculture and Melioration of the Kyrgyz Republic, Hydromet Kyrgyzstan, smallholder farmers, rural poor in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, United Nations Development Programme in Kyrgyzstan
• 1 September 2015 - 31 December 2018
• More information: The project's first phase  

The project will assist Kyrgyzstan, together with Kazakhstan, to improve its resilience to climate change in the field of water management and related agricultural practice by establishing a framework for regular and strategic climate change adaptation action in the Chu-Talas River Basin and enabling the Chu-Talas Commission and local authorities to facilitate climate change adaptation in the basin.

9. Enhancing resilience to the negative effects of climate change through improved water management in Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), Tajikistan

• Implementing organisation: Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)
• Key partners: Local implementing partners of the Aga Khan Development Network -  Village Organisations, Social Union for the Development of Village Organisations, Local governments, District health departments, Centers for sanitary and epidemiological control
• Target area: Rushan, Ishkashim and  Murgab districts
• 12,000 direct beneficiaries
• Duration: March 2015 – May 2017

The project will enhance the resilience of communities to the negative effects of climate change. To achieve this objective, the project is in the process of implementing or has completed the following activities to date: construction of 15 safe drinking water systems and installation of 100 hygienic toilets; construction and repair of 4 small canals; 2 riverbank reinforcement projects; construction of 3 small bridges and water points to increase access to pasture; 2 projects engaging in terracing and stabilization of unsafe slopes; 4 projects aimed at forestation of hill slopes; construction of 3 communal animal sheds to avoid that animals are roaming un-controlled;  3 projects promoting fuel efficient and energy efficient technologies, such as thermo-insulation and fuel efficient stoves of public buildings; support 10 agricultural producers with mini mechanization and equipment; and 38 capacity building events.

10. Small and safe: scaling‐up water safety planning and effective water quality monitoring in rural Tajikistan

• Implementing organisation: WHO Regional Office for Europe
• Key partners: Ministries and government agencies of the water and health sectors
• 1 June 2016 - 30 November 2018

The project aspires to support long-term uptake of risk-based management approaches in policy and practice and strengthen government capacities in delivering effective drinking-water quality surveillance, especially in rural areas. The project consists of the following building blocks:

1. Scaling-up application of water safety plans (WSP) in rural Tajikistan through

• institutional capacity building on WSPs and educating national WSP facilitators;
• implementing demonstration WSPs in ten rural communities, including providing support to managerial and infrastructural improvements;
• supporting the development of a national WSP roadmap and a national WSP guidelines

2. Developing effective and sustainable strategies to drinking-water quality monitoring in rural areas through

• Building capacities on risk-based monitoring approaches;
• Improving laboratory capacities of Sanitary Epidemiological Services to enable routine analysis of core health-relevant water quality parameters;

3. Promoting the human right to water and raising awareness on the interplay of safe water, sanitation, hygiene behavior and disease prevention.

11. Community-driven water and sanitation project, Tajikistan

(CoDWSS)

• Implementing organisation: Affiliate of the Association of Oxfam in Tajikistan
• Key partners: Ministry of Energy and water recourses, service providers, civil society
• 1 March 2015 - 31 July 2018
• More information: Oxfam in Tajikistan Facebook page

The project is contributing to the creation of an enabling environment for the sustainable provision of safe drinking water and sanitation in rural Tajikistan.

Benefiting about 7,000 children, women and men in rural areas in Ayni - a mountainous district with poor infrastructure conditions, and Rudaki - a central but largely neglected district, the project  mobilizes community organizations for the water sectors, local stakeholders (authorities and social institutions) and civil society for greater ownership, responsibility and empowerment.

Once a project area has been defined in Ayni District, it was decided to involve the existing state unitary enterprise on water supply on water and sanitation of "Sarvoda" for further operation and maintenance of drinking water supply system. Schools have been identified, where it is planned to improve the sanitary conditions, conducted focus groups to determine types of sanitary units, preferred by beneficiaries. Also, a tender was conducted to determine the contractor for construction of drinking water supply systems. Extensive work is accomplished to familiarize the community with project; initiative groups are established among the residents to support an implementation part of the project.

The work is under way in Choryakkoron Jamoat of Rudaki District on the same areas. The  rural social organization, an operator of the supply system is defined in the project area and it will monitor the operation and maintenance of drinking water supply system after completion of construction and its handover to the balance of Jamoat. Up to date, construction of the system is under progress. Schools also have been identified which were in high need for improvement of sanitary conditions, and a tender for design of latrines was undertaken. At this stage, a lot of work with the community is conducted; discussions were held about the project objectives and on sanitation and hygiene.

It should be stressed that the financial contribution of local authorities and the local community in construction of drinking water supply systems is an essential condition for implementation of the project in the target areas.

12. Securing livelihoods for vulnerable women, men and children, through their participation in community governance of water resources, and enhanced ability to use water efficiently, Kyrgyzstan

(Livelihoods through participation and equal access to water)

• Implementing organisation: UN Women
• Key partners: Rural Advisory Service Jalalabad, Local Self-government Bodies in target municipalities
• 9 October 2015 - 30 June 2018

The project aims at securing livelihoods for vulnerable women, men and children through efficient on-farm use of water and equitable community governance of water resources.

The project focuses on work in schools and with local self-governing authorities in rural Kyrgyzstan.

1. Through schools, the project will prepare girls and boys in secondary schools to value the efficient use of water, understand topical issues such as how climate change affects them, and build skills to be successful farmer entrepreneurs using scarce water and land resources efficiently and effectively.                              
2. The work with the local authorities aims at ensuring that Local Self-Government carries out its oversight functions over Water Users Associations and the equal participation of all, including traditionally excluded or vulnerable groups.

As a result, the rural population (in particular women and girls) are empowered to productively use limited on-farm water resources for starting to build livelihoods in an environment where communities appreciate inclusion and water conservation. This, in turn, will make people in the communities healthier and more prosperous.

With the inception phase completion in March 2016, the project sites are selected and activities have commenced.  

13. Capacity Building of the Kyrgyz Republic on Son-Kul Lake status assessment for environmentally sustainable development (KGZ-Water/Son-Kul)

(to start later in 2016)

• Project status: inception phase (agreement pending)
• Intended (planned) implementing organisations: SYKE and the State Agency of Environment Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (SAEPF)
• Intended (planned) key partners: other state authorities dealing with Project related issues and environmental NGOs
• September 2016 - September 2018 

The proposed main goal of the project is the improvement of the capacity of the Kyrgyz Republic (incl. citizens) to assess the status of national water bodies for environmentally sustainable development and improved livelihoods - the Son-Kul Lake being a case study.