UNDP Project “National Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Efficiency Plan”

Background

The water use is being managed and used highly inefficient in many regions of Kazakhstan which results in frequent water shortages. Sustainable and reliable access to safe water supply and sanitation is also rather low (around 60%).

Kazakhstan is a signatory to both the Johannesburg Directive and the Millennium Declaration. A Vision for Kazakhstan toward 2030 is presented in the President’s message entitled “Prosperity, Security and Ever Growing Welfare of all the Kazakhstan’s People”. In several instances the Vision speaks about Kazakhstan’s commitment to ensure good quality water for the people and the environment to ensure health and livelihood. The new Water Code of Kazakhstan (2003) provides a first step in improving the way water is managed and water services delivered.

Kazakhstan has eight river basins; the Water Resources Committee is ultimately responsible for water management in the government. The Committee is represented in each river basin by a River Basin Organization.

Project Activities

GOAL 1: Development of a National Integrated Water Resources (IWRM) and Water Efficiency (WE) Plan

  • Inter-Ministerial Working Group on preparation of the IWRM & WE Plan established;
  • Two national public forums on IWRM organized;
  • A draft of the National IWRM & WE Plan prepared that accommodated comments of main stakeholders;
  • The capacity of the River Basin Organizations’ (RBOs) improved through trainings on data management, water quality monitoring and IWRM planning at a river basin level;
  • In cooperation with the Committee for Water Resources (CWR) an official request and justification submitted to the government of RK to include the National IWRM & WE Plan into the medium-term governmental plan for 2007.
  • A concept for the CWR information portal designed and agreed with CWR. This initiative goes in line with the National Concept of E-Government.

GOAL 2: River Basin Councils Creation

  • The first official meeting of the Balkhash-Alakol River Basin Council (the first RBC in Kazakhstan) was held on 9th of September 2005;
  • The first official meeting of the Nura-Sarysu River Basin Council was held on 21st of December 2005;
  • Based on the materials of the first meetings, four information bulletins were published: “Theoretical Basis for Creation of River Basin Councils in Kazakhstan”, “Establishment of the Nura-Sarysu River Basin Council”; “Contemporary Water Related Problems in the Balkhash-AlakolRiver Basin”; “Contemporary Water Related Problems in the Shu-TalasRiver Basin”;
  • The first official meeting of the Shu-Talas River Basin Council was held on 24th of May 2006. The short-term workplan was developed;
  • On the 29th of June 2006, in Kyzylorda city, the first offical meeting of Aral-Syrdarya RBC was held. The short-term workplan was developed. RBC clause and regulations were discussed and endorsed;
  • On the 10th of June 2006, experts of the UNDP Project took part as trainers in the workshop “NGOs involvement in creation of RBCs and preparation of Basin Agreements”.

GOAL 3 Development of a Strategy for Achieving MDG on Water Supply and Sanitation

  • Social and technical surveys on defining access to water and sanitation completed in all oblasts of Kazakhstan;
  • A National Report on “Access of the population of Kazakhstan to drinking water and sanitation” prepared;
  • Criteria for water access and sanitation of the population of Kazakhstan developed during a working group meeting on the 23rd of May 2006 in Astana city;
  • A structure of a National Strategy for Achievement of MDG on Water Supply and Sanitation prepared and agreed with CWR.

Public Awareness Activities

The project supports a campaign for raising public awareness in regard to the water situation in the country, the importance of MDGs, principles of IWRM and the importance of achieving those. For the period of 2005-2006, 107 publications were published in national and local newspapers and [HOW MANY????] video materials were broadcasted on TV.

On the 10th, 24th of June and on the 9th of July 2006, Water Days in children camps were organized. to raise awareness of children about the role and the value of water in people’s lives. Moreover, the events were used as an opportunity to teach children how water can be used efficiently. Children of various age groups – from 6 to 16 years old--participated in the events.

Additional information on the project is available on the website