Comparative Analysis of Water Sector Reforms
Tracking Progress in Asia and the Pacific
Phase 1- Assessing Water Sector Policies and Reforms - Country Briefs
Kazakhstan
Independence has created a new environment for water resources management and service delivery, which requires a long-term response. Much infrastructure was designed for conditions that no longer exist and is fundamentally uneconomic, leading the Government to introduce measures for cost recovery, transfer of responsibility for O&M to beneficiaries, devolution of ownership, etc. Significant international assistance is being received, with capacity building and introduction of "good practice" through project design and implementation, and Kazakhstan is centrally involved in international attempts to halt and reverse degradation of the Aral Sea.
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NATIONAL POLICIES AND REFORMS
Good progress is being made with review of the sector, the Water Code is being revised and Basin Management Authorities are being established. Policies and laws are not fully coordinated or comprehensive, with arrangements for management of the water resource itself being an area requiring further attention.
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WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Some aspects of WRM such as the availability of a sound information base and the use of social and environmental impact assessment are well developed. Good progress is being made in other areas, notably addressing water quality issues and introducing basin-scale management. Nevertheless the condition of many of the country's natural waters, wetlands, and in particular the Aral Sea clearly are unsatisfactory and will require substantial remedial effort. International water management arrangements were developed for pre-independence circumstances, and are not necessarily able to meet current needs.
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IMPROVING WATER SERVICES
Service levels have declined in many systems since independence because of a lack of resources for O&M and investment. Policies are progressively being implemented throughout the country, to transfer costs or ownership/operating responsibilities to communities and user associations. Internationally funded projects are assisting in a number of cities and provinces to introduce greater levels of beneficiary participation in service delivery, and so to improve service levels and sustainability.
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CONSERVING WATER
Progress in this area is mixed. Regulatory mechanisms are well established but do not necessarily promote conservation of water quantity and quality. Public utilities shifted to a no-subsidy regime in 1996, but tariffs in general are set too low to cover costs or to discourage waste of water. Pre-independence state provision of water services developed a culture in which their real costs and value was unrecognised, and this will take time to change.
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PROMOTING REGIONAL COOPERATION
Pre-independence arrangements for shared water resources have been under stress because of different priorities, but international concern with regard to environmental degradation, especially of the Aral Sea, is promoting re-engagement. Kazakhstan is the downstream riparian country and it has experienced significant adverse effects of upstream actions, especially with regard to HEP operations. Collaborative frameworks and water-sharing agreements need more development to address the issues.
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FOSTERING PARTICIPATION; CAPACITY BUILDING; NETWORKING
Much infrastructure has been devolved to community level, but CBO/NGO capacity still is limited, and mechanisms for participation need development. National capacity for training, education and capacity building has deteriorated since independence, and needs rebuilding.
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