Ø Major Step Towards Improving Water Resources Management : Five Country Water Partnerships in Central Asia and Caucasus Accredited by the Global Water Partnership

Ø ADB President Outlines Water Agenda for Asia-Pacific Region

Ø Jeddah Declaration: Islamic Development Bank Allocates Us$1.5 Billion to Meet Food Crisis in Member Countries

Ø World Bank Support for Water Resource Management in Albania

Ø New Asia-Pacific Network Launched to Tackle Water Problems

Ø Afghanistan: Three Irrigation Projects completed

Ø Mozambique Water Project Receives International Award

Ø Argentina: Integrated Water Resources Management through

Communication and Capacity Building

Ø Capacity Building of River Basin Organization - Learning How to Take Action

DONORS’ LENDING AND SUPPORT FOR IRRIGATION & DRAINAGE PROJECTS

World Bank

Ø World Bank Provides US$38m to Pakistan- Water Sector Capacity Building and Advisory Services

Ø World Bank Provides US$5m to Burkina Faso for International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering

Ø World Bank approved US$45m to Ethiopia for Tana and Beles Integrated Water Resources Development Project

Asian Development Bank

Ø ADB approves grant of US$ 20m for Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Sector (formerly Northern and Central Regions Water Supply and Sanitation Sector (Phase II))

Ø ADB Supports the Preparation of the Outer Island Growth Centers Project in Kiribati

Upcoming Regional and International Meets and Events

Ø Expo Zaragoza 2008

Thematic Week Seven: Water Economics and Financing - Water Markets - Financial Solutions for Emerging Countries

28 July - 1 August

Zaragoza, Spain.

Ø Voices from the Waters

The 3rd International Film Festival on Water

Saturday 13th to 18th September 2008

Bangalore, Karnataka. India

Ø River Centre Conference 2008

“Managing and Restoring Human-Manipulated Large River Ecosystems”

September 25 and 26, 2008,

The University of Montana, Missoula.

Ø World Water Week in Stockholm

17-23 August 2008

Stockholm, Sweden

Ø IV International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management

15-18 October 2008

Thessaloniki, Greece

Ø International Convention on Water Resources Development and Management

23-26 October 2008

BITS Pilani Rajasthan, India

Ø 13th World Water Congress

01-04 September 2008

Montpellier, France

Ø Africa Water Resources Management 2008 (AfricaWRM 2008)

8-10 September 2008

Gaborone, Botswana

Ø WaterTech Central Asia: Central Asian International Water Technology Exhibition & Conference

16-18 September 2008

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Ø ICID’s 20th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage

13-19 October 2008

Lahore, Pakistan

Ø International Symposium on Multiple-Use Water Services

04-06 November 2008

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

NEW PUBLICATIONS

Ø Urban Water Cycle Processes and Interactions

Ø Data Requirements for Integrated Urban Water Management

Fellowship and funding opportunities

Ø University of Groningen PhD Fellowship

Ø Amsterdam Merit Scholarships

Ø Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program

CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAININGS

Ø Public Private Partnerships in the Water Sector

07-25 July 2008

DELFT, The Netherlands

Ø "2008 Integrated Water Resources Management Advanced International Training Programme"

11 August-2 September 2008 (Sweden)
17-28 November 2008 (Lao PDR)

Ø Spate Irrigation and Water Management under Drought and Water Scarcity

10-21 September 2008

UNESCO-IHE

DETAILS

NEWS

Major step towards improving water resources management

Five countries in Central Asia and Caucasus − Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan − were accredited by the Global Water Partnership Headquarters in Stockholm as official Country Water Partnerships. This means that the partners in each of these countries have organized themselves with agreed principles to serve as independent NGOs aiming at implementing integrated water resources management in their countries. GWP countries in the region also include Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is a worldwide action network with a mission to support countries in the sustainable management of their water resources. Being a neutral platform, GWP bring stakeholders together from diverse sectors in constructive dialogues. Created in 1996, the network spans over 65 countries in 13 regions.

Martin Walshe, acting GWP Executive Secretary says that: − This has been an ongoing process since 2002, and the creation of these five country water partnerships represents a landmark in the move towards improving the water resources management in the region where water resources have been undervalued and polluted for decades. In the last 15 years countries have started to move away from a command management towards participatory and sustainable management of their water resources where stakeholders from various sectors contribute. This typically entails improving governance and reforming the institutions responsible for water, building capacity and raising public awareness as well as increasing political commitment to addressing critical challenges.

Partnerships serve as a convening mechanism in these reform processes since they provide a platform for all stakeholders and address the water problems at both regional and national levels based on the principles of Integrated Water Resources Management.

Armenia Country Water Partnership (CWP) With a mission to assist an introduction and implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management in Armenia, the Armenia CWP has gathered a diverse and representative base of 16 registered Partners. They represent sectors of water resources, environment, health, agriculture (irrigation) including government agencies and Parliament together with NGOs, academic and engineering organizations, and the private sector.

Georgia Country Water Partnership (CWP) The CWP has gathered a diverse and representative base of 19 registered Partners. They represent sectors of environment, natural and water resources, including government agencies and Parliament, together with several NGOs such as women organizations, and academic and engineering organizations.

Kazakhstan Country Water Partnership (CWP) The CWP has together with members of the GWP regional technical committee and later (in 2006) the regional GWP council members organized several IWRM activities in Kazakhstan, in particular during the years of the project of the National IWRM and Water Efficiency Plan, 2004-2007 (Norway and UNDP Kazakhstan)

Kyrgyzstan Country Water Partnership (CWP) The main objective of the CWP is full coverage, transparency, objectivity and solidarity of organizations – all accredited members of GWP CACENA – that work for the implementation of IWRM. The CWP has gathered a diverse and representative base of 19 registered Partners. They represent sectors of water resources, agriculture (Irrigation, Water Users Associations), environment, economics, including government agencies, and NGOs.

Tajikistan Country Water Partnership (CWP) On 29 February 2008, 36 representatives of stakeholders and GWP CACENA partners in Tajikistan came together and founded the Country Water Partnership of Tajikistan at a meeting in the Capital of Dushanbe. The formal foundation of CWP Tajikistan is a sign of recognition of GWP’s convening power to provide a platform for all stakeholders.

(Source: http://www.gwpforum.org/GWP/pressrelease19062008.htm)

ADB President Outlines Water Agenda for Asia-Pacific Region

SINGAPORE - Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda unveiled a seven-point agenda to prioritize water investments in the Asia-Pacific region and said that the institution is committed to helping countries in the region boost new water investments to $20 billion to improve water security.

Speaking in Singapore at a summit of regional water leaders, Mr. Kuroda called the needs and opportunities to improve water services in Asia and the Pacific immense, and said that there is a huge dividend from working in partnerships to deliver tangible results that draw on the region’s knowledge and experience.

“We, at the Asian Development Bank, take our responsibility to help design and implement solutions very seriously,” Mr. Kuroda said. “In our recently approved long-term strategic framework, known as Strategy 2020, we highlight water as a key priority area of operations in the coming years.” The new agenda offered by Mr. Kuroda calls for more investments in rural water services to increase agricultural productivity and ease escalating food prices, and for developing more bankable urban projects that improve water utility performance.

It also calls for improving collaboration on integrated water resource management in river basins; increasing investments in climate change adaptation measures; increased investment in reducing vulnerability to water disasters; improving water governance, performance and knowledge management; and developing partnerships to catalyze investments and pool the region’s knowledge in these priority areas. The call for the region to prioritize water investments comes at the mid-way point of ADB’s Water Financing Program (WFP) 2006-2010, for which the institution had committed to double its water program and catalyze substantial investment, reform, and capacity development in the three key areas of rural water, urban water, and basin water.

Projects funded under WFP aim to provide sustainable access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation; establish more productive and efficient irrigation and drainage services; reduce the risk of flooding; introduce integrated water resources management in river basins; and improve water governance.

“We, at ADB, offer our resources and Water Financing Program as a platform for working together with our clients and partners,” Mr. Kuroda said. “Working in partnership, we can catalyze investments and pool the region’s knowledge in these priority areas, to raise the standard of living for hundreds of millions of poor people in the region and increase water security for all.”

(Source:

http://www.adb.org/Media/Articles/2008/12509-asian-wateragendas/ )

Jeddah Declaration: Islamic Development Bank Allocates Us$1.5 Billion to Meet Food Crisis in Member Countries

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) announced that is allocating US$1.5 billion to support efforts to meet immediate, medium and long term food crisis in its least developed member countries (LDMCs), though some programs will benefit other members as well. This was announced in the presence of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohamed Al-Khalifa, Chairman of the IDB Board of Governors and Finance Minister of Bahrain.

“A financial package of $1.5 billion will be allocated to help provide food security in member countries,” Sheikh Ahmed said while addressing the opening session of the IDB 33rd Annual Meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The program, which will go over a 5-year period, known as Jeddah Declaration, is targeting needy countries in particular in various short term programs that include helping in building strategic inventory of food security, provide agricultural inputs, pesticides, fertilizers to help countries in the coming agricultural season, help provide fodder, agricultural machinery and equipment. For the medium and long term, the program will work towards identifying projects that will enhance agricultural development in member countries through cooperation between public and private sectors assess current projects to help them be more effective and support research institutes in the field of agriculture.
The program will also encourage partnership between member countries with private sector inside and outside those countries as well as with other regional and international development institutions.

The bulk of financing or US$1.05 billion will come from IDB itself in the form of grants and soft financing. The IDB affiliates, the Islamic Corporation for the Development of Private Sector (ICD) and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corp will provide US$200 million and US$250 million respectively in areas related to their activities. The program will be carried out under the umbrella of the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), launched last year.
The list of countries that will be targeted include: Afghanistan, Bangladesh. Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyz Republic, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Mozambique, Palestine, Senegal, Sierra Leon, Somalia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Togo, Uganda and Yemen. IDB is a development institution established in 1975 with an authorized capital of 30 billion Islamic dinars (US$46 billion) to promote economic development and cooperation between its member states. Last year it approved 183 development projects and technical assistance amounting to US$2.7 billion, and 82 trade operations for US$2.8 billion

(Source

http://www.isdb.org/irj/portal/anonymous/idb_news_en?newsItem=The%20IDB%20Board%20of%20Governors%20Allocates%20US_%201_5%20Billion%20for%20an%20emergency%20assistance%20scheme%20to%20cope%20with%20the%20global%20food%20crisis.xml&list=details)

World Bank Supports Water Resource Management in Albania

WASHINGTON, The World Bank approved today a US$15 million equivalent Credit for the Water Resource Management Project for Albania. The project will increase the contribution of water resources to sustainable economic growth through increase in agricultural production and reduction of flood risk. The project also aims at completing the sector reform and physical rehabilitation in irrigation, drainage, and flood protection, as well as contributing to the first steps towards the development of water resource management. The total cost of the project is estimated at US$ 40 million and is expected to be financed by US$ 15 million of the IDA credit, and the rest from Government of Albania, Government of France, Government of Netherlands and the Kuwait Fund.

The Project will have four components:

- Irrigation system rehabilitation

- Institutional development for irrigation, drainage and food

management

- Institutional support for water resource management

- Project implementation support

In Albania the Bank has been assisting the Government’s program to restore irrigation, drainage, and flood protection through physical rehabilitation and institutional reform. This project will be in continuation of two major Bank projects, the First irrigation rehabilitation project, and the Second irrigation and drainage rehabilitation project. The two projects together have rehabilitated 180, 000 hectares of irrigation facilities and 120,000 hectares of drainage. Both projects have had a positive economic impact in the increase of agricultural product and farm income. The credit will be disbursed on IDA terms with a maturity period of 20 years and a 10-year grace period. Since Albania joined the World Bank in 1991, commitments total approximately US$754 million for 53 projects.

(Source: http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/ECAEXT/ALBANIAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20208910~menuPK:301417~pagePK:141137~piPK:141127~theSitePK:301412,00.html )

New Asia-Pacific Network Launched to Tackle Water Problems

SINGAPORE - Twelve organizations from across the Asia-Pacific region today launched a network to share solutions for improving water management to tackle the region’s many pressing water challenges. The network, known as “Knowledge Hubs,” is an initiative of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum, which was established in 2006 with support from Japan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to promote leadership and boost investment in the water sector. Some 650 million people in the Asia-Pacific region lack access to clean water and 2 billion are without adequate sanitation. Economic development, rural-to-urban migration, and greater industrial demand have increased competition for clean water. Meanwhile, climate change has made rainfall harder to predict, and floods and droughts are on the increase.

“The region is in urgent need of updated solutions—and more water professionals to implement them,” ADB Lead Water Resources Specialist Wouter Lincklaen Arriens said at the launch. “Knowledge Hubs will harness the region’s rich experience with water issues and give governments, water sector agencies, institutions and communities access to the best solutions available.” Through Knowledge Hubs, decades of experience with the region’s most urgent water issues will be channeled into an open network of centers of excellence, each of which will take region-wide responsibility for knowledge networking on a priority water topic. The hubs will work together to coordinate services to clients and to leverage their respective experiences and the experiences of local, national, and international clients and partners. “There’s no question that our region has the expertise to solve its water challenges. Where we must do better is in knowledge sharing and in developing the capacity to produce results at the local level. For that, we need knowledge networks that connect people to feasible solutions and help them adapt those solutions to their local conditions,” said Singapore’s Ambassador-at-Large Professor Tommy Koh, Chair of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum’s Governing Council.

Knowledge Hubs is supported by ADB, Singapore’s national water agency PUB, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education. At the launch, Ravi Narayanan, Vice Chair of the forum’s Governing Council, introduced the 12 founding members of Knowledge Hubs. They are PUB Water Hub, Singapore; International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management, Japan; National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia; Center for River Basin Organizations and Management, Indonesia; Korea Water Resources Corporation, the Republic of Korea; Center for Hydro informatics in River Basins at the Yellow River Conservancy Commission, the People’s Republic of China; Institute of Water Policy at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore; International Water Management Institute, Sri Lanka; Central Asia IWRM Resource Center, Uzbekistan; Pacific IWRM Resource Centre, the Fiji Islands; International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation, the People’s Republic of China; and the International Water Centre, Australia.

(Source:

http://www.adb.org/Media/Articles/2008/12512-asian-water managements/)

Afghanistan: Three Irrigation Projects completed

AIBAK (PAN): Three development projects of rebuilding the irrigation system were completed in the northern Samangan province. Eng. Qurban Shah, deputy head of the irrigation department of the province, said a water reservoir was constructed in Deh Asr village of Khurram wa Sarbagh district with creation of an embankment wall in parts of the canal that goes from the reservoir. This project took some $54,000. The second project was construction of an embankment wall in Qatar-i-Chahar Maghz district with a funding of $53,000. The third project opened today was building of a water reservoir and an embankment wall in parts of the Aibak Karez canal. This project cost $76,000, said Qurban. He added these projects totally costing $1, 83,000 were funded by the World Bank. He added construction of these projects took five months and were opened in an official ceremony on Saturday. Local officials and farmers said Samangan province owned water and irrigation sources, but lacked a regular irrigation system and that the new projects will help to regulate it.

(Source:

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/KKAA7FV88Z?OpenDocument)

Mozambique Water Project Receives International Award

The Water and Sanitation Project in Cabo Delgado which improves water supply systems and access to water in rural districts in Mozambique has won the international Energy Globe Award 2007 in the category “Water”. The project, co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Helvetas, has benefited 46 communities and about 30’000 people. The Energy Globe is awarded to projects from all over the world which make careful and economical use of resources and employ alternative energy sources. The Water and Sanitation Project in Cabo Delgado province was selected from among over 850 projects from 109 countries by an international jury.

Through the construction and rehabilitation of safe water points and small piped systems, the Water and Sanitation Project, which was launched in 2005, aims at increasing the rural water supply coverage in the districts Ancuabe and Chiure and rehabilitates small water supply systems in Balama, Mocimboa da Praia and Macomia districts of Cabo Delgado province. The project supports the introduction of innovative technologies, for example rainwater harvesting or solar pumps, as well as hygiene and sanitation practices and behaviour change in public schools and communities. District and provincial governments are also supported in the planning and management process as are private enterprises to help them maintain a supply chain for construction, operation and maintenance of water systems. The Energy Globe Award is endowed with 10'000 Euro. The winning projects have been presented in the categories earth, fire, water, air and youth at the European Parliament in Brussels on May 26, 2008.

(Source:

http://www.deza.admin.ch/en/Home/News/News/Close_up?itemID=167400)

Argentina: Integrated water resources management through communication and capacity building

Espacio Agua (Water Space) is an initiative formed in Argentina by civil society organisations, local government, networks, universities, companies, and professionals with the mission to contribute to integrated water resources management through communication and capacity building and to promote recognition of access to safe water and sanitation as a human right. Espacio Agua was formed in 2005, when the AVINA Foundation called on individuals and organisations to build an open space to treat water related subjects and LA-WETnet became a founding member. The river basin extends over 18 municipalities of the Broad Buenos Aires, affecting 4.2 million people, some 13% of the total country population. It covers and area of 1.600 km2 and includes 134 water courses. Of the population living in the basin, 60% (almost 2.5 millions) lack sanitation, and 90% of the sanitation facilities that do exist discharge waste into the river without any treatment. Approximately 12,000 industrial firms are established within the basin and many also discharge untreated industrial waste into the rivers, a major cause of pollution.

A typical river boat serves as the “Del Río no me Rio” flagship, and it includes tools such as documentation, training material, technical reports. The boat and tools will be freely accessible for users wanting to learn more about sustainable water management. The campaign will hold meetings, participate in the Basin Committee, and carry out capacity building.

For more information and to see the river Reconquista presentation at www.espacioagua.org.ar.

(Source:

Damian Indij, LA-WETnet e-mail: indij@fibertel.com.ar. Don’t)

Building River Basin Organization capacity - learning how to take action

Sustainable management of water resources is an important goal adopted at international level by many countries to deal with water shortages, inequity, pollution and many other water problems. This follows from the recognition that upstream/ downstream effects of water use and pollution require a basin approach to management. A number of nations are introducing new institutional arrangements for water resources management, including new organisations to manage water at the basin level. Recognising these challenges and its own capacity building mandate, in 2007 Cap-Net supported case studies on implementing IWRM through River Basin Organisations (RBOs). These focused on organisations tasked with the management of water at national or sub-national river basin level as part of water sector reform towards the sustainable management of water resources (the IWRM approach). The case studies were carried out in Mexico, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, following which UNESCO-IHE compiled a draft consolidated report.

Building on these studies, Cap-Net developed draft RBO capacity building materials. Participants from Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Mozambique, the Netherlands, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Uganda and Zimbabwe joined a course to test the materials in Pretoria, South Africa, from 14-18 April 2008. The materials will be used in a number of other courses planned for 2008/9. The training course provided a platform to exchange experience and improve their knowledge on river basin management and participants were asked to focus on the critical water resources management functions within an IWRM framework at river basin level. These include water allocation, pollution control, information management, monitoring and evaluation, as well as stakeholder participation. One institution is not enough. Carlos Diaz Delgado from the Centro Interamericano de Recursos del Agua, who was involved in developing the Mexican case study, responded positively. “The course was interesting. I now understand what is happening in southern Africa. We have more developed water institutions (in Mexico) even if they are not working as well as they should. At least we have them and they have to do something by law. I understand that RBO should be a set of institutions or a set of stakeholders because one institution or organisation alone is not enough for these tasks.”

Coletha Ruhanya from Rwanda also found the course very useful. “I learnt a lot of things I did not know. Currently we do not have RBOs in our country, so I found there is much to borrow from this meeting and to contribute back into my country”. She was one of only four women on the course and she said that more women should play a role in RBOs. “The representation of women is lagging behind. We have to find ways to increase women’s participation in these programmes by encouraging women to apply and give priority to (them) as well as motivate and include women in our discussions in the sector”. Tommy Rosen, from the well established Bulawayo Catchment Council that has been operation in Zimbabwe for a number of years, said, “The course has made me think about our allocation and the financial side. The biggest thing I will be taking back is the monitoring.” If he had an opportunity to do capacity building in his country, the priority would be to strengthen stakeholder participation processes.

(Source: http://www.irc.nl/source52 )

DONORS’ LENDING AND SUPPORT FOR IRRIGATION & DRAINAGE PROJECTS

World Bank

World Bank Provides US$38m to Pakistan- Water Sector Capacity Building and Advisory Services.

IDA Credit: US$38 million

TERMS: Maturity = 40 Years; Grace Period = 10 Years

Program Description: The project aims to improve the management of Pakistan’s water resources and strengthen those federal institutions involved in water resource planning, management, and development. The project will address both institutional and human resource capacity building, as well as fundamental, technical and investment issues associated with large water infrastructure.

Contact:

Erik Nora

Tel: (202) 458-4735

E-mail: enora@worldbank.org

World Bank Provides US$5m to Burkina Faso for International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering.

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a loan of US$5 million to Burkina Faso for International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering.

IDA Credit: US$ 5 Million

TERMS: Maturity = 40 Years; Grace Period = 10 Years

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The objective of the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE) project is to increase the number of highly skilled professionals in the areas of water, energy, environment and infrastructure engineering which are vital fields for

Africa’s development. It will do so by supporting the development of 2iE as a regional center of excellence, in particular by: (i) further increasing the capacity of the 2iE campuses in Kamboinsé and Ouagadougou to train and board students; (ii) improving the quality of training and research programs, particularly at master and doctorate levels; and (iii) improving the institute’s management and communication capacity.

Contact:

Aby Toure

Tel: (202) 473-8302

E-mail: akonate@worldbank.org

World Bank approved US$45m to Ethiopia for Tana and Beles Integrated Water Resources Development Project.

IDA Credit: USD$ 45 Million

TERMS: Maturity = 40 Years; Grace Period = 10 Years

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Tana & Beles Integrated Water Resources Development Project aims to develop enabling institutions and investments for integrated planning, management, and development in the Tana and Beles Sub-basins to accelerate sustainable growth. There are four components to the project. The first component of the project is sub-basin resources planning and management. This component aims to develop the enabling institutional infrastructure and capacity necessary for stimulating and managing sustainable investments in the Tana and Beles sub-basins.

Contact:

Aby Toure

Tel: (202) 473-8302

E-mail: akonate@worldbank.org

Asian Development Bank

ADB approves grant of US$ 20m for Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Sector (formerly Northern and Central Regions Water Supply and Sanitation Sector (Phase II))

Project Rationale: The importance of developing water supply and sanitation in small towns is increasing as (i) residents in small towns spend considerable time, energy, and financial resources acquiring their daily water needs, and (ii) inadequate water supply and poor environmental conditions in the small towns also deter socio-economic development and restrict the ability of small towns to serve as key administrative and economic centers supporting their surrounding rural areas.

Impact: The impact of the proposed project is the improved quality of life of small town residents in Lao PDR and enhanced role of the small towns as economic, market, services, and manufacturing centers for their surrounding rural areas.