1. Transboundary Water Cooperation in Central Asia: Examples and Modes
Dr. Iskandar Abdullaev

2. Transboundary Cooperation: pre-conditions
Transboundary river systems: source of water and links riparian states
Transboundary infrastructure of requires coordination and joint operation
Water allocation: coordination and cooperation of national water-energy and other relevant agencies

3. Transboundary cooperation: challenges
Soviet system- collapsed, new system captures mostly allocation principles and institutions
National interests and plans – differ from each other and compete for transboundary water (timing, volume, quality)
Regional organizations are focused on large river systems. Small transboundary water courses are outside of cooperation network

4. Transboundary cooperation: challenges
Water is a key element of socio-economic development in the region:
Arid climate requires irrigation for food production
Hydro-energy is untapped potential for energy production
Environment is struggling due to long ignorance
Nation building in five Central Asian states have been a key process determining regional processes, including water cooperation

5. Transboundary cooperation: challenges
Transboundary river systems: source of water and potential tensions:
Upstream and downstream: energy vs. irrigation, quantities, timing (Rogun, Kambar Ata cascades of hydro-stations vs. water- environmental consequences)
Transboundary infrastructure: requires coordination and joint operation:
Operation mode (energy vs. irrigation), cost of Operation and maintenance, joint planning and operation
Water allocation: coordination and cooperation of national water-energy and other relevant agencies:
Allocation principles, long-term agreements, conventions- international rules

6. Transboundary cooperation: challenges
(SDC. 2002)

7. Transboundary cooperation: analysis
Legal background:
1992 agreement (prolongation of Soviet arrangements)
UNECE Convention (3 out 5 countries are signatories)
Basin agreements (short-lived)
Institutional Set up:
Regional water- environment cooperation organizations
Rotational nature
Self-funding, sectoral scattered

8. Transboundary cooperation: approaches and instruments
Transboundary approaches:
Exchange: water for fuel/energy
Compensation for water releases
Water-energy consortium(s)
Regional vs. bilateral
Transboundary cooperation instruments:
Data and Information exchange
Joint capacity building
Joint project implementation (ASBP’s)

9. Transboundary cooperation: approaches and instruments
Countries water policies, interests
Regional water system
Socio-political system, economic, agricultural and other sectorial policies
National water system
Land and water rights, de-collectivization
Everyday
water
management
Global processes
Challenges

10. Transboundary cooperation: examples
Chu-Talas:
Operation and maintenance oriented cooperation
Institutionally structured and long-term
Internationally well known, “best practice”
Isfara:
Legal basis for cooperation
Open for other party (-ies)
More of IWRM elements: institutions, long-term planning

11. Transboundary cooperation: regional organizations
ICWC- water allocation:
Seasonal water allocation
Research and practical aspects of WRM
ICSD- sustainability:
Inter-sectoral, environmental and development
Regional Environmental Programme (Regional Environmental Programme for Central Asia)
EC IFAS:
Aral Sea problem and overcoming
Aral Sea Basin Programmes

12. Transboundary cooperation: instruments
Capacity building and technical level of interventions, skilled professionals
Information and data management
Joint institutions: organizational instruments
Planning: basin plans capacities and methodologies
Trust building and joint working groups (thematic)

13. Transboundary cooperation: instruments
Water systems of all levels are interlinked:
Deterioration in local level will have a negative impact on national and regional levels and vice-versa
Improvements of local and national level water management and governance will enhance regional cooperation
Countries may enhance regional cooperation through:
Regional level, multi-country cooperation
Bi- lateral and specifically focused cooperation
International obligations, conventions
Local and national plans on water improvements

14. Transboundary cooperation:cost or opportunity
Costs of limited cooperation are very significant
Pressures on water resources are rising
Default means increasing risks and costs; but default is not destiny
But opportunities for improved cooperation & its’ potential economic benefits are enormous!

15. Transboundary cooperation: outlook
Prolongation of soviet period water allocation principles, setting up regional institutions- water a technical issue
1990’s- 2000’s
Seeking new arrangements and agreements, increase of contestation of water cooperation principles – water economic and political issue
starting from 2000’s until recently
Search for pragmatic and effective solutions, difficult dialogues- water a security issue
Since 2015

16. Transboundary cooperation: outlook
Regional cooperation in Central Asia:
is a none-linear process and transformed due course of development of CA countries and currently it is more of pragmatic nature
soviet period water cooperation have been part of socio-economic and political system and can not be reproduced/replicated in current context
Socio-economic and political transformations (reforms) in Central Asian countries have produced new relationships at the regional level
Water cooperation depends on socio-economic systems and political nature of the CA states