Integrated Water Resources Management in Kazakhstan

Integrated Water Resources Management
in Kazakhstan

About the Project

Project Documents

Events

Integrated Water Resources Management Kazakhstan

National Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Efficiency Plan for Kazakhstan (Project N 34289)

NEW!!! Tender advertisements:

“Development of methodical textbook on creation of Basin Councils in Kazakhstan”

“Assistance and consultations in creation of Basin Council in Nura river basin”

The Concept Note for the National IWRM and Water Efficiency Plan was prepared by Tim Hannan, technical advisor of the project. March 2005

Key Project Partners

Water Resources Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of RK
The Global Water Partnership (GWP)
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
The Government of Norway

What is Integrated Water Resources Management?

Over the last quarter century many countries have realized that they are, or soon will be, facing water shortages and deteriorating water quality. Analysis showed that the main problem is water resources management, in particular a fragmented approach to management.

Research and practice have proven that the most effective means of managing water resources is to integrate all the elements resulting in the approach now known as Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).

Six basic principles of Integrated Water Resources Management

The river basin is the correct administrative unit for managing water.
Water resources and the land, which forms the river basin area, must be integrated - planned and managed together.
Social, economic and environmental factors must be integrated within water resources planning and management.
Surface water and groundwater and the ecosystems through which they flow must also be integrated within water resources management.
Public participation is necessary for making effective decisions on water resources.
Transparency and accountability in decision making are necessary features of sound water resources management.

Role of key partners

The Committee for Water Resources assumes ultimate responsibility for the IWRM plan and is the lead organization in the Strategy for Achievement of Millennium Development Goals.

The Global Water Partnership facilitates the process of consultation at national and regional levels and provides technical input on the principles and practice of IWRM. It also contributes $US 320,000 in “in-kind” contributions.

The United Nations Development Programme supervises implementation of the project and facilitates a dialogue with civil society through www.caresd.net. Its financial contribution is a total of $US 100,000.

The Government of Norway provides the major portion of the project funds, at $US 1.2 million, and is committed to accelerating progress on the 2005 water management goals.