Kyrgyz Republic National Water Resources Management Project Trust Fund established

The World Bank and the government of Switzerland have established the Kyrgyz Republic National Water Resources Management Project Trust Fund to improve water resource management and irrigation services in the country.

Switzerland will provide grant financing of approximately $8.5m for the trust fund which will be administered by the World Bank.

Swiss Kyrgyz Republic ambassador Holenstein said that water has cross-sectoral importance for Kyrgyzstan so efficient water resource management will contribute to the country’s sustainable development.

"We are very pleased to team up with the World Bank and jointly support the efforts of the Kyrgyz Government to implement the reform agenda in the sector, in particular implementation of the water code adopted in 2005 and institutional development of partners at all levels starting with a canal, river, basin and national," Holenstein said.

The National Water Management Capacity Project will be implemented from 2014 to 2017 and will provide assistance to the government of the Kyrgyz Republic in strengthening national water management capacity, improving irrigation service delivery to water user associations and improving irrigation management by water user associations. At least 236,000 people in 481 water utility authorities will benefit nationwide.

World Bank Kyrgyzstan country manager Alexander Kremer said that the energy and agriculture sectors in the country depend entirely on the planning and effective management of water resources.

"Not only will this Trust Fund build the capacity of the Department of Water Resources and Land Improvement, National Water Council and WUAs, but it will also help the Kyrgyz government to develop a a national water strategy as well as a water information system, comprising a database of regularly updated water sector data," Kremer added.