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Integrated Water Resources Management
in the Ferghana Valley (IWRM-Ferghana)
TRANS-BOUNDARY SMALL RIVERS: Major events
15 May, 2009
The 2nd round of consultations on the key aspects of the Transition to IWRM Concept for pilot trans-boundary small rivers
(TSRs) and the basic steps for its implementation were held from 4 to 8 May, 2009 with the working groups representing the
key stakeholders at each corresponding part of two pilot TSRs – Khojabakirgansay and Shahimardansay.
Just to remind, a total of four working groups were established in November and December, 2008 – one per each TSR zone - following the first
round of consultations, during which the key TSR stakeholders were made aware of the project’s major achievements, methods
and approaches and initially consulted at length on a range of issues that needed consideration for proper planning of
step-wise IWRM-based institutional reforms. In particular, the TSR situation was analyzed with the following major points in
mind:
- to which extent water management in each respective TSR area is hydrographically sound (i.e. whether it met the
hydrographic principle);
- who else may have stakes in local water management apart from those already considered;
- are there any existing fora allowing effective public participation in water management decision making to include water
users and other stakeholders.
As a result of it the draft IWRM concept for pilot TSR areas was improved. Based on it preliminary action plan was prepared
for further consultations. These were then more widely discussed within IWMI as well as with SIC, SDC and those on the
ground. The draft TSR concept was also presented at the project’s annual planning workshop earlier in February 2009 and was
further improved based on the feedback provided.
All this laid the basis for the 2nd round of consultations and joint planning of the basic steps involving project staff and
the members of each respective TSR Working group. The consultations were held separately for each working group and
respective TSR area with the Kyrgyz side of the Khojabakirgan River consulted on 4 and 5 May in the settlement of Kulunda
(Kyrgyzstan), their Tajik counterparts on May 5 in the town of Chkalovsk (Tajikistan), the Uzbek side of the Shahimardan
river on 7 May in the city of Ferghana (Uzbekistan) and their Kyrgyz counterparts on 8 May in the town of Kadamjay
(Kyrgyzstan).
The format of each consultation event was two-fold comprising:
1) Detailed action planning by each respective working group with facilitation from the project staff regarding what to
establish, under what name, with what steps, within what timeframes and by whom with the following three major institutions
in mind:
- a unified operation and maintenance service unit similar to pilot CMOs under the project
- a public platform comprising all water users and other stakeholders both agricultural and non-agricultural similar to
the Unions of Water Users under the project
- a system-wide joint governance body at each TSR zone involving public and government representatives similar to Canal
Water Committees under the project.
2) Presentation of the above action plans by the members of the Working Group themselves to a wider audience of major
stakeholders for feedback, improvement and endorsement.
The only exception from this otherwise two-part event were the consultations held in the Tajik part of Khojabakirgan river
where all the required institutions had beenare already in place and functional since Phase III of the project.
In addition, to guide and facilitate the implementation of action plans made at each TSR zone each working group member was
provided with the following reference materials:
- The Transition to IWRM Concept for pilot TSR areas that was improved based on earlier feedback from key stakeholders,
and
- Brochure ”The Process of Establishing the IWRM institutions at the Main Canal Level” using the latest Right Bank Canal
example in Karasu District of Osh Province, Kyrgyzstan that provides a full set of statutory documents required for the
establishment of respective IWRM structures
Of a particular use and importance was participation of the resource persons with previous project experiences, thorough
knowledge of local water management and capacity to authoritatively provide expert opinions and clarifications on multiple
issues discussed during consultations such as Head of Batken Basin/Province Water Management Authority Mr. Mirzali Asatov,
deputy head of Sokh-Syrdaya Basin Management Authority Mr. Poziljon Rasulov and representatives of two Kyrgyz pilot canals
from the Osh province of Kyrgyzstan, Aravan-Ak-Bura Canal and Right Bank Canal, Messrs. Talay Dubanaev and R. Usekov. Their
participation was crucial in making the working group members to more clearly see the importance and role of proposed
institutional changes for TSR areas and to properly plan their actions.
Overall, as a result of these consultation and action planning events the following is hoped to be shortly achieved in the
water management of each TSR zone:
- Governance and management functions will be effectively separated
- Water users will be more empowered to take part in and influence decision making through their organization and
representatives
- Water management at small rivers will be based on joint decisions that would take into account the interests of both
water users and the government
- Operation, maintenance and financing of river system infrastructure will be more targeted and effective.
29 March, 2009
Two joint consultation workshops were held within the IWRM-Ferghana project involving operational water management staff from
both sides of the two trans-boundary small rivers (TSRs) of Shahimardansay and Khojabakirgansay.
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The purpose of the workshops was for the both sides of the two rivers to present and jointly discuss their water use plans
for the upcoming 2009 cropping season as well identify and clarify a range of other issues and situations representing their
common interest that would urge both sides of the rivers to meet each other on a regular basis to exchange information,
discuss any issues, both chronic and emerging, and take required actions and measures in a collaborative manner.
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Both sides of each TSR presented their respective water use plans for 2009 to the other side and answered questions
regarding the specifics of each others water use planning practices.
This was then followed by group activities where all the participants split into two groups by country. Each national group
effectively comprised 7 to 9 members making their contributions to the topics and issues discussed throughout the event. In
particular, the groups were invited to do the following:
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- Individually assess current water use planning at each corresponding side of the TSR with focus on the factors thought
most important when making water use plans;
- Identify major steps and dates in water use planning
- Take stock of all the situations when both sides seek contact with each other throughout the year;
- Decide whether both sides need regular communications with each other and if so jointly plan the frequency and
representations of such meetings for the 2009 cropping season.
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| Considering all issues including those with regard to water use planning and the situations when both sides seek
contacts with each other, both sides came to the conclusion that they would be better off if they met each other on a regular
basis.
Following the group analysis and discussions, both sides at each trans-boundary river agreed to initiate a Joint Working
Group to promote regular communication, coordination and exchange of information with regard to planning and implementing
water use at each respective side of the river as well as discussing other important issues of common interest. It was agreed
that the Group will meet in most critical time periods throughout the year.
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These workshops were held as part of a common strategy prepared by the IWRM-Ferghana project and the key stakeholders from
both sides of the two small rivers aiming to establish a Joint River Commission to better serve the needs and interests of
the whole basin.
18 November, 2008
Isfana and Kadamjay (Leylek District, Batken Province of Kyrgyzstan), Ferghana
(Uzbekistan)
Shahimardansay view in
Kadamjay |
Three stakeholders workshops within the IWRM-Ferghana project were held on November 12, 14 and 15 in remote
trans-boundary small rivers (TSR) locations of the project – in Isfana and Kadamjay, two Kyrgyz settlements located on the
Kygyz-Tajik and Kyrgyz-Uzbek borders, respectively, and Ferghana, a provincial center in Uzbekistan. The workshops were
conducted jointly by IWMI-Central Asia staff and country managers for each project country.
The TSR component was added to the IWRM-Ferghana project in 2007 with focus on the two trans-boundary mountain rivers -
the Hajibakirgan-say that flows from Kyrgyzstan to Tajikistan and the Shahimardan-say shared by Kyrgyzstan in
the upstream and Uzbekistan in the downstream. Glaciers are the main water sources for the both rivers. Over their full
stretch they pass through three kind of terrains - from high to medium high mountains to plane terrain. The highest was the
site of the first workshop held in Isfana, Kyrgyzstan - at the altitude of 2200 m above the sea level, about 20 km from the
closest glacier. Accordingly on our way to this location the IWMI team, traveling from Uzbekistan, had to pass several
distinct climatic conditions within a span of several hours - from the mild dry places at the foot of
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mountains with their facinating golden autumn views of multiple apricot trees gracefully turning redish, red or yellow to
darker colder and rainy terrains of mid-altitudes with no leaves whatsoever on the passing trees to really, really cold
places already full of snow.
Those who participated in the workshops included district level deputy governors, leaders of local village
governments, province and district level heads of water management organizations, chairs and directors of local water users
associations as well as individual farmers. All events were moderated by country managers for the IWRM-Ferghana project.
According to the workshop scenario the group activity part with IWMI facilitation would start from an overall evaluation
by each workshop participant of local water management and distribution, in general, in each corresponding part of the
trans-boundary river in question using flipchart and individual perceptions of all participants on the continuum between two
extremes - from being absolutely satisfied to absolutely unsatisfied. Each participant when doing evaluation was asked to do
it from the point of view of their specific hydraulic location along the river – either upstream, midstream, downstream or
basin as a whole. Following this a sample of participants representing each group of opinions was asked to provide their
specific reasons behind their overall dissatisfaction, satisfaction or a mixtur of both towards current water distribution.
| Snowy terrains mid-way
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Arriving in remote Isfana,
Kyrgyzstan |
The purpose of the workshops was to clarify problems facing each part of the trans-boundary rivers, major stakeholders in
the bordering areas and plan activities to start bringing local water management in each corresponding part of the rivers in
accordance with IWRM principles.
As a follow-up to the initial problem identification all the participants would be then divided into particular
stakeholder groups they represent such as local governments, water management organizations, WUAs and individual farmers with
some variations for each country. All such groups were asked to list all the problems that they would think of from the point
of view of their group stakes. Thus each group came up with their specific problem list which they presented during group
presentations. All
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such problems were then categorized either as organizational or technical, tabulated and tallied.
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At the backdrop of problems so identified each group was further asked to reflect on the current institutional arrangements
in local water management from the point of view of their compliance with the two basic IWRM principles of hydrographic
management and public participation . This was followed by identification of all the stakeholders concerned. Once each group
presented their views and the stakeholders list the findings were compared, aggregated and further elaborated for any further
insights from the audience to make the picture as comprehensive as possible. Thus major steps and goals were identified in
terms of bringing local water management situation in line with project experiences. Finally, participants of each workshop
were asked to nominate key organizations and their specific representatives to form a working | 
Head of Batken Province Water Dept.
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group who will be contacted for further consultations and feedback once a locale-specific draft strategy for each particular
part of the TSR in question will be prepared based on the findings and analysis of each workshop proceedings.
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