The Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan, and the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) have signed a financial agreement on the project “Developing a Business Ecosystem for Sustainable Irrigation in Kazakhstan.” The Bank is providing a $3.5 million grant to launch an initiative aimed at modernizing and strengthening the irrigation system, improving water use efficiency and creating a sustainable business ecosystem.
The project will implement state-of-the-art technologies and innovative water management models, including:
- establishing a national information system on water resources
- implementing tools for forecasting and optimal water distribution
- establishing regional centers for modern irrigation
- promoting professional development
- piloting water-saving technologies
- preparing project documentation to construct a water reservoir on the Kenderlyk River.
“We are entering a new phase of cooperation. The project will implement cutting-edge approaches to water management, improve the efficiency of irrigation systems and strengthen the sector’s institutional capacity, including the development of infrastructure solutions and the preparation of necessary project materials,” said Ruslan Dalenov, Vice Chairman of the EDB Management Board.
“The initiative aims to advance irrigation and improve water use efficiency in Kazakhstan. For us, participation in the project means the achievement of strategic goals to modernize water management and enhance climate resilience,” said Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation.
The project is designed to run for several years and provides for pilot implementation zones, expandable scale and replication of successful solutions in Kazakhstan, Central Asia and among the Bank’s member states. The initiative creates a solid foundation for further collaboration between the EDB, government agencies and international partners to ensure sustainable water use.
