Исследования и публикации

15.02.2019

Irrigation and poverty in Central Asia : a field assessment

Thurman, Mike

Irrigation agriculture is critical to livelihoods in the republics of Central Asia, where it accounts for around 90% of crop production. However, in all of the Central Asian republics the vast network of irrigation and drainage (I&D) systems built during the 1960s-1980s has fallen into decay since the demise of the Soviet Union. Given the reliance on the republics on irrigated agriculture, it is clear that some investment will be needed, yet I&D systems are so dilapidated that, by any estimate available, the amount required needed to repair and/or upgrade existing infrastructure is higher than governments can support and donor agencies can deliver. This study was conceived as a field assessment component of a larger study concerning rehabilitation of irrigation networks in Central Asia and the reasons why rehabilitation should be done. The field assessment covers the views of water users concerning the degradation of their I&D networks and its effect on their lives, the ways in which they adapt to this situation, the linkage between I&D system degradation and their perceptions of poverty in their locales, and what they believe should be done to improve matters. Where sufficient information is available, emphasis is placed upon which water users are affected the most, who must adapt, and in what ways. This paper contains the following titles: executive summary, introduction, the degradation of irrigation and drainage systems, the effects of I&D system degradation on agricultural production, the effects of I&D system degradation on drinking water and housing, perceptions of poverty, and conclusion.

Irrigation and poverty in Central Asia : a field assessment

15.02.2019

Institutional changes in forest management in countries with transition economies : problems and solutions - workshop proceedings

Zhanna Gerasimova, Anatoly Petrov, Elena Samoletova, Laurent Debroux, Gerhard Dieterle, Jim Douglas, Andrey Kushlin, Tatyana Shadrunova, and Marina Smetanina

The International Workshop on Institutional Changes in Forest Management in Countries with Transition Economies took place on February 25, 2003, in Moscow, Russia. Approximately 100 participants representing eight ministries of the Russian Government and 16 regions of Russia, 18 countries with transition economies, the World Bank, the private sector, research institutes, academia, and environmental non-governmental organizations attended the one-day event organized jointly by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and the World Bank with support from the Program on Forests (PROFOR). The workshop was held in parallel to the All- Russia Foresters Congress, a gathering of some 5,000 foresters from across Russia to discuss forest management through 2010. The workshop provided an opportunity for decision-makers within the Russian forest sector and transition countries to benefit from the experience of other transition countries. Discussions focused on key issues for the development of the Russian forest sector, including benefits and risks associated with concession management, opportunities associated with forest certification, approaches to forest institution reform, public-private partnerships, and balancing the economic, ecological and social roles of forests. The workshop resulted in a number of conclusions and recommendations to inform the process of forest institution and policy reform. This book is a collection of papers presented and speeches delivered at the workshop, the outcomes of the workshop, and a number of background papers relating to the World Bank's Forest Strategy and operations in the region.

15.02.2019

Institutional changes in forest management in countries with transition economies : problems and solutions - workshop proceedings

World Bank Group

The International Workshop on Institutional Changes in Forest Management in Countries with Transition Economies took place on February 25, 2003, in Moscow, Russia. Approximately 100 participants representing eight ministries of the Russian Government and 16 regions of Russia, 18 countries with transition economies, the World Bank, the private sector, research institutes, academia, and environmental non-governmental organizations attended the one-day event organized jointly by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and the World Bank with support from the Program on Forests (PROFOR). The workshop was held in parallel to the All- Russia Foresters Congress, a gathering of some 5,000 foresters from across Russia to discuss forest management through 2010. The workshop provided an opportunity for decision-makers within the Russian forest sector and transition countries to benefit from the experience of other transition countries. Discussions focused on key issues for the development of the Russian forest sector, including benefits and risks associated with concession management, opportunities associated with forest certification, approaches to forest institution reform, public-private partnerships, and balancing the economic, ecological and social roles of forests. The workshop resulted in a number of conclusions and recommendations to inform the process of forest institution and policy reform. This book is a collection of papers presented and speeches delivered at the workshop, the outcomes of the workshop, and a number of background papers relating to the World Bank's Forest Strategy and operations in the region.

15.02.2019

Water energy nexus in Central Asia: improving regional cooperation in the Syr Darya Basin

This report seeks to review the regional cooperation efforts in the water and energy sectors pursued by the Central Asian Republics during the 1990s in the Syr Darya river basin, identify the reasons for the problems encountered, and suggest an approach to make the cooperation more reliable, sustainable and equitably beneficial to all parties. concerned. It also outlines a methodology for valuing costs and benefits involved in different types of arrangements, so that decisions could be made on the basis of a sound cost benefit analysis. Further it identifies the policy options, structural options and institutional improvements to be pursued by these countries to reinforce the cooperation arrangements.

15.02.2019

Case Study of the Aral Sea Water and Environmental Management Project : an independent evaluation of the World Bank's support of regional programs

Barghouti, Shawki;

This review discusses the dire conditions of the Aral Sea which has seen its surface area declined by two-thirds since 1960. The Aral Sea Water and Environmental Management Project was designed to help the countries in the area solve the environmental crises. This project's objectives are: 1) To stabilize the environment of the Aral Sea Basin; 2) To rehabilitate the disaster area around the sea; 3) To improve the management of the international waters of the Aral Sea Basin; and 4) To build the capacity of institutions at the regional and national level to advance the program's aims. The Bank played a central role in mobilizing the support for the project. The report points out that the regional program received support from several donors, but was hindered by weak coordination, especially in financial management and in sharing information and experiences among the riparian countries. The political leadership of the five riparian states gave the program full support but did not allocate financial contributions to support regional activities.

Case Study of the Aral Sea Water and Environmental Management Project : an independent evaluation of the World Bank's support of regional programs

15.02.2019

Case Study of the Central Asia Biodiversity Project : an independent evaluation of the World Bank's support of regional programs

Chakrapani, Deepa

This paper points out that the Central Asia Biodiversity Project, approved in May 1999, aimed to achieve four objectives: (a) support vulnerable biological communities and ensure conservation of globally important biodiversity in the Western Tien Shan territory; (b) assist the three countries to strengthen and coordinate national policies, legislative frameworks, and institutional arrangements for biodiversity protection; (c) identify alternative income-generating activities for local communities to reduce pressure on protected nature reserves; and (d) establish a regional coordination/cooperation system for biodiversity conservation to prevent fragmentation of habitat corridors. The project achieved most of its major objectives by the time it was completed. It was successful in expanding the territory under nature reserves and national parks, and significantly improving the management of protected areas. As a result, the population of several animal and plant species either increased or was restored to target levels. But the outcome of conservation efforts in areas adjacent to protected areas has yet to become fully evident. The project was also not fully successful in establishing a trans-boundary biosphere reserve and it took two years longer to implement than originally planned due to a slow start.

Case Study of the Central Asia Biodiversity Project : an independent evaluation of the World Bank's support of regional programs

15.02.2019

Agricultural mechanization in Central Asia : responding to new realities

Christensen, Garry

The benefits of agricultural sector reform in Central Asia have yet to extend to farm mechanization. Fifteen years after reform began, most producers are still either using dilapidated, obsolete, Soviet-era machinery for crop production and harvesting; or have reverted to animal traction and manual cultivation. And as machinery replacement has been minimal, the machinery park has deteriorated substantially. Reluctant to accept the new reality of small-holder agriculture in place of large-scale, capital intensive collective farms, most governments have promoted measures to replace existing farm machinery with equivalent new machinery suited to large-scale production systems. Yet tractors, equipment and harvesters of this nature are not only unsuited to the small plots which now provide most agricultural output, they are also beyond the means of most producers. The private sector has also been reluctant to fill this vacuum, either through the provision of finance or the establishment of dealer networks and supply of the parts and technical services essential to keep farm machinery operating. Central Asia's resource base for farm mechanization continues to deteriorate as a result

Agricultural mechanization in Central Asia : responding to new realities

15.02.2019

Cotton in the global context : discussion paper for the governments of Central Asia

Mark Sadler

This report was produced in an attempt to synthesize the common features of the most successful and competitive models in the cotton sector worldwide so they could be presented for consideration to the Governments of cotton growing countries which are concerned with their competitive position in the global cotton market. The report discusses the most successful arrangements which stood the test of time as well as covers the most recent developments which show a lot of promise. This is the first in the series of reports designed for the attention of the Governments and academia of the Central Asian Republics.

Cotton in the global context : discussion paper for the governments of Central Asia

15.02.2019

Integrated urban water management : lessons and recommendations from regional experiences in Latin America, Central Asia, and Africa

Closas, Alvar; Schuring, Matthijs; Rodriguez, Diego;

The purpose of this report is to review a set of Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) initiatives and pilot studies funded by the World Bank’s Water Partnership Program (WPP) in Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The structure of this report is as follows. Chapter 1 introduces the main concepts of IUWM and describes the principal components for the operationalization of IUWM. Chapter 2 reviews the findings of 10 case studies in three regions: Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Central Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. This chapter also reviews the main aspects of each project and highlights their principal contributions to the general understanding of IUWM. Finally, chapter 3 puts forward a set of recommenda¬tions to sustain and enhance the scope of IUWM activi¬ties, and describes how the World Bank and its Water Partnership Program can facilitate the piloting, operational¬ization, and scale up of IUWM.

Integrated urban water management : lessons and recommendations from regional experiences in Latin America, Central Asia, and Africa

15.02.2019

Strengthening analysis for integrated water resources management in Central Asia : a road map for action (Vol. 2) : Annexes (English)

Central Asia Energy-Water Development Program (CAEWDP) Europe and Central Asia The World Bank

This report outlines a 3-year program to upgrade the knowledge platform for managing water resources in Central Asia. Its ultimate purpose is to enhance the ability of all countries to engage in evidenced- based dialogue on water and energy management. It focuses on regional actions, linking all five countries plus Afghanistan, but recognizes the essential role of national initiatives. It covers the core elements of a modern decision support system and, based on extensive consultations, supports a change in accessing, developing, and sharing information and analysis. The intended outcomes of the road map are to: (i) establish a knowledge platform that is accepted by countries as a basis for cooperative actions; (ii) enhance capacity and knowledge sharing at the national and regional levels; and (iii) directly improve management of water at national and transboundary scales.

Strengthening analysis for integrated water resources management in Central Asia : a road map for action (Vol. 2) : Annexes (English)

15.02.2019

The climate challenge for Central Asia

World Bank Group

The report paints a grim picture of what that world will look like. As weather extremes become the new normal and risks to food, water and energy security increase, everyone will feel the impact—particularly the poor

15.02.2019

The skills road : skills for employability in Uzbekistan

Ajwad, Mohamed Ihsan; Abdulloev, Ilhom; Audy, Robin; Hut, Stefan; Laat, Joost de; Kheyfets, Igor; Larrison, Jennica; Nikoloski, Zlatko; Torracchi, Federico;