7 May 2014: The Global Water Partnership released a technical focus paper, titled ‘Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Central Asia: The Challenges of Managing Large Transboundary Rivers.’ The paper highlights the high dependency in the region on water for irrigated agriculture and hydropower, which supplies 90% of the regions energy, and stresses the importance of building capacity for IWRM implementation.

The paper includes sections on: Central Asia’s water challenge; the roots of water management in Central Asia; key lessons learned and ways forward; capacity development; and transboundary dimensions. Among lessons learned, the paper identifies: the challenge of disseminating information to a wide range of audiences over large areas; the importance of measuring and monitoring the impact of interventions; the challenge of managing supply and demand; and the importance of good governance.

The paper highlights that the regional experience in Central Asia has confirmed the need for: integrating natural and social systems; accounting for interrelationships between different management units; managing water-related issues crossing administrative borders and units; accounting for different work spaces and objects; accounting for the availability of, and the often contradictory nature of, management objectives and stakeholders; and involving all stakeholders in water governance. [GWP Press Release] [Publication: IWRM in Central Asia: The Challenges of Managing Large Transboundary Rivers]