This document outlines the execution arrangements for a project on groundwater management in the Syr Darya transboundary basin between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) will provide funding support through the implementing agency UNDP and executing agency UNESCO IHP. A project management unit will oversee national teams in each country and coordinate with steering committees, national governments, and a science advisory panel. Key discussion points focus on ensuring country ownership and participation through inter-ministerial coordination on water, energy, food, and environment issues.

1. Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Kazakhstan
GROUNDWATER
MANAGEMENT
IN
THE
SYR
DARYA
TRANSBOUNDARY
BASIN
PROJECT
EXECUTION
ARRANGEMENTS
by
ANDREA
MERLA
PROJECT
PREPARATION
PHASE
INCEPTION
MEETING
Paris
–
February
3-­‐4,
2014

2. The
Global
Environment
Facility
-­‐
GEF

3. The
GEF
ImplemenQng
Agency:
the
United
NaQons
Development
Program
–
UNDP
The
Project
ExecuQng
Agency:
UNESCO
IHP
UNDP
responds
to
the
GEF
for
project
performance
and
delivery
and
overall
administraQon.
GEF
IAs,
in
cooperaQon
with
selected
ExecuQng
Agencies
like
UNESCO,
are
responsible
for
creaQng
project
proposals
and
for
managing
GEF
projects.
The
GEF
Agencies
play
a
key
role
in
managing
GEF
projects
on
the
ground;
more
specifically,
GEF
Agencies
assist
eligible
governments
and
NGOs
in
the
development,
implementaQon,
and
management
of
GEF
projects.

4. STEERING
COMMITTEE
GEF,
NATIONAL
FOCAL
POINTS,
UNDP,
UNESCO
PROJECT
CommunicaFon
Science
Advisory
SUPERVISION
Specialist
Panel
UNESCO
IHP
Hdqs.
PROJECT
MANAGEMENT
UNIT
Regional
Coordinator
&
Support
Staff
NATIONAL
TEAMS
Kazakhstan
Tajikistan
Kyrgyzstan

5. GEF
UNDP
UNESCO
Kazakhstan
NaFonal
Ministries
and
water
agencies
Project
Tajikistan
NaFonal
Ministries
and
water
agencies
Kyrgyzstan
NaFonal
Ministries
and
water
agencies

6. GROUNDWATER
MANAGEMENT
IN
THE
SYR
DARYA
TRANSBOUNDARY
BASIN
For
discussion:
Does
the
overall
execuQon
arrangements
saQsfy
the
need
for
country
ownership
and
parQcipaQon?
Are
countries
ready
to
create
inter-­‐ministerial
bodies
to
fully
address
the
water
–
energy
–
food-­‐
environment
nexus?
Should
there
be
a
Joint
Core
Group
as
counterpart?
Should
it
be
the
InformaQon
Exchange
Mechanism?
PROJECT
PREPARATION
PHASE
INCEPTION
MEETING
Paris
–
February
3-­‐4,
2014