USAID Regional Water and Vulnerable Environment Activity
Regional capacity building for shared water resources management and the mitigation of environmental risks in Central Asia
Description
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Regional Water and Vulnerable Environment Activity seeks to strengthen regional capacity in support of the management of shared water resources, and to mitigate environmental risks in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya River basins. It further seeks to encourage the raising of a new generation of Central Asian professionals trained in the principles of integrated water resource management (IWRM) and the Water-Energy-Food-Environment (WEFE) Nexus, encouraging long-term sustainable water management and water cooperation at a basin level to spur economic growth in the region. At the core of the activity has been the establishment of a new metering system for measuring water flow, allowing the agency to make more accurate water allocations to agriculture, households and industry.
Technology
The digital technologies and initiatives promoted by the project include a “Community of Practice” e-platform for the exchange of knowledge and network building among students, academicians and professionals working in WEFE Nexus-related fields. New metering systems have been developed to measure water flow, providing real-time data to the National and Regional Committee for Water Resources, along with 24 water and energy modelling scenarios for the Syr Darya River Basin.
Target
The project has targeted water, energy and environmental specialists, academic institutions and members of youth networks (students) in the Central Asian nations who can benefit from the data shared under the project.
Business model
The project is funded by USAID with a budget of USD 21.5 million.
Impact
The project has enhanced the understanding of the Water-Energy-Food-Environment (WEFE) Nexus in Central Asia through the organization of 17 online lectures involving over 1000 specialists, and the provision of training to ten young researchers. It has led to the introduction of IWRM and WEFE Nexus curricula within regional universities and the launch of a Community of Practice e-platform (https://www.riverbp.net/eng/community_of_practice/). The overall impact has been the improvement of regional cooperation in the sustainable use of water resources, the mitigation of environmental risks in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya River Basins, and the development of 24 modelling scenarios for the Syr Darya River Basin in support of sustainable water usage.
Partners
Government of Turkmenistan
Four Betters
Better environment
Better life
