Knowledge base “IWRM: Central Asian experience”

The key IWRM principles accepted in the region:

The main IWRM objectives - sustainable, stable, reasonable and equitable water supply for all uses and nature.
Water and environmental governance performed within hydrographic boundaries in accordance with the basin morphology.
Management accounts the all types of available waters (surface, underground, return) with consideration of the climatic conditions (precipitation and evaporation).
Public participation not only in governance, but also in funding, maintenance, planning and development.
Close coordination of water use in the horizontal direction among sectors and in the vertical – among levels of water management hierarchy.
Information exchange, transparency, openness, accountability.
Water saving and rational use, combat unproductive losses – the main priority for water users and water agencies.

Critical factors that made IWRM approach so successful for Central Asia:

The key IWRM principles were clearly formulated and accepted by the key stakeholders
De-fragmentation of the IWRM into proper components: IWRM = Water Resources Management Process + Governance System + Tools
Governance system covered all vertical levels of hierarchy and created platform for horizontal (inter-sector) coordination
The project prioritized legal aspects for practical implementation of the IWRM
Social mobilization – the principal tool to enable environment for IWRM
Orientation to proper indicators