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Water is a key natural resource to Uzbekistan’s economy. Ninety percent of water resources used in Uzbekistan are transboundary and flow from the territory of its Central Asian neighboring countries. The largest consumer of water is the agricultural sector (89%). The rational use of water therefore, is a key to its economic growth and environmental sustainability, but despite undertaken efforts, there is still an empty space to fill in for sustainable management of water resources.
The Government of Uzbekistan has implemented a number of reforms up to date – water management was shifted from administrative-territorial bodies to basin administrations in 2003, e.g. instead of provincial or district WMOs (oblvodkhozes and rayvodkhozes) Basin irrigation system authorities (BISAs) were established. In the late 1990s as an experiment, and through mid-2000’s as a follow up, the government has initiated establishment of Water Consumer Associations (WCAs) across Uzbekistan.
Awareness of population about the matter is hence crucial for formulating sustainable solutions. Therefore, effective awareness building amongst public is very important for changing baseline situation and should be facilitated through systematic partnership with NGOs and mass media, which would assure sustainability of results and bring expected impact/change.
Overall objective: To sensitise and generate a greater degree of awareness on the strategic importance of water saving, water conservation and environmental protection under the conditions of climate change.
Specific objectives:
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Facilitate and strengthen network of Uzbek environmental NGOs to promote awareness on water and environmental issues, and strengthen and improve working relations with state organizations to formulate effective environmental policies;
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Provide tools and instruments for the mass media and environmental journalists to improve information coverage, advocacy effectiveness and campaigning among public on water, environmental and related issues;
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Information dissemination and awareness building among public, access to the local governance and communities (mahallas, farmers, schools, universities and local authorities) on importance of water as critical resource, its rational use and environmental protection to foster public participation in decision making.
Main activities:
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Development of Awareness Building and Communication Strategy on Water and Environment;
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Cooperation with/or strengthening network of environmental NGOs, youth organizations and mass media will be the key activities;
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Organization of master-classes on tools for effective reportage on water and environmental issues and media-tours for Uzbek journalists to demonstration sites for showcasing the best practices on rational water use;
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Organization of education initiatives, conferences, forums, informative workshops, and public awareness campaigns, camps, competitions (pictures, songs, social videos, etc.), tree planting, water harvesting, science fairs, online webinars on water and environment, facilitation of online discussions and topical blogs.
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Water professionals
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Farmers, rural communities (mahallas)
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Local authorities
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Water organizations
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Youth organizations, schools, universities
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Mass media and non-governmental organizations
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Reinforced management and organisational capacities of participating NGOs, youth and mass media organizations;
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Reinforced capacity and network of Uzbek NGOs and their improved partnership with local authorities to jointly advocate and lobby on water and environmental issues.
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Encouraged media equipped with appropriate tools to embrace informative and effective water and environmental campaigns for an impact.
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Increased water, climate change and environmental awareness and effective participation of the general-public in environmental activities at all levels.
Project manager – Ms. Shakhnoza Umarova
E-mail: shumarova@carececo.org
Tel.: +7 727 265 43 33 (ext. 275)