UNDP Uzbekistan

The World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg 2002, recognized the importance of integrated water resources management (IWRM) in meeting sustainable development goals. The Summit Implementation Plan calls for nations to develop integrated water resources management and water use efficiency plans by 2005, with support to developing countries, through actions at all levels. Paragraph 26(c) of the Plan states that countries should “Improve the efficient use of water resources and promote their allocation among competing users in a way that gives priority to satisfaction of basic human needs and balances the requirements of preserving or restoring ecosystems and their functions, in particular in fragile environments, with human, domestic, industrial and agriculture needs, including safeguarding drinking water quality.”

During 2005, the United Nations Environment Program supported the Government of Uzbekistan in completing a roadmap for integrated water resources management to expedite the process of preparing a plan. This process identified the following priorities: 1) the need to establish intersectoral councils for IWRM, 2) creation of the legislative and policy framework for IWRM that includes adoption of a new water code and law on water users associations by 2008, 3) development of an IWRM plan by 2009, 4) introduction of water charges for use and discharge by 2012, and 5) development of master plans for use and protection of water resources by 2012.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources (MAWR) requested that the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) provide assistance in developing the integrated water resources management and water use efficiency plan for . The Preparatory Assistance Phase was conducted from September 2007 through January 2008. A consultative process involved a broad range of stakeholders in the Project design. As a result of extensive input, the focus of the Project was agreed to. At the national level the program focus will be to develop a modern legislative basis for the water sector. IWRM and water efficiency use planning will take place within a single river basin, the Zarafshan, on a pilot basis where successful results can be scaled up to the national level during a possible second phase program.
Overall objective of the Project is to develop a National Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Use Efficiency Plan for Zarafshan River Basin of Uzbekistan, to strengthen the legal and regulatory framework for the water sector, and to support the integration of water management issues into relevant intersectoral policy frameworks.
To achieve the output, the project will perform the following activities:

- Improved Legal and Institutional Framework for Integrated Water Resources Management in ;

- Improved Water Communal Services and Utilities within the Zarafshan River Basin of Uzbekistan;

- Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Use Efficiency Plan for the Zarafshan River Basin of Uzbekistan.

Expected results:

Activity Result 1:  Modernized National Water Legislation;
Activity Result 2: Integrated Strategy for Water Supply and Sanitation of the Zarafshan Basin of Uzbekistan;
Activity Result 3:  IWRM and Water Efficiency Plan for Zarafshan River Basin of Uzbekistan.