DUSHANBE, April 24, 2014, Asia-Plus — The final fifth training on basin planning for the working group of the Isfara river basin planning development and implementation was held in Khujand on April 23.
According to the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan, the members of the working group represented water management, environmental protection, sanitary, epidemiological, economic agencies, local administration and water users.
The training on basin planning was conducted in the framework of “Water Management and Basin Organizations in Central Asia (WMBOCA)” project funded by the European Union and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmBH, Transboundary Water Management in Central Asia Program.
The trainings on basin planning have been held since 2012. During this time, the participants have reportedly learned a lot – from learning the basics of basin planning to development of a plan based on international practice and with regard to local legal and institutional aspects. As a result, during the fifth training the participants approve the final results of their activity through previous four trainings – the Isfara River Basin Plan. The plan includes the analysis and evaluation of the current and prospective situation of the basin, the list of priority problems, the long-term vision of the basin and the mechanisms for the implementation of measures aimed at solving existing problems.
In order for the Basin Plan to be realizable in a timely and consistent manner, it is important to act in collaboration, along with constant monitoring and evaluation of the implementation process. Thus, in the fifth training, participants develop the indicators of the progress of the implementation and share the responsibilities for carrying out the activities of the Plan. They also forecast the required financial resources to implement the plan and identify possible sources.
The public plays an important role in the implementation of basin plans. Citizens living in the basin can monitor the quality of implementation of the basin plan and propose timely suggestions for its improvement. In order to involve the public at an early stage of the Isfara River Basin Plan implementation, the program organizes the public hearing, where members of the working group will present the Plan to representatives of the local administration, NGOs, media and of all jamoats living in the basin. Public hearings will be held in two cities – Isfara and Konibodom, on April 24 and on April 29 respectively.
“Water Management and Basin Organizations in Central Asia (WMBOCA)” is funded by the European Union and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH acting in partnership with the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC). Budget of WMBOCA consists of approximately €2 million provided by the European Union and approximately €0.5 million provided by the German Federal Foreign office.
