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World Bank allocates $20 million for water management in Central Asia
The Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea will receive a grant from the World Bank Group to improve control of transboundary rivers in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. About thisit saysin a message from an international financial organization.
The Cooperation for Effective Water Management in the Region (CAWEC) program runs until June 30, 2031. As part of the initiative, it is planned to prepare joint water management facilities, update measuring instruments, establish information exchange and strengthen the capacity of departments controlling the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins.
It is expected that the implementation of the project will directly or indirectly affect the interests of about 40 million people.
Funding will be distributed not between states, but according to specific target areas. Of the total amount, $3 million will go towards developing up to six interstate initiatives with the participation of at least two countries. These funds will cover the creation of feasibility studies, project documentation, as well as assessment of environmental and social risks to further attract investment.
Another $9.5 million will be allocated for technical re-equipment of water metering systems in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya basins. It is planned to purchase modern equipment, servers and remote data transmission systems. This will improve inventory forecasting, allocation and monitoring.
About $6 million was allocated for the institutional development of regional structures, including fund divisions and basin organizations. Up to 100 specialists will undergo training in the field of climate forecasting, information technology and administration. The same expense item will finance scientific research and conferences.
The remaining $1.5 million is intended to cover operating expenses. A special working group will be created under the Executive Committee that will deal with procurement, financial control, monitoring, reporting and compliance with donor procedures.
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