Afghanistan’s Journey Towards a Climate Resilient Water Strategy 2019-2025 By: MASOOM HAMDARD

Water Resources in Afghanistan Mean Annual Volume (bcm) Surface water 49.23 Ground water 17.1 Total 66.33

Major River Basins

CHALLENGES Insufficient investment in water infrastructure Climate Change an emerging issue Afghanistan is a drought-prone country and the severity and duration of droughts is increasing It has mountainous topography and thus prone to flash floods and mudslides Greater pace of warming, compared to the global average, and increase in frequency of extreme events such as heat waves, drought, floods etc Rainfall projections show a statistically significant decrease in precipitation Inter-sectoral competition, disputes and conflicts due to growing water demands Security Awareness, Capacity and Resources

Regulatory Framework and Key Actors Various donors-led initiatives were made to develop a water strategy after 2001 but none of it succeeded until 2008 Water Resources Management Strategy (2008-2013) -Formulated as part of Pillar 3 (Infrastructure) of the ANDS The Water Law which got approved by the Parliament in 2009 laid the foundation for modern water governance IWRM, WUA, IAs, RBAs Key actors are Ministry of Energy and Water, Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock, NEPA, MRRD, Urban Water Supply, Mining SCoLW(E) was created in 2015 to provide a platform for the inter-ministerial coordination; approve policies pertaining to reforms of water-related affairs;

RATIONALE After WRM (2008-2013) there wasn’t any valid water strategy Presidential Decree No. 43, 2016, stressing the need for a comprehensive National Water Strategy ANPDF and National Priority Programs: The WRMS was developed when ANDS provided the prevailing national policy framework and hence does not cover the changes brought about by the ANPDF and the National Priority Programs. Water Law Revision: This is currently underway and will have implications for the water sector Sustainable Development Goals: Previous strategy documents were developed in the light of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which ended in 2015, and were replaced by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction: This 2015 United Nations framework has been signed by Afghanistan, which has now to comply with its requirements.  Paris Agreement on Climate Change: At the Paris Climate Conference (COP 21) in December 2015, Afghanistan and 194 other countries signed and adopted the first ever universal, legally-binding global climate deal.  Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC): Afghanistan’s INDC was submitted in 2015 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC).  UN International Decade of Action for Water and Sustainable Development (2018-2028) Climate Change is not addressed in the past policies/strategies

PROCESS ACT responded to the request of MEW to update the Water Strategy and mainstreaming climate change into it Continue with the unfinished work of Asian Development Bank of Water Strategy Formation of Steering Committee with members of key stakeholder ministries ToR for the committee, Water Strategy, outline, timeline etc agreed In-country and abroad discussions and workshops with frequent visits of ACT’s consultants to Kabul

Vision & Objectives “The country’s water resources are developed and managed optimally and sustainably, to ensure adequate and reliable water supplies for present and future generations, to minimize the adverse impacts of climate change and climate variability, to improve resilience and adaptive capacities, and to thus improve water security, energy security and food security, help to eliminate poverty, increase employment, deliver sustainable economic and social development, and improve the livelihoods and quality of life for all Afghans” Strategic Objectives are synchronized with international and national goals

Vision & Objectives Strategic Objectives Sub-Objectives 1. Assessing and planning water resource use 1.1 Assessing basin-wise water availability 1.2 Simulating potential climate change impacts 1.3 Allocating water across sectors 1.4 Planning and monitoring water use 2. Augmenting water Availability 2.1 Enhancing and developing water infrastructure 2.2 Improving management of water infrastructure 2.3 Enhancing irrigation efficiency 2.4 Reducing crop water demands 2.5 Harvesting water locally 2.6 Reducing piped water theft and leaks 2.7 Improving groundwater recharge 2.8 Re-using waste-water

Vision & Objectives Strategic Objectives Sub-Objectives 3. Improving water service provision 3.1 Preserving environmental services 3.2 Improving WASH services 3.3 Enhancing irrigation services 3.4 Supporting industrial water use 3.5 Providing for hydropower generation 3.6 Promoting tourism and navigation 3.7 Maintaining water quality 4. Decentralizing management & coordination 4.1 Coordinating and managing rural water uses 4.2 Coordinating and managing urban water uses 5. Reducing water-related climate risks 5.1 Preparing disaster-risk reduction policies & strategies 5.2 Reducing flood risks 5.3 Improving flood management 5.4 Reducing drought risks 5.5 Improving drought management

Vision & Objectives Strategic Objectives Sub-Objectives 6. Improving water Governance 6.1 Developing the necessary institutions 6.2 Enhancing individual and institutional capacities 6.3 Improving the policy environment 6.4 Strengthening the legal framework 7. Promoting international cooperation 7.1 Addressing International Obligations 7.2 Promoting transboundary water cooperation

CONSISTENCY..

APPROACH To the point and concise document Inter ministerial consultation The Water Resource Management strategy of 2008 adopted Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) as the approach to achieve its vision However, for revised vision a livelihood-centred IWRM as well as climate resilient approach that is in-line with the Afghanistan’s climate Change Strategy and Action Plan was opted Climate-Resilient Water Resources Development and Management CRWRDM builds on the concept of IWRM to focus on building resilience to climate change and variability. While retaining all the defining characteristics of IWRM, Water resource management will be carried out through integrated planning with sectoral implementation. River Basin Agencies will carry out all the assessment, planning, allocation and monitoring of water availability and water use in each river basin.

INDICATORS TO MONITOR OF THE STRATEGY

PRIORITIZATION OF STRATEGIC ACTIVITIES Immediate- By end of year one Short Term – By end of year two Medium Term- between 2-7 years  Long Term- 7-12 years (till 2030) Follow up Documents to be Prepared Implementation Plan Strategic Investment Plan

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