Transboundary Regimes: The Amudarya Insights of NeWater

Transcription

1 Transboundary Regimes: The Amudarya Insights of NeWater Nicole Kranz Ecologic Institute for International and European Environmental Policy NeWater Workshop, Tashkent April 2008

2 Outline and Purpose of the Meeting Brief presentation of preliminary findings of study in the context of NeWater Provide feedback to the study in a group setting Engage in discussion on ways forward Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

3 NeWater Context Assessing the adaptive capacity of water management systems and identifying possible trajectories for a transition to more adaptive water management practices Factors constituting adaptiveness compared with actual situation Transboundary regime elements: Actor networks Legal framework Adequate policies Information management Financial aspects Key elements in systems, which are determined by governance by actors beyond the state Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

4 Principles of Information Management Availability of appropriate information at each stage of the water management cycle. This implies: - Information can be understood by those using it - Information w/ nec. detail according to scale and stage of planning - Concise information that is needed for decision-making or operational tasks Sharing of information across national boundaries and the adjustment in terms of formats, structure, completeness and scope Technical aspect of information production and dissemination: - Systems that are not necessarily sophisticated, but robust in the respective circumstances Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

5 Principles of Donor Involvement Donor governance based on co-ordination of funding programmes and transparency of funding strategies Support of River Basin Organisations - Focus on institutional preparedness for changing boundary conditions - Transparent decision-making mechanisms Facilitation of interstate agreements that provide for clear competencies and responsibilities and give equal leverage to each state in the basin Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

6 Principles of Donor Involvement Capacity-building of key actors for the elaboration of long-term river basin management plans and programmes that remain flexible for the identification of shared benefit solutions Strengthening of formal and informal actor networks: - Creation of a shared knowledge base for transboundary water management solutions Building ownership at national level - Fostering awareness for the importance of transboundary RBM Harmonising national policies Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

7 Challenges in the Availability of Data Monitoring of water quantity is established, the monitoring equipment however is in severe decline: data gaps There is no unified system for data collection and processing, data has to be obtained from each single Hydromet: lack of data, but also dupliction of efforts Third parties have to pay for data Data collection and processing on water quality as well as a water quality monitoring is still neglected Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

8 Initiatives: Improving Info Management Initiatives for joint capacity building and training of staff of all Hydromets in the Aral Sea Basin Regional Hydrometeorological Center (Dushanbe) is working on glacier monitoring ICWC-SIC maintains the CAREWIB system National action plans under preparation provide for overview of the current status of the water sector in the riparian states Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

9 Challenges in Information Exchange No comprehensive treaty on information management and exchange Access to data appears to be complicated for actors outside the Hydromet system Coordination among different scientifc institutions and the riparian states appears to be weak Information needs of decision-makers, practicioners not clearly defined Hierarchical management structure hampers vertical information exchange Data used as a political item, rather than as tool for managing water Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

10 Initiatives for Improving Info Exchange New agreement on cooperation in water management under preparation could also improve the legal basis for information management Elaboration of national action plans however could improve this situation and help to clearly define information needs Regional Action Plan on Water Quality Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

11 Lessons Learnt: Availibility of Data Equipment has to be applicable (easy to use and maintain) Scientific coordination between the national hydromets should be strengthened More effort should be put on the validation of data Information should be available to all interested parties without bureaucratic obstacles and at low costs Data should be comparable throughout the whole basin, but the current institutional structure should be taken into account It could be useful to detach the financial resources of the Hydromets from service charges for hydromet data Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

12 Lessons Learnt: Information Exchange An assessment of the information needs of decision-makers and practitioners should be carried out Create awareness that information on river basin management is a prerequisite for good management Establish clear and transparent mechanisms for information exchange among the riparian states that reflect the existing institutional set-up (cooperation protocol) Information should be available at low cost Improve coordination among scientific institutions and government bodies administering the data Improve cooperation among government bodies at different scales; introduce public consultations on a regular basis Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

13 Donors: Past and Current Approaches Past experiences: - Large scale projects only partly consider the needs of countries under transition - Weak interstate agreements hampered the implementation of transboundary projects Current strategies: - Facilitation of precise interstate agreements - Capacity and institution building - Elaboration of national strategies - Improvements of infrastructures, upgrade of technical equipment and ecological restoration projects Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

14 Donor Involvement: Challenges Only in the last 2.5 years, again growing interest in the transboundary dimension of river basin management Until 2007, no common strategy of donor organisations Different - also geopolitical - emphasis of donor organisations exist No discernible initiative of the Central Asian government ot coordinate donor activities IFAS as suggested coordination focal point does not receive sufficient trust Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

15 Lessons Learnt: Donor Involvement Coordination should be a mixture of governmental initiatives and a meeting platform of donor organisations Ownership of donor supported projects should be with the Central Asian governments, but donor organisations still want to keep control of their involvement Need to involve Central Asian governments into international discourses on IWRM, donor organisation could support this Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

16 Assessing Adaptive Capacity Improvement with regards to some of the adaptiveness factors Progress relatively slow Lack of famous political will Legal basis for information management still lacking at the regional level potential for coordination protocols Integration of water management issues is advancing still some issues are not considered Management practices not very inclusive dominance of experts and politicians Donors follow and transport international discourse promising approach Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

17 Questions for Discussion Feedback What are possible entry points, what are insurmountable obstacles? Water quality issue: door-opener or non-issue? What are interfaces with other factors relevant for water management? Water energy nexus Biodiversity? What role do uncertainties play? Discourse on climate change Ecologic Nicole Kranz, Tashkent April

18 Thank you for listening! Nicole Kranz Ecologic, Pfalzburger Str , D Berlin ,