Water resources policy and administrative management

The most part of the water basins in Kazakhstan are transboundary ones, and there are great problems with their pollution, including by the boardering states. Now all the issues are considered at the governmental level, however now in Kazakhstan there is a tendency to hand over many questions connected with water resources management to the local level, to the water basin councils, in particular. Establishment of the water basin councils is considered as one of the key directions for realization of modern integrated approach to water resources management. Owing to the UNDP IWRM Project Balkhash-Alakol water basin council has been set up, and further work on creation of similar bodies in other water basins is conducted. At the same time practice has shown, that there are no necessary methodical materials available. The potential of the public organizations to solve problems of protection and rational use of the water basins is weak, as they insufficiently informed about opportunities how they can participate in decision-making process on the issue. The project is aimed at rendering necessary information, consulting and methodical assistance to creation and further activity of the water basin councils, and also to more active involvement of NGOs and local communities into the councils activity. There is a strong need for publication of methodical material which would be accessible for a wide range of the target groups and could serve as additional push for creation of the water basin councils in all the 8 hydrographic basins of the country. The main project tasks are: 1) Publication and distribution of the methodical brochure about principles and mechanisms of the water basin councils activity. 2) Information and educational work with water-users and public organizations to involve them into water resources management within the framework of the water basin councils. The expected results of the project are: - publication of 800 copies of the methodical brochure about principles and mechanisms of the water basin councils activity in 2 languages; - presentation of the brochure for the state bodies representatives, water-users, NGOS and international organizations; - arrangement of a special training for representatives of 30-40 water-users organizations and NGOs on organizational-legal aspects of participation in the water basin councils creation and activity.

Kazakhstan