Activities under the Component 3 Improving irrigation management by Water Users Associations within the National Water Resources Management Project - Phase 1.

Component 3 focuses on strengthening the capacity of WUAs, UWUAs, the National Union of WUAs, and WCs to improve management of on-farm and off-farm schemes.

The aim is to increase the capacity of WUAs to more adequately manage the I&D schemes on their balance sheet, and especially to increase the sustainable MOM of rehabilitation investments made under the OIP-2 and the APNIP.

The Component consists of 4 sub-components:

• Assessment and strengthening of WUAs;
• Strengthening of WUA Supports Units;
• Supporting and strengthening UWUAs; and
• Strengthening other water management organizations.

Sub-component 3.1. Assessment and strengthening of WUAs

To date, the assessment of 486 WUAs performance across the country was completed and recommendations for improved WUA performance were developed. The status of the WUA development was determined, which is published in the journal WUA Vestnik. The journal is issued in the amount of 1500 copies and distributed to all WUAs, ayil okmotus, OVK, RVKs, Jogorku Kenesh and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. According to the WUAs status report, the recommendations for improved WUAs performance were prepared and sent to all WUAs.

At the present time, the Component 3 specialists have prepared the second final version of the WUA on-farm MOM Manual. The Manual will be reviewed by international experts, after which it will be submitted to the DWRLI for approval. At present, business plans for the I&D schemes maintenance are being developed, for the provision of equipment to selected 30 WUAs for rehabilitation under the APNIP project.

The Component 3 specialists and WUA S&DU of DWRLI have established an updated structure of the WUA database and transferred it to the PIU database specialist. A mechanism for collecting the WUA database is being developed. According to the action plan for Component 3, the Terms of Reference for the hiring of the company was prepared to draft the irrigation infrastructure (assets) management plans for 200 WUAs, as well as making digital maps for 211 WUAs with GPS data. The company is selected, activities are currently being carried out according to the works schedule presented by the company to the PIU. WUA Assets Management Specialist of Component 3 conducts ongoing monitoring of works under the ToR.

To introduce the practice of agricultural crops irrigation water saving technologies during the growing season of 2016, the TCIC Public Fund (Training, Consultation and Innovation Center) has established and operated 25 demonstration plots (DPs) in all oblasts. Drip irrigation system was used in 7 DPs of 25 DPs, and in the remaining 18 DPs the surface furrow irrigation was used using the water saving technologies. In all demonstration plots, the trainings and the farmers field days with the participation of specialists from the WUA support units, WUAs and farmers were conducted. The activities on the demonstration plots were covered in all oblast media. Based on the results of the activities held in 25 DPs, the workshops were held in all oblast centers and in Bishkek city with the participation of specialists from WUA SUs, WUAs, LGBs, NGOs. As a result, training modules on the application of water-saving technologies for the field level water management and agronomy were developed. The Component 3 specialists are monitored 25 DPs during the vegetation period of 2017.

Sub-component 3.2. Strengthening of WUA Supports Units

The WUA Regional Support Units (RSU) performance assessment was carried out and recommendations for their improved performance were prepared. The recommendations were disseminated to all the WUA RSU. The Component 3 specialists together with the WUA S&DU of DWRLI regularly monitor the implementation of the recommendations.

The Component 3 specialists have prepared improved training modules on 10 main topics for training of WUA specialists, which are coordinated with the WUA S&DU of DWRLI.

The Component 3 specialists have developed a training plan and workshops for specialists from the Regional WUA Support Units and WUA Unions for 2017 and it was approved by the Department of Water Resources and Land Improvement. Together with the WUA S&DU of DWRLI, the WUA training plans for all oblasts were prepared and approved.

During the first half of 2017, the Component 3 specialists, according to the plan, have conducted trainings and workshops for specialists of the WUA support units, UWUAs and WMC members. The trainings using improved training materials were conducted on the following topics:

1. Agronomy basics and agricultural crops cultivation technology;
2. General administration in WUA. Financial management in WUA.Internal audit and control;
3. Legal basis for WUA and UWUA;
4. WUA database. WUA database structure and collection mechanism;
5. Field level water management. Water accounting and flow measurement;
6. Management, operation and maintenance for WUA Union off-farm irrigation and drainage scheme;
7. Development of Public Water Management Councils (PWMC) and general administration in WMC;

8.Gender issues and increase of conflict sensitivity in WUA;

9. Drafting water use plan (irrigation scheduling) based on CROPWAT software;
10. Computer skills. Use of AutoCAD software

In their turn, specialists of WUA support units in all oblasts conduct training for WUA staff on the above-mentioned topics. The training of the WUA staff is constantly monitored by the PIU Component 3 specialists and the WUA Support and Development Unit of the DWRLI.

Sub-component 3.3. Supporting and strengthening UWUAs

In order to support and increase the capacity of WUA Unions, the performance of 10 UWUAs was evaluated and recommendations for UWUAs improved performance were prepared. Recommendations are sent to all WUA regional support units and to all functioning WUA Unions.

On March 24, training for representatives of registered WUA Unions for the development and improvement of the WUA Unions performance was held in the training room of the DWRLI.

On April 26-27, 2017, a workshop on the WUA Unions experience sharing based on the example of the “Urmaral-Birimdigi” WUA Union was held in the Talas oblast.

To provide with the maintenance machinery of irrigation schemes, the WUA Unions selection criteria and a draft business plan for the maintenance of off-farm irrigation schemes was developed and agreed with the DWRLI. Currently, the WUA Unions are being selected for the provision of machinery.

Together with Component 2, an Off-farm MOM Manual is being developed.

Sub-component 3.4. Strengthening other water management organizations.

The Public Water Management Councils (PWMC) performance assessment at the off-farm level was carried out, recommendations for improved their performance were prepared and sent to the regional WUA support units. At the moment, the WMC members are being trained.

On December 1-2, 2016, the Third National Conference of WUA representatives was held in Bishkek city. The conference was attended by 103 delegates from the WUAs and a total invited 269 participants.

The “WUA Vestnik” journal is also published quarterly, with the financial support of the NWRMP-1 project.