“Integrated Water Resources Management in the Fergana Valley” Project (“IWRM-Fergana”)

The overall objective of the project was to contribute to safer living conditions, environmental sustainability and greater social stability, while supporting rural development in Central Asian countries through improved water management, using the Fergana Valley as a demonstration area.
Key objectives

a) to test the effectiveness of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) at pilot sites with the participation of water users and facilitate its introduction within water management organizations in the Fergana Valley;
b) to demonstrate opportunities for improving water and land productivity at all hierarchical levels of water resources management.

Project area: Andijan and Fergana regions and the South Fergana Canal (SFC).
Total project cost: CHF 5.3 million.
Implementing organizations: a consortium of partners comprising the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Scientific Information Center of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia (SIC ICWC).
Implementation period: 2001–2012.

Implementation phases and results
Phase 1: September 2001 — 30 April 2002

During the initial phase, legal, institutional, financial, economic and management issues related to water resources management were analyzed in detail.

Previous experience and methodologies, as well as water management systems developed by regional, donor and national organizations, were reviewed and assessed.

The necessary documentation and institutional arrangements for the implementation of Phase 2 were also prepared.

Phase 2: 1 May 2002 — 30 April 2005

A conceptual framework for IWRM was developed and endorsed by the water management authorities of the three participating countries. A comprehensive social mobilization approach was developed to establish bottom-up management of Water User Associations (WUAs) and canals based on hydrographic boundaries. Local farmers and water users were actively involved in leadership and management.

At the pilot sites, improved on-farm water management demonstrated the potential to reduce water consumption by up to 30% and increase water productivity from 55% to 95%.

Phase 3: 1 May 2005 — 30 April 2008

IWRM principles were consolidated, and capacity-building, knowledge-sharing and training activities were implemented. Particular attention was given to strengthening vertical linkages between different levels of water management, improving water allocation and expanding public participation in management.

Cooperation mechanisms were developed from informal water-user groups and formal WUAs to main canal management and national policy levels.

At pilot canals and smaller management units, approaches were tested for moving from administrative water allocation towards demand-based water distribution, as well as towards payment mechanisms linked to the volume of water actually used.

National coordination and support groups were established in all three countries to strengthen policy support and improve understanding of IWRM approaches at the national level.

To promote IWRM and support its sustainability, the project established an effective cooperation network with similar initiatives, advisory services and local educational institutions.

In 2007, a transboundary small rivers component was added. It focused on assessing opportunities to develop transboundary water allocation mechanisms based on IWRM principles that could potentially be applied to other small rivers in Central Asia.

Phase 4: 2008 — 28 February 2011

Institutional, organizational and management approaches to IWRM were developed and tested in pilot canals, their command areas and transboundary small rivers.

The core IWRM principles were consolidated, while lessons learned and practical experience were documented to support the wider application of IWRM approaches in other parts of the region.

Phase 5: 1 March 2011 — 29 February 2012

Under government leadership and in coordination with other donors, a common understanding was developed regarding the roles and scope of IWRM institutions, from Water User Associations to canal administrations.

Key project achievements
- deeper understanding of IWRM principles among policymakers and project stakeholders;
- testing and support by the three Fergana Valley countries of the IWRM framework developed under the project;
- establishment and registration of three pilot canal management organizations based on hydrographic boundaries, with the participation of key water users in management;
- improved water distribution along canals managed by Water User Associations;
- demonstration of the benefits of a bottom-up approach to establishing water management organizations at WUA and canal levels;
- demonstration of the potential to achieve water savings of up to 30%;
- demonstration of opportunities to improve land and water productivity.

Overall, the project contributed to the development, testing and practical application of IWRM principles in the Fergana Valley. Experience from the pilot sites demonstrated the potential to improve water resources management through broader stakeholder participation, improved institutional arrangements and the use of more effective management tools.