Исследования и публикации

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.

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.

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;

This report addresses a fundamental question facing policymakers in Uzbekistan: are worker skills hindering employment outcomes? The main finding of the report is that, indeed, worker skills gaps are hindering employment outcomes in Uzbekistan. In fact, employers, particularly formal sector employers, seek workers who possess both cognitive and non-cognitive skills. The higher employability and higher wage rates among higher skilled workers is mostly explained by the use of those skills in workplaces. But, skills gaps persist, leading a large share of employers to report shortages of high-skilled workers. These shortages are resulting in high wage premiums, tertiary graduates earn on average 55 percent more than similar workers with a general secondary education. However, large variations in observed skills among adults with the same level of educational attainment indicate that formal education is failing too many people. The report outlines weaknesses in the way skills are formed in Uzbekistan. While skills are developed during different stages in the life cycle and a host of actors are involved, families, for example, play a central role, the education and training system has a mixed record in skill formation. The report argues that the government could do more to align the skills imparted through the education and training system with the needs of employers. The government can also do more to get children off to the right start by investing in early childhood development, where rates of return to investment are generally very high and important soft skills are learned. Finally, more can be done to match the supply of skills with employer demand by improving the use of information in matching skills to jobs in the labor market DOWNLOAD

15.02.2019

Improving weather, climate, and hydrological services delivery in Central Asia (Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan)

Rogers, David; Smetanina, Marina Igorevna; Tsirkunov, Vladimir V.;

The purpose of this report is to present the results of an assessment of national weather, climate, and hydrological services in Central Asia and to present a program to improve these services. The report is based on the findings of three country assessments - the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan - and supporting regional documentation. These and other countries that form the Central Asian region share common concerns, regarding economic development and the vulnerability of their economies and people to weather, climate, and hydrological extremes. National assessments are based on evaluations of weather, climate, and hydrological hazards; key users’ needs; national hydro meteorological services’ (NMS) capacities; and potential economic benefits from improvement of hydro meteorological service delivery. The results of this global facility for disaster reduction and recovery (GFDRR) work and summary report will contribute directly to the development of the regional initiative to improve weather, climate, and hydrological service delivery in the Central Asia.

15.02.2019

Tajikistan - Agricultural sector risk assessment

Broka, Sandra; Giertz, Åsa; Christensen, Garry N.; Hanif, Charity Worsham; Rasmussen, Debra L.;

Agriculture is among the most risk-prone sectors in the economies of Central Asia. Production shocks from weather, pests and diseases and adverse movements in agricultural product and input prices not only impact farmers and agri-business firms, but can also strain government finances. Some of these risks are small and localized and can be managed by producers. Others are the result of more severe, exogenous shocks outside agriculture or outside the country, which require a broader response. Failure to respond adequately to these more severe risks leads to a perpetual cycle of ‘shock-recovery-shock’, which reinforces poverty traps and compromises long-term growth. The agriculture sector’s exposure to production and price risk is increasing. Climate change is increasing production risks in the short to medium-term by increasing the frequency and severity of droughts and floods and in the longer-term by reducing the availability of water for irrigation due to accelerated glacial melt. The modernization and commercialization of agricultural production and processing, which is critical for sector growth, also raises the sector’s exposure to price risk at a time of high volatility on international markets for agricultural commodities. An effective response to these risks requires a broader, more integrated approach to risk management than the current system of ex-ante, public sector activity associated with crop and livestock disease and ad hoc, ex-post emergency responses to local disasters. Measures to strengthen risk mitigation will need to be mainstreamed into sector development and investment programs, additional human and financial resources will need to be allocated to the public institutions responsible for ex-ante and ex-post risk management, and the potential for transfer (insurance) mechanisms will need to be clarified and developed where feasible. Given the limited human and financial resources available for public sector activity, a clear sense of the priorities for agriculture risk management is also required, together with a balanced view of the respective roles of public and private sector stakeholders.

15.02.2019

Kazakhstan - Agricultural sector risk assessment

Broka, Sandra; Giertz, Åsa; Christensen, Garry N.; Rasmussen, Debra L.; Morgounov, Alexei; Fileccia, Turi; Rubaiza, Rhoda

Agriculture is among the most risk-prone sectors in the economies of Central Asia. Production shocks from weather, pests and diseases and adverse movements in agricultural product and input prices not only impact farmers and agri-business firms, but can also strain government finances. Some of these risks are small and localized and can be managed by producers. Others are the result of more severe, exogenous shocks outside agriculture that require a broader response. Failure to respond adequately to these more severe risks leads to a perpetual cycle of ‘shock-recovery-shock’ which reinforces poverty traps and compromises long-term growth. A broad-based program to improve livestock productivity is recommended to strengthen the resilience of livestock production systems and rangeland use in Kazakhstan. Proposed interventions include measures to: (i) reverse degradation of water, soil and vegetation cover; (ii) safeguard the long-term viability of rangeland ecosystems, while ensuring sustainable access to grazing land; and (iii) strengthen livestock services (veterinary, animal health, feed and fodder supply, destocking, water and grazing access, and weather and market information). These measures will enable farmers to manage their resources better, to respond to climate and market signals and to protect their resource base in times of drought. The recommendations developed under these three solution areas continue the underlying emphasis on mitigation as the foundation for risk management. They also highlight the mutually reinforcing benefits of measures to improve crop and livestock productivity for both risk management and sector growth.  DOWNLOAD

15.02.2019

Kyrgyz Republic - Agricultural sector risk assessment

Broka, Sandra; Giertz, Åsa; Christensen, Garry N.; Hanif, Charity Worsham; Rasmussen, Debra L.; Rubaiza, Rhoda

Agriculture is among the most risk-prone sectors in the economies of Central Asia. Production shocks from weather, pests and diseases and adverse movements in agricultural product and input prices not only impact farmers and agri-business firms, but can also strain government finances. Some of these risks are small and localized and can be managed by producers. Others are the result of more severe, exogenous shocks outside agriculture or outside the country, which require a broader response. Failure to respond adequately to these more severe risks leads to a perpetual cycle of ‘shock-recovery-shock’, which reinforces poverty traps and compromises long-term growth. The agriculture sector’s exposure to production and price risk is increasing. Climate change is increasing production risks in the short to medium-term by increasing the frequency and severity of droughts and floods and in the longer-term by reducing the availability of water for irrigation due to accelerated glacial melt. The modernization and commercialization of agricultural production and processing, which is critical for sector growth, also raises the sector’s exposure to price risk at a time of high volatility on international markets for agricultural commodities. An effective response to these risks requires a broader, more integrated approach to risk management than the current system of ex-ante, public sector activity associated with crop and livestock disease and ad hoc, ex-post emergency responses to local disasters. Measures to strengthen risk mitigation need to be mainstreamed into sector development and investment programs, additional human and financial resources need to be allocated to the public institutions responsible for ex-ante and ex-post risk management, and the potential for transfer (insurance) mechanisms will need to be clarified and developed where feasible. Given the limited human and financial resources available for public sector activity, a clear sense of the priorities for agriculture risk management is also required, together with a balanced view of the respective roles of public and private sector stakeholders. DOWNLOAD

15.02.2019

Exploratory assessment of factors that influence quality of local irrigation water governance in Uzbekistan

Swinkels, Robertus A; Romanova E; Kochkin, E;

Agriculture in Uzbekistan is almost entirely dependent on irrigation. However, despite reforms to institutional arrangements, much of Uzbekistan’s irrigation is reportedly caught in a vicious cycle of inadequate operation and maintenance, low cost recovery, and agricultural productivity that is often moderate or low; in addition, many farmers earn low incomes (World Bank, 2013).Few incentives exist to save water because farmers do not see the direct cost of water provision.This study was undertaken with the aim of contributing to better irrigation water management in Central Asia, beginning in Uzbekistan. It identifies factors and conditions that positively affect the performance of local irrigation water management institutions. The analytical framework for this assessment is formed by the eight design principles for the management of common-pool resources developed by Ostrom (1990). These design principles are in essence factors that are associated with successful collective action in governing common-pool resources such as irrigation water, forests, and fishing areas. By determining why these principles are met in some cases and not in others, and what factors are behind this variation, the author can identify measures that promote these factors/conditions in irrigation schemes. This study was undertaken with the aim of contributing to better irrigation water management in Central Asia, beginning in Uzbekistan. It identifies factors and conditions that positively affect the performance of local irrigation water–management institutions. The study also prepared an associated diagnostic tool that will help design measures and program interventions to strengthen these institutions in ongoing or future irrigation operations. Lastly, the work intends to contribute to an exchange of good practices and knowledge sharing among relevant stakeholders across the Central Asia region.  DOWNLOAD

15.02.2019

Central Asia energy-water development program : annual report 2016

World Bank Group

The Central Asia Energy and Water Development Program (CAEWDP) is a partnership between the World Bank, the European Commission, Switzerland (through SECO), the United Kingdom (through DFID), and the United States (through USAID) to address the challenges of cross-border system interlinkages and national and regional energy and water resources management. The objective of the CAEWDP seeks to strengthen the enabling environment to promote energy and water security at regional level and in the beneficiary countries. Structured along three themes: (1) energy development; (2) energy-water linkages; and (3) water productivity the program pursued three outcome areas since its inception in 2009: (a) investment preparation; (b) regional institutions; (c) diagnostics and analysis. CAEWDP supports the beneficiary countries in achieving their water and energy resourcesmanagement priorities through national and regional actions, addressing the existing challenges and identifying opportunities to generate benefits at the national level and through regional cooperation. These priorities are framed by the “3-I”s – information, institutions, and investments. CAEWDP promotes an enabling environment for water and energy security through generation of knowledge, strengthening of capacity and dialogue processes, and identification of investments. From inception, the program broadened its engagement progressively from diagnostic analyses and information to increasingly strengthening institutions and to catalyzing investments. DOWNLOAD

14.02.2019

Central Asia Energy Water Development Program : promoting pathways to energy and water security - impact report 2009-2017

World Bank Group

The Central Asia Energy and Water Development Program (CAEWDP) is a partnership between the World Bank, the European Commission, Switzerland (through SECO), the United Kingdom (through DFID), and the United States (through USAID) to address the challenges of cross-border system interlinkages and national and regional energy and water resources management. The objective of the CAEWDP seeks to strengthen the enabling environment to promote energy and water security at regional level and in the beneficiary countries. Structured along three themes: (1) energy development; (2) energy-water linkages; and (3) water productivity the program pursued three outcome areas since its inception in 2009: (a) investment preparation; (b) regional institutions; (c) diagnostics and analysis. CAEWDP supports the beneficiary countries in achieving their water and energy resources management priorities through national and regional actions, addressing the existing challenges and identifying opportunities to generate benefits at the national level and through regional cooperation. These priorities are framed by the “3-I”s – information, institutions, and investments. CAEWDP promotes an enabling environment for water and energy security through generation of knowledge, strengthening of capacity and dialogue processes, and identification of investments. From inception, the program broadened its engagement progressively from diagnostic analyses and information to increasingly strengthening institutions and to catalyzing investments. DOWNLOAD

14.02.2019

Investing strategically in higher education : aligning public funding with policy objectives

Weaver, Jason Allen; Traveller, Andrew Gary;

Linking higher education finance and policy, referred to as strategic financing, is increasing in popularity throughout Central Europe and the Baltic Countries. Strategic financing essentially implies that public funding mechanisms are informed by and aligned with specific higher education policy objectives. Governments are asking how the funding strategy can be more supportive of policy objectives. Can funding formulae, for instance, be modified strategically to help realize certain policy objectives? If a government is seeking to enroll more science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) students, for example, could allocating a premium to higher education institutions (HEIs) per STEM student help achieve the policy objective? Like many countries around the work, Central European and Baltic countries are exploring how different financing modalities can provide additional leverage in steering their higher education sector towards specific policy objectives. In recent years, many Central European and Baltic countries are facing common economic, socio-political, and demographic factors. These common challenges can broadly be categorized into three main themes: challenging economic environment; increasing European integration; and declining demographic trends. First, the region still faces fiscal constraints as it emerges from the global economic slowdown. Such economic trends have placed downward pressure on public higher education budgets and increased the call for collaboration between higher education and the labor market. Second, national higher education policies across Central Europe and the Baltic countries are impacted by a broader European policy environment, including the European Higher Education Area. Supranational initiatives, such as the EU’s Education and Training 2020 Strategy, Horizon 2020, and its Modernization Agenda for Higher Education, as well as the intergovernmental Bologna Process strongly influence national higher education policies. Third, a declining population in Europe is shrinking the number of working- and student-age people. After decades of growth in the higher education sector, the number of new students participating in higher education is slowly declining DOWNLOAD

14.02.2019

Central Asia energy-water development program

CAEWDP Experts

In 2016, the Central Asia Energy-Water Development Program (CAEWDP) continued to support efforts to deepen regional cooperation in energy and water and to advocate sustainable solutions to development challenges in these sectors that are central to the economies of the Central Asian countries. CAEWDP aims at strengthening the enabling environment through the generation of knowledge (data and diagnostic analyses), strengthening of institutions (capacity building), dialogue processes and investments that promote energy and water security and help realize the benefits of regional cooperation to advance sustainable development and climate resilience, goals that are inherent to energy and water security. The long-term vision of the program is to catalyze economic growth and livelihood security within Central Asia through regional cooperation and integrated energy and water development initiatives. This report presents the highlights and progress of the Central Asia Water and Energy Development Program (CAEWDP). CAEWDP continued to play a role in raising awareness and supporting capacity-building activities to promote regional water and energy security. The reporting period for this Annual Report is the calendar year from January to December 2016. Report

14.02.2019

The costs of irrigation inefficiency in Tajikistan

Burt, Charles M

The Aral Sea Basin consists of the drainage area of two major rivers, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya. The rivers originate in the Tien Shan Mountains and the Pamirs, and run through Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. An estimated 116 km3 is diverted for irrigation, one of the key drivers of economic growth, employment, poverty reduction, and food security in the region. Despite emerging water stress, water continues to be used in a particularly wasteful manner. Irrigation efficiency in the region is estimated at about 30 percent (that is, only 30 percent of the water that is withdrawn from the rivers for a specific irrigated area actually reaches the roots of plants), and average annual abstraction for irrigation is well over 15,000 m3 per hectare. Improving irrigation efficiency has important regional implications because large amounts of water could be unlocked for more productive purposes by other sectors or in other locations in the basin. 5. But irrigation efficiency is also important from a national perspective. Pumping plays an important role in Central Asia’s irrigated agriculture and accounts for significant sunk and operations and maintenance (O&M) costs. As a result of inefficient use of irrigation water, all Central Asian countries score high in global rankings that compare the water use per person and per unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Central Asian countries are among the most water-intensive economies in the world. The study focuses on Tajikistan in recognition of the interest expressed by national authorities who have articulated concerns about the intensity of energy and water in Tajikistan’s economy. Like its Central Asian neighbors, Tajikistan is highly water- and energy-intensive. Ninety percent of water withdrawals in the country is allocated to irrigation, with 44 percent of the area that was originally equipped for irrigation being reliant on pumps. The irrigation sector accounts for a significant proportion of the total national electricity bill, and is also one of the largest consumers of power in the country. Irrigation efficiency and energy use in the sector are intricately interlinked, and inefficiencies in the use of one resource inevitably have an impact on the other. DOWNLOAD

14.02.2019

Analysis of climate change adaptation activities in Central Asia

enina M., Leslie Breitner Zoom, Umirbekov A., Isaeva G. A. Mukhazhanova A.

The Asian development Bank, Initiatives on disaster risk management in Central Asia and the Caucasus, the Initiative of Central Asian countries on land resources management, Caspian environment programme, climate risk Management, European Bank for reconstruction and development Global environment facility Hyogo framework for action, the framework UN Convention on climate change, the United States Agency for international development, the world health organization (who), the world wildlife Fund DOWNLOAD

14.02.2019

Review of experience on climate adaptation in Central Asia

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This study was conducted by the regional environmental center for Central Asia (CAREC) in conjunction with the Asia-Pacific adaptation network (APAN). The study provides an overview of existing climate change adaptation initiatives in Central Asian States and identifies useful examples of adaptation, taking into account the specific challenges of climate change, as well as relevant actions taken by different actors in the subregion. DOWNLOAD

14.02.2019

TAJIKISTAN: a Situational analysis of socio-economic development in the context of climate change.

Mustayeva N., Vies G., Mor B., Kayumov A.

This situation analysis of the Republic of Tajikistan is one of the results of the assessments of African and Asian countries to determine long-term planning of research projects under the PRICE initiative (towards sustainability in semi-arid countries). PRICE is a new five-year program designed for several countries whose key objective is to gain new knowledge on how economic development is in semi-arid regions can be made more resilient to climate change. DOWNLOAD

14.02.2019

Assessment of assessments Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan: air, climate change, biodiversity and waste.

Makeev T.

14.02.2019

ON THE WAY TO PARIS 2015: What will mean a new global agreement on climate change for Central Asia?

Mustayeva N.

14.02.2019

Assessment of energy consumption of household electrical appliances and energy efficiency policies of household appliances in Central Asia

Umirbekov A., Akhmetov A.