1) SWaRMA is a joint project between the governments of Afghanistan and Australia, ICIMOD, and CSIRO to strengthen water resource management in Afghanistan. 2) Key activities included training partners in GIS, establishing a water information system, conducting water availability assessments, and creating an Afghanistan chapter of the University Institute for Water and Environment to increase science-based collaboration. 3) The project worked to co-create knowledge with Afghan partners and establish governance structures and partnership platforms to discuss water resource issues.

1. CONTRIBUTION OF SWaRMA IN CO-CREATING
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
27 Jan 2019
Neera Shrestha Pradhan, PhD, MSc, BE (Civil)
Programme Coordinator-SWaRMA
Senior Water and Adaptation Specialist
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

2. • 2006 onwards: ICIMOD and partners assist Afghan organizations to
enhance capacity in GIS to contribute in the country’s rebuilding process
• February 2007: The Afghanistan Country Office opened, and in June 2011,
was accorded semi-diplomatic status by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Partnership with organizations in Afghanistan (2013-2016)
Source: ICIMOD’s partnership report, September 2016
Afghanistan Country report HUC reportRP3 report

3. Key Issues:
1. Research & Knowledge
Production
2. Capacity Enhancement
3. Mountain Hazards and
DRR
4. Natural Resource and
Water Management
5. Development of an
integrated information
platform
6. Gender gap
Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

4. Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

5. 2. Cryosphere
monitoring
1. Water
availability
assessment
Assessment level
3. Flood
monitoring
5. Water
resources
assessment at a
basin scale (tool
and information
system)
4. Integrated
Planning and
Management of
Water Resources
Planning level
7. Better
positioning of
key institutions
with regards to
issues related to
regional
cooperation
6. Water
Information
System of
Afghanistan
Institutional level
Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

6. Scale of operation
Regional Level
- Regional Cooperation
- Discussion Platforms
National Level/Basin Scale
- Water Availability
Assessment
- Integrated river basin
management
- Water Information System at
sub-basin/basin level
Site Specific
- Cryosphere Monitoring
- Flood Monitoring
Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

7. Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

8. March:
Inception w/s
Feb:
Contract signed ICIMOD-Govt of Aus
April:
UIBN Regional meeting +
UIBN Afghanistan Chapter
May:
Regional Hands on
training on CBFEWS
July:
Steering Committee,
Technical Coordination
Committee, Theory of
Change, Partnership
meetings
Oct:
1st UIBN-AC meeting
Oct/Nov:
J2000 training
Nov/Dec:
Glacier monitoring
training
Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

9. • Naming of the Project: SWaRMA
• Joint project of the Governments of Afghanistan and Australia, ICIMOD and CSIRO
• MEW as focal ministry
• Governance Mechanisms: Steering Committee; Technical Coordination Committee; Focal
persons; Programme Management Unit
• Co-creating knowledge and learning for water resources management
Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

10. • Gave the mandate to SWaRMA to
initiate UIBN-Afghanistan Chapter to
increase opportunities for science-
based collaboration
Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

11. 4 participants from Afghanistan participated and CBFEWS initiated
with FOCUS/AKAH Afghanistan and Afghanistan National Disaster
Management Authority; discussions ongoing with MEW
Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

12. • Agreed upon the work plan for 2018/2019 with inputs from Technical Coordination
Committee
• SWaRMA Governance structure endorsed by Steering Committee
• Clarity on roles and responsibilities and partnership modality
• Finalized the Theory of Change
Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

13. 15 participants (2 women) is participating in the J2000 training workshop.
Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

14. • UIBN-Afghanistan Chapter team members nominated
• Foreseen as a credible network to enhance the quality of science based research
and a think tank in the country for the thematic areas.
• Partners prioritized the sustainability of this network beyond the project period.
Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

15. Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

16. •
•
•
•
•
•
•
Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

17. • Project planning was done together with the Afghan partners from the
inceptions phase to co-create knowledge and to achieve result based
outcome
• Partnership platform to discuss about water resources management where
multiple government partners come together
• UIBN-AC owned by the partners in Afghanistan and supported the
partners to provide science based information and prepare them to bring
their voice forward in a regional forum
Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

18. Jan:
Water Information System
Jan:
UIBN and UIBN-AC
meeting
Jan:
eWater Source training
Jan/Feb:
IRBM training workshop
Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)

20. • Clarity on future strategies and actions beyond the 2-year project period
• 80% of project objective/outcome is achieved
• Established and functional partnership engagement mechanisms
• Appropriate work management model and applications available
• National partners explore opportunities to transform the project outcome towards
a longer-term engagement with other relevant stakeholders
Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA)