The project includes the development of manual for representatives of River Basin Councils (RBC) and the organization of three pilot training sessions in three (of totally 8) pilot basins. The request was to
a) provide presentations on Kazakhstan progress in IWRM planning and implementation (provided by CWP Kazakhstan),
b) provide presentations on IWRM tools for institutional arrangements as recommended in the GWP ToolBox (support requested from GWP Sec) and contribute to the texts of the manuals (support requested from GWP).
c) The funder of the project is the Centre of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) – it is an organization with the primary goal of early warning, conflict prevention and crisis management (including environmental protection tier).
Training of trainers:
The working sessions were held with trainers (and co-authors of manual) discussing the aims, content and structure of training for RBC. The Kazakhstan RBCs were established in 2007 as a key component of IWRM, which is considered to be an effective means to ensure environmentally sustainable water resources management and water services provision. RBCs are advisory and consultative bodies. It means that they do not bear any authorities of command /power. Such bodies basically intend to work out and adopt recommendations for parties of Basin Agreement. Although organizational and legal issues for the establishment and further operation of RBCs are in place, practical knowledge and experience to provide competent advice are lacking. The representatives of RBCs in Kazakhstan include governmental, municipal (akimat) and non-governmental organizations including associations of water users. This training intended to
a) define what capacities are the most important to be built in RBCs,
b) introduce IWRM aspects for RBCs and
c) define specific aspects (and tools) needed in RBCs to provide advisory role to decision makers (Basin Inspectorates).
Also, I was asked to introduce the GWP mission and a new strategy. In addition, I brought to trainers several GWP TEC publications (and CDs). I made the following presentations:
- GWP role in IWRM advocacy
- IWRM introduction and GWP ToolBox – tools for IWRM implementation.
Pilot training in Taras (Shu-Talas river basin):
Totally 48 participants attended the training. They included representatives of governmental (water protection) bodies, research institutes, universities, NGOs, hydro meteorological institute, irrigation and agriculture associations, municipalities, and water utilities. All representatives of RBC took part, including representatives from Kyrgyzstan (this basin is transboundary, therefore the members of RBC also includes experts from Kyrgyzstan!!). The training consisted of theoretical part (presentations) and groups discussions. The main issues that were of interests of RBCs were.
- how to strengthen competencies of newly established RBCs
- how to provide advisory and consultation role in case of conflicts between local (municipal) urban planning and water management planning
- how to cooperate at the level of transboundary issues.
Danka Thalmeinerova made the following presentations: - IWRM concept, principles and tools
- Institutional arrangements for better WRM, focus on river basin organizations
- ToolBox case study: conflicts at local level
- ToolBox case study: conflicts and cooperation at transboundary level.
It was found that representatives of RBCs are not very familiar with the concept of IWRM; therefore, all appreciated such presentations. Also, participants found extremely interesting case studies from the GWP ToolBox that illustrated above mentioned aspects (water conflicts at local level and potentials for cooperation at transboundary level). Extremely active discussion of all participants dealt with several legal gaps (in newly adopted Water Act) that hamper a proper implementation of IWRM. It should be noted that most of critique came from lower governmental bodies (basin inspectorate) and municipalities rather than from NGOs. Also, it was noted that decisions made at local level (akimat) might impact future water resources (both demand and supply) development, as there might be different interpretations of current water legislation. It is obvious that capacity building for better water resources management is needed at municipal level. Most of participants would like to receive more knowledge on economic instruments, financing strategies, and water pricing policies – these aspects are both sensitive and not well understood at basin and local levels.
The participants agreed to write down the recommendations that will be addressed to various water agencies. As a funder of the project is OSCE, the participants will submit these recommendations to OSCE. The OSCE was asked to provide support RBCs in follow up of the recommendations. In addition, the workshop was an opportunity for members of RBC to meet (including Kyrgyz members) together in order to share and exchange experience in their particular areas. The member of RBC from NGO (Mountain Club Shabalki Manas) showed a movie on sustainable sanitation project in mountains rural area (know-how of SEI EcoResSan).
The media (local TV and newspaper) took part at the workshop.
In addition to the official program, I was invited to give a presentation to the Almaty secondary school (Vera Mustafina who is the Director of CCSD has a child in this school); the children on 15 year old age had the classes on geography and I was speaking on variation in water resources in different parts of the world. Children in this school study English, French and Chinese languages and were very active in questioning water resources issues, pollution of the planet issues and climate change. Very motivate experience for me!
Next steps:
- ToolBox Case Studies were identified to be published (with small adaptations) in the manual.
- Support to review the manual will be provided from CWP, RWP and GWP Sec.
- Case study on organizational arrangements of RBC in Kazakhstan will be developed and published in the ToolBox.
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ToolBox Case Studies were identified to be published (with small adaptations) in the manual.