The document discusses integrated water resources management (IWRM) in Central Asia and the Caucasus region. It notes that the region can be divided into the Southern Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia) and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia). The main goal of the regional water partnership is to promote IWRM principles and support countries' efforts to implement IWRM at regional, national and local levels. Uzbekistan is a leader in implementing IWRM principles, applying them to over 1 million hectares of land and achieving annual water savings of 200 million cubic meters while increasing farm water productivity by 15-20%. The document calls

1. Integrated Water Resources Management
as a Tool Towards Water Security
Nino Chkhobadze
Chair of the Regional Council GWP CACENA
28-29 October 2014, Urgench
International Conference "Development of Cooperation in the Aral Sea Basin for Mitigation of the
Consequences of Environmental Catastrophe"

2. Regional Water Partnership
Region can geographically be subdivided into two sub-regions: The Southern
Caucasus (three countries – Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia), and Central
Asia (six countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan and Mongolia).

3. Goal of Regional Water Partnership
The main objective of the GWP CACENA is to promote the principles of
integrated water resources management and to that end:
•To determine the vital requirements of the region and countries, and to
support the Partners by linking the requirements with available resources;
•To support the efforts aimed at introduction of the integrated water resources
management at the regional, national, local and basin level;
•To develop the tools of information and experience sharing.

4. Integrated Water Resources Management
The principal efforts undertaken by national water authorities mostly addressing to
implementation of the integrated water resources management principles towards
Strategic Development Goals achievement in all nine countries.
Integrated Water Resources Management
Water Management
Water demand
administrative boundaries:
transboundary, national, province,
district, WUAs, users
Water supply
hydrographic boundaries:
basin, subbasin, system,
WUAs, end users
Setting water use rates, metering,
extension services,
meteorological services
information, modern irrigation
practices, env. requirements
Operational planning, water
delivery, water accounting,
O&M, infrastructure, water-related
disaster mitigation
Capacity & Human Resources Development
Human Resources
Development
Training &
Professional
Development
Assessment,
Indicators,
Information
Social
Mobilization
Knowledge Sharing &
Partnerships /
Networking
Scientific &
Technological
Potential
Water Governance
Strategy/Planning
Institutions
Stakeholder Participation
Law
Finance
Ethics
Water security
for people (households), food, nature, industry (incl energy)and other users

5. Uzbekistan is the leader among all countries of the region in
the scale of the IWRM principles introduction
IWRM principles are practically used on more than 1 million hectares. In
comparison, in the neighboring countries – Kyrgyz republic and Tajikistan
together the area covered by IWRM is less than 200 thousand hectares
The annual water
saving achieved
level of 200
million cub m. In
the same time,
water productivity
at the farm level
was increased by
15-20 per cent.
Total Water Withdrawal to the South Fergana Canal System
(during vegetation period: April - September)
1045,3 1000,3
914,8
748,2 761,5
908,8 883,5 917,2 948,1
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Million m3

6. Active introduction of IWRM in Uzbekistan
…began since 2003 when transition to the basin principle of water governance was
made. Today these works are supported with public participation in decision
making, promoting political will to cooperation among sectors and countries,
initiating dialogues among all stakeholders and support to practical actions at local
levels.
These efforts of Uzbekistan are supported with assistance of such international
organizations as the World Bank, the Swiss Cooperation Agency, UNDP, GIZ,
and of course, Global Water Partnership and others

7. We are grateful to Uzbekistan for recognition GWP CACENA
as a well-established regional actor
…who helps the region to solve difficult inter-state water resources issues as well as
the countries to develop an Integrated Water Resources Management approach in
policies and practices
7

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MMoorree iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn::
www.gwp.org