Developing of Environmental Strategy and Action Plan for Zarafshan River Basin
Country: Uzbekistan
Location within country: Samarkand and Navoi provinces
UNDP CO in Uzbekistan
Implementation period(month/year):June 15, 2011 - February 15, 2012
Azim Nazarov – Project Coordinator Madina Khalmirzaeva – Team Leader Otabek Majidov – Environmental economist/legal expert
During 2005, the United Nations Environment Program supported the Government of Uzbekistan in completing a Roadmap for IWRM to expedite the process of preparing a plan. This process identified the following priorities: (i) the need to establish intersectoral councils for IWRM, (ii) 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, (iii) development of an IWRM plan by 2009, (iv) introduction of water charges for use and discharge by 2012, and (v) development of master plans for use and protection of water resources by 2012. The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources (MAWR) requested the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to provide preparatory assistance in designing a Project for developing the IWRM and Water Use Efficiency Plan (the Project) for Uzbekistan. The Preparatory Assistance Phase of the Project was conducted from September 2007 through January 2008. A consultative process involved a broad range of stakeholders in design of the Project. As a result of extensive input, the focus of the Project at the national level the will be directed to development of a modern legislative basis for the water sector. IWRM and water use efficiency 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 of the Project.