INTERNATIONAL WATER ASSESSMENT CENTRE

in KAZAKHSTAN

Work Programme for 2019-2021

Main Decisions

VII session of the Meeting of the Partieswelcomed the offer of Kazakhstan to host theInternational Water Assessment Centre inKazakhstan

MoU on hosting IWAC between theGovernment of Kazakhstan and UNECE wassigned in May 2017

MoU between Kazakhstan and UNECE

The overall objective of the IWAC is to support implementation of the Convention and, as relevant, its Protocol on Water and Health and their Programmes of Work

IWAC will have a special focus on Kazakhstan’s neighboring countries, other Central Asian countries, as well as other countries inside and outside the UNECE region, as appropriate

MoU between Kazakhstan and UNECE

IWAC will cooperate with the relevant international organizations, NGO, research institutes, as well as relevant projects in the field of transboundary water management

IWAC will regularly report on its activities to the MoP, as relevant, to the Protocol’s MoP and will be guided by their recommendations

The Government of Kazakhstan committed to provide the necessary financial, human resources and technical means to ensure its functioning

IWAC Office in Astana

IWAC was established inAstana – the capital ofKazakhstan – in August2017 as a branch of theInstitute of GeographyLLP. It is one of theleading research centersof Kazakhstan in the fieldof environment.

Institute of Geography

The Institute is a parent organization in a system of the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan,

functioning with a 100% of the State share. The researches of the Institute are aimed at solving environmental issues, assessment of natural resource potential of the Republic

with the development of the geographical bases of environmental management.

There are 8 specialized laboratories in the Institute: glaciology, recreational geography, landscape science and

nature management problems, geomorphology and geoinformation mapping, water resources, water supply of

natural economic systems, geographic information systems, natural hazards.

The Institute has 6 scientific field stations in the mountains of Northern Tien Shan, Aral Sea, Caspian Sea and Balkhash.

The staff of the Institute has more than 130 employees. The Institute participates in the implementation of number of national and sectoral programs of Kazakhstan. It participates also in the implementation of many international projects and programs.

IWAC staff in Astana

IWAC has started its work in August 2017.

Staff consists of 6 employees:1. Director 2. Deputy Director3. Сhief Expert4. Specialist in public relations and administration5. Accountant6. Driver

IWAC Inception Meeting

Astana, Kazakhstan, 7 December2017

Participants: CA countries, Russia,China, Netherlands, Slovakia,International organizations,Embassies, NGOs, scientificinstitutions and etc.

Astana, 8 December 2017

MOP - 8 in Astana

Assisting the Governmentof Kazakhstan andConvention Secretariat inorganizing and holding theEighth Session of theMeeting of the Parties tothe Water Convention(MOP-8) in Astana on 10-12October 2018

IWAC Work ProgrammeImplementation period and preparation stages

Implementation period: 3-year period, in accordance with the Programmeof Work of the Water Convention (2019-2021)

Preparation stages :

Consultations with the UNECE Secretariat and the Government of hostcountry – Kazakhstan

Consultations with the possible partner countries and organizations

Consultations and discussions of the proposals for work programme atthe expert level (Regional Expert Meeting, December 8, 2017, Astana)

Consultations and discussions of the proposals for work programme atthe expert level (Regional Meeting, 12-13 July 2018, Almaty)

Submission of the work program to the Meeting of the Parties to theWater Convention at its eighth session in October 2018, Astana,Kazakhstan

Program areas

Support to the countries in monitoring, assessment andexchange of information on transboundary river basins

Encouraging an integrated and cross-sectoral approach towater management at all levels

Adaptation to climate change in transboundary basins

Program area 1Support to the countries in the field of monitoring, assessment and

exchange of information on transboundary river basins

Development of the information database onmonitoring for the basin of the transboundary riverZhayik (Ural)

Development of cooperation in the field of waterquality assessment

Trainings on hydrometeorological services

Development of the information database on monitoring for the basin of the transboundary river Zhayik (Ural)

Objective: To increase the efficiency of water resourcesmanagement in the transboundary river Zhayyk (Ural) bydeveloping a united information database on the river basin

Expected implementation period: 2020 - 2021

Budget estimate: to be confirmed

Possible funding source: resources of the Government ofKazakhstan

Development of cooperation in the field of water quality assessment

Objective: Preparation of the Review on Water QualityAssessment Methods in Central Asian Countries and Slovakia andSharing the Scientific Knowledge between Slovakia and CentralAsian Countries

Expected implementation period: to be specified

Budget estimate: €30,000 – 40,000

Possible funding source: NATO Program "Science for Peace andSecurity"

Training on hydrometeorological service activities

Objective: Training of specialists in the field of meteorologicaland hydrological data assessment, weather forecasting,assessment and prediction of the status of transboundary waterbodies

Estimated implementation period: to be specified

Budget estimate: €60,000

Possible funding source: NATO Program "Science for Peace andSecurity"

Program area 2Encouraging an integrated and cross-sectoral approach to water management at all levels

Development of common approaches to water resourcessustainable allocation in transboundary context

Development of methodological bases for the assessmentof environmental flow in transboundary water bodies

Training on the safety of hydro-technical utilities

Development of common approaches for sustainable water resources allocation in a transboundary context

Objective: To develop common approaches and principles forthe sustainable allocation of water resources in a transboundarycontext

Expected implementation period: 2019 - 2020

Budget estimate: to be confirmed

Possible funding source: The Government of Kazakhstan

Development of methodological bases for the assessment of the environmental flow of transboundary water bodies

Objective: Analysis of best practices and development of aguidance document on the assessment of the environmental flowof transboundary water bodies

Expected implementation period: 2019 – 2020

Estimated budget: to be confirmed

Possible funding source: Government of Kazakhstan

Training on safety of hydro-technical utilities

Objective: To assist countries in improving their knowledge inthe safety of hydro-technical utilities

Expected implementation period: to be confirmed

Budget Estimate: €60,000

Possible funding source: NATO Program "Science for Peace andSecurity"

Program area 3Adaptation to climate change in transboundary basins

Assessment of climate change impact on water resourcesand agriculture in the countries of the Aral Sea basin

Integrated drought management in transboundary context

Assessment of climate change impact on water resources and agriculture in the countries

of the Aral Sea basin

Objective: To assess the climate change impact on waterresources and agriculture in the countries of the Aral Sea basinand develop recommendations on reduction its negative impact

Expected implementation period: to be confirmed

Budget estimate: €200,000 – 300,000

Possible source of funding: EU Fund for Afghanistan

Integrated drought management in transboundary context

Objective: To assist countries in developing measures tomitigate the negative effects of drought

Expected implementation period: to be confirmed

Budget estimate: €250,000

Possible funding source: Slovak development program«SlovakAid»

Thank you for your attention!

IWAC office contacts:

tel. +7 7172 790 430

info@iwac.kz

web site: www.iwac.kz