Strengthening water resilience in Tajikistan’s Syr Darya Basin

By Marian Wojciech Szymanowicz

Tajikistan, a landlocked Central Asian nation of ten million people, relies heavily on irrigation for its agriculture. Of its 720,000 hectares of arable land, only about 515,000 are effectively used. Historically, water management followed administrative boundaries rather than hydrological realities. As a result, local authorities often lacked a basin-wide understanding of water availability, competing demands and ecosystem needs. Climate change has intensified these structural weaknesses. Rapid glacier melt increases floods and mudflows in spring, while prolonged summer droughts create water scarcity precisely during peak agricultural demand.

To overcome these structural weaknesses, the government adopted the Water Sector Reform Programme (2016–2025). It marked a shift from fragmented, administrative water management to one based on natural river basins and the principles of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).

A multi-level transformation

Funded by the Swiss Government and implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, GIZ International Services (Project Phase 1 and 2), the NGO Acted and partners, the National Water Resources Management (NWRM) project supports the reform process by linking national policy change with practical implementation. It combines basin-level planning, climate-resilient agriculture and disaster risk reduction measures to improve rural livelihoods.

The project follows a simple principle. Sustainable water management requires coordination across levels and sectors. It connects policy frameworks at the top with tangible actions at the farm level, covering scales from the national basin to local watersheds, irrigation schemes and Water User Associations (WUAs).

At national level, NWRM contributed to drafting the new Water Code, adopted in 2020. This milestone paved the way for the creation of the River Basin Organisation and River Basin Council and for the preparation of River Basin Management Plans to guide long-term water governance. At the basin and watershed levels, the project works in the Aksu, Isfana, Tomchasay and Khojabakirgan sub-basins (see Map).

Building institutions and skills

Three project phases have gradually expanded activities from one pilot watershed to several. Phase I (2014–2018) piloted the first Integrated Watershed Management Plan, focus on applying nature-based solutions for watersheds rehabilitation and disaster risk reduction in the Aksu watershed, showing promising results. The approach was replicated in the Isfana watershed during Phase II (2018–2022), and again in the Khojabakirgan watershed in Phase III (2022–present).

Beyond field activities, the project has strengthened legal and institutional foundations for Integrated Water Resources Management. The Water Code and subsequent River Basin Management Plan (2021–2025) have given Tajikistan a comprehensive legislative and organisational framework for basin-based planning for the first time.

In all three phases, the project has provided assistance to irrigation agencies, Water User Associations and farmers to improve irrigation water efficiency at the farm and irrigation scheme levels. In its current phase, the project is helping to integrate basin and watershed plans into the socio-economic development strategies of the Sughd province and local districts.

Multi-level and cross-sectoral approach for implementation of IWRM

Participation and partnership

Effective water management needs collaboration. The project engages a wide range of actors, including the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MEWR), the Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation (ALRI), the Committee of Environment Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Committee of Housing and Municipal Services. At basin level, the project cooperates with Sughd regional authorities, District and Jamoat administrations. At the irrigation scheme level, the project works together with the Agency of Land Reclamation and Irrigation and the Water User Association. At the watershed level, the project cooperates with local communities and civil society organisations.

Installing pipe irrigation. Photo: Helvetas Tajikistsan

Stakeholders across all levels consistently prioritise five goals: efficient water use, stronger cross-sector collaboration, climate-resilient agriculture, modernised irrigation systems and effective disaster risk reduction.

Overcoming challenges through learning

Introducing IWRM in Tajikistan has not been without obstacles. Despite the adoption of an IWRM-oriented new Water Code, the sectoral silos approach of public administration persisted. Moreover, limited delegated authority for new basin organisations has hindered progress. However, the project has addressed these constraints through policy dialogue, capacity development and visible demonstration projects.

Long-term project engagement has allowed institutional learning and development. Improved irrigation systems and participatory planning have helped build trust among communities and government bodies. The inclusion of women and youth in basin forums has further strengthened representation and shared responsibility for managing water resources.

Results and impact

Agriculture uses about 90 per cent of the region’s available water resources. Increasing irrigation efficiency has therefore been a top priority. The project supports irrigation agencies and Water User Associations in rehabilitating canals and applying water-saving technologies such as drip irrigation and improved scheduling. Over 3,000 farmers have adopted more efficient practices, which have increased yields in crops like cotton, potatoes and orchards while conserving water and soil. Here are the results in detail:

• At national and basin level, the National Water Code has been aligned with IWRM principles.The River Basin Management Plan (2021–2025)has been implemented, and the River Basin Organisation and Council were established in 2020. Furthermore, a Basin Forum of Women and Youth that amplifies local voices has been created.
• At watershed level, integrated watershed management has been successfully applied in multiple basins, while Disaster Risk Reduction models with Nature-based Solutions have piloted and established (e.g. reforestation that reduces landslides and sediment runoff, stabilises river systems and mitigates downstream flood damage), and active watershed dialogues have been held.
• At community level, farmers have gained higher productivity via water-saving tech. More than 3,000 land users have adopted sustainable agriculture practices improving soil stability and water conservation. Women are playing an increasingly recognised role in water user associations and basin forums.
   

Water efficiency training for women farmers. Photo: Helvetas Tajikistan

Looking ahead

The next phase will deepen the integration of basin and watershed plans into regional planning, strengthen institutional capacities, an­­­d continue expanding nature-based disaster risk reduction measures. Mobilising investments for critical water infrastructure and monitoring systems will also be key.

By linking policy reform, institutional development and tangible benefits for rural people, Tajikistan’s National Water Resources Management project has shown how Integrated Water Resources Management can move from concept to practice, building a more resilient future in a water-scarce region.

Marian WojciechSzymanowicz is a Project Manager at HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Contact: marian.szymanowicz@helvetas.org

Further reading:

Rural 21 issue no 1/2020: "Water for Food and Agriculture"