Program Overview
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded Winrock International a five-year cooperative agreement to implement the Water Users Associations Support Program (WUASP). Program activities are being undertaken in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to provide assistance to farmers to promote Water Users Associations (WUAs) to develop their skills and capabilities to effectively plan, maintain and manage their on-farm irrigation and drainage systems.
A WUA is a self-managing group of farmers working together to operate and maintain their irrigation and drainage network to ensure fair and equitable water distribution and increase crop yields. USAID believes that WUAs are the cornerstone to increase agricultural production and effectively managing water resources on irrigated land. The WUASP creates motivating conditions for democratic WUA development by the demonstrating the potential for economic benefit, combined with the opportunity to resolve conflicts, make management decisions and put in place water allocation system that are equitable and productive for all irrigation resource users.
Critical Need
Agriculture within Central Asia, and consequently the livelihood of more than 22 million people, is almost entirely dependent on irrigation. Since independence, investment in the irrigation and drainage infrastructure has been negligible; this is particularly true at the farm level. Consequently, cropped area and crop production within Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan is shrinking. Agriculture investment, particularly at the farm level and within the irrigation and drainage infrastructure is urgently needed to halt the continued economic decline of agriculture and prevent what has been called a potential social disaster for millions of people being displaced with no other alternatives for employment. Water Users Associations (WUAs) are being created to assume the responsibility of this investment.
Program Objectives
The overall objective of the WUASP is to create and strengthen WUAs so that farmers can operate, manage, and make the investment decision needed to maintain and improve the on-farm irrigation and drainage system. As a result of support from USAID, strengthened WUAs will increase their investment in irrigation water management and members of the WUAs will experience economic benefits. The major program objectives are:
- Develop the capacity of WUAs to manage local water delivery systems, using sound business practices, and democratic principles.
- Facilitate an improved legal and regulatory environment that will support the development of WUAs and their long term sustainability.
- Promote awareness of program benefits through targeted public awareness programs.
Program Elements
WUASP approach to increasing WUA management capacity and investment is to provide technical advice, training, and limited financial support to participating WUAs, and public awareness of the program’s goal and success.
Management and Technical Support Training Programs: The management capacity of WUAs is strengthened by providing a comprehensive series of training programs covering water delivery, business practices, conflict resolution and encouraging democratic principles to WUA members and staff.
Regulatory and Policy Support Program: While the organizational and management capacities of WUAs may be improved through training and applied experience, potential benefits to two countries (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) will not be realized without agricultural and legal reform. A critical component to improving the policy and regulatory framework for WUAs, water resources, and agriculture is the promotion or advocacy of new laws and policies that will lead to agricultural reform and an improved investment climate, which will allow farmers to invest their labor and capital to benefit themselves and their country. The prospects for promoting legal reform are enhanced by effectively communicating to politicians and government personnel the advantages of reform.
Targeted Public Awareness: WUASP conducts a coordinated, multi-media, public awareness program to increase the awareness of WUA’s benefits, demonstrate the effectiveness of democratic decision-making, and highlight successes that WUASP have achieved. This strategy helps to encourage lasting institutional and legal support for WUAs.
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NEWS FROM THE WUAs
January 14, 2010.
Cross-Visit and Exchange Experience with Potential WUAs of Rushan Region, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast/GBAO.
Tajikistan
On January 14, 2010 the Water Users Associations Support Program (WUASP) funded by USAID organized a cross-visit with WUAs “Samarqandi”, “Okhchakman” and “Rossiya” for WUAs “Nur” and “Hayot” from Rushan district/Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast..
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November, 2009.
US Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Ken Gross and representatives of US Congress and USAID visit WUAs.
Tajikistan
The U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Ken Gross, Deputy of USAID Tajikistan, Mr. Kevin Dean and representatives from the US Congress met with representatives of Water User Associations organized under the USAID funded Water User Associations Support Program (WUASP)...
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November 23, 2009.
Red Crescent in cooperation with WUASP organizes sewing courses for the girls.
Osh, Kyrgyzstan
From November 9, 2009 10 girls from Kyzyl-Kyshtak aiyl okrugu started attending sewing courses organized by Red Crescent in cooperation with USAID funded Water Users Associations Support Program (WUASP)...
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