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Enhancing Water Sector Management Through Institutional Change

ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN (7 December 2005) - A number of recommendations on institutional strengthening of the Committee for Water Resources (CWR) was discussed at today's workshop in Astana. A rationale for such improvements was examined in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Japan under the technical assistance project totaling $150,000 funded through the Japan Special Fund.

More than 60 representatives of Government bodies, Parliament, civil society, consultants, and international organizations participated. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan Tetsuo Ito delivered welcome remarks.

"We hope that TA recommendations will help to address the current constraints in water sector management," said Vice Minister of Agriculture Dulat Aitzhanov at the opening of the workshop.

During the recent decade, CWR has been exposed to structural changes that have limited its capacity. Now, with increased mandate to administer water resources development and management and with growing budget allocations for the Drinking Water Sector Program 2002-2010, CWR needs a stronger status and more capacity to ensure effective and timely performance of its functions.

The consultants have recommended increasing staff of CWR from 34 to 70 persons and an independent State Agency for Water Resources Management. The recommendations of the consultants were presented by team leader Fritz Schweiger.

In conclusion, Chairman CWR Anatoliy Ryabtsev said that institutional strengthening of CWR would significantly contribute to accommodating water demands within the country.

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