Reducing Trans-boundary Degradation of the Kura-Aras River Basin

Reducing Trans-boundary Degradation of the Kura-Aras River Basin

UNDP/SidaUnited Nations Development Programme

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

Presented by:Mariam Shotadze, Programme Analyst


Overall objective: ensure the quality and quantity of water resources of the Kura-Aras meets short and long-term needs of ecosystems and communities using the ecosystem

Immediate objectives: foster regional co-operation; increase national and regional capacity; address water quality and quantity problems; promote changes in the economic sectors causing

pollution, water shortages and habitat degradation


Program phases: Phase I, Design phase (PDFA) Phase II, Planning Phase (PDF B); Phase III, Implementation Phase (full-size project)

Current Phase: Phase II - Planning Phase (PDF B) Two Components: Leading GEF & Suplementary

Sida Funding: GEF ….. + Sida: USD 690,000 Duration:

Sida: October 2003-December 2005 (2.5 years); GEF 2005 October-March 2007 (1.6 years)


Objectives of the Sida Component: Identification of National Legal-Institutional and Policy needs

for Integrated Management of the Kura River Basin; Background Analyses of the Kura River Basin (feedback to

TDA): Water quality and quantity; Major ecosystems; Socio-economic trends, driving forces and pressures on the basin’s

degradation; Existing water infrastructure

Identification of Optimal Institutional arrangement for the management of the Basin;

Development of National Action Plans


Geographic Scope: Armenia; Azerbaijan; Georgia

Project OrganizationProject Organization

UNDPGeorgia

Executing Manager

Tbilisi OfficeNTL

Support staff

Yerevan OfficeNTL

Support staff

Baku Office

NTLSupport

staff

Chief Technical Advisor

Three National Advisory Committees


Progress Achieved : Policy, Legal and Institutional needs report;

Pre-cursory gender study report;

Background Analyses;

National objectives for IRBP&M identified and prioritized;

Overview of existing basin management institutional models made and several options applicable for the Kura Basin developed;

National needs and priorities for IRBP&M identified;

Preparation of National Action Plans started


Progress Achieved (cont.): Study Tour arranged in Hungary to learn the cooperation within Danube

river basin;

As a technical assistance to the project focal point agencies:

trainings of representatives of water-related agencies in Access database and GIS applications conducted;

Basic office equipment purchased;

High-speed internet access provided to the Georgian hydromet

Preparation of national and regional GIS maps started


Major Achievements, Challenges, Weaknesses:

Achievements, positive sides: Good basis prepared for SAP and NAPs; Good national channels established; Roster of national consultants developed; Regional network of technical experts further developed and

strengthened; Cross-sectoral approach used through contribution from Advisory

Committees; Incetive-based approach proved successful for effective

functioning of advisory committees; Once fully operational DEX proved very quick and effective

mechanism for project delivery and controling expenditures


Major Achievements, Challenges, Weaknesses:Challenges and Weakness:

Assumtion of two components to go in parallel didn’t work that hindered start-up of Sida component and Iran’s involvement;

No/weak involvement of other UNDP country offices; focus on national-level needs and keeping of low political profile; Thin market of national experts and difference in national expertise; Problems with data availability and quality, especially in Georgia; Poor project QA/QC: none of the offices had project coordination function,

project assurance role was unclear; Poor risk management; Focus mostly on water resources and very weak/no consideration of other

resources; No involvement of all major sectors, i.e. hydropower.


Thank you!!!

Reducing Trans-boundary Degradation of the Kura-Aras River Basin

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