Water Resources Management in Central Asia

Interacting Factors within Water Resources Management Process
Traditions
Population Growth
Development Priorities
Food Production
Land
Factories
Power Stations
Energy
Irrigated Agriculture
Indusztries
Hydro-Power
Recreation
Navigation
Fishery
Public Water
Supply Infrastructure
Welfare level
Public Awareness
Public Participation
Mass-Media
Sanitary Flow
Finance
Water Policy, 
Governmental
Support to
Water Sector
Ecological
Conditions
and
Demands
Attention of
Society and
Government to
Nature
Demands
Social Aspects 
and Economic
Growth
Political
Environment
Demand managememt
Direction to Water 
Saving
Education on water 
aspects
Information and 
Transparency
Climate Change
Biodiversity
Demands of Deltas
Precipitation
Aviable Water
Resources, incl.
Ecologically
Permitted for Use
Water 
Requirements
Surface Runoff
Groundwater
Return Flow
Water Supply and 
Sanitation
Source: DUKHOVNY, V.; MIRZAEV, N.; SOKOLOV, V. “IWRM implementa-
tion: experiences with water sector reforms in Central Asia” in Central Asian Waters: 
social, economic, environmental and governance puzzle. Water & Development 
Publications, Helsinki University of Technology, 2008. p. 20. At: www.water.tkk.fi 
/global/publications

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Anar Khamzayeva
28
Documentos CIDOB, Asia
Water resources management in Central Asia
The chart, developed by the leading water experts of the Scientific-
Information Centre of the ICWC in Central Asia and the Global 
Water Partnership for Central Asia and Caucasus (GWP CACENA), 
illustrates the complex inter-relationships of numerous uses and users 
of water as a vital resource. The availability, use, and allocation of water 
resources must take place within a context of effective institutions and 
strong, capable mechanisms to handle the array of competing and often 
contending interests of various stakeholders. This stands as a significant 
factor influencing relations between riparian states, in addressing the 
governance and management of water resources.
Undoubtedly, acting early and constructively in close collaboration 
with international actors in tackling the complex factors that ascertain 
whether conflicts will arise out of tensions would considerably contrib-
ute to promotion of water security. The regional states must engage in 
joint long-term programmes and technical cooperation under the close 
guidance from international agencies. 
So far, however, the impact of international projects, organisations and 
external actors, has been rather inefficient and minimal. Coordination 
between donor agencies is weak, as they tend to have varying mandates 
and project time frames. It was in fact claimed that “most donor pro-
grammes were concerned with building national state capacity rather than 
enhancing local participation and local capacity building. For those popu-
lations in the disaster zones or on the farms, they were often unaware of the 
international activity that was taking place to improve water cooperation 
and to mitigate the Aral Sea disaster. Although the international commu-
nity invested in some local projects, such as supporting water user associa-
tions and refitting local canals, most of the large multilateral organisations 
directed their assistance toward large-scale infrastructure projects such as a 
drainage collector in the Amu-Darya Basin” (Weinthal, 2006).
Thus, narrowing down priorities and carrying out projects concertedly 
should be at the top of donors’ agendas. Much work is needed in utilising 

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Water resources management in Central Asia
29
Número 25, 2009
available diplomatic mechanisms to bring the riparian states to negotiate 
a long-term and overarching doctrine to govern an equitable sharing of 
water that includes provisions on protection of ecosystems and minimising 
pollution, the creation of a transparent and inclusive system of decision-
making, and the installation of dispute resolution systems and mediation 
mechanisms, while attention should also be given to establishing feasible 
domestic water regimes in each of the countries of the region. In addition, 
the international community should express its full support for the creation 
of a regional water and energy consortia that would foster integration of the 
water and energy networks of Central Asia. In the words of one observer, 
“it is important to develop an integrated approach that treats energy, water 
and food security as intertwined issues demanding a complex and multi-
faceted response rather than security challenges to be addressed separately” 
(Fumagalli, 2008).