Tajikistan is highly
vulnerable to natural hazards that can cause disasters. Due to its mountainous
terrain, the country frequently experiences disasters related to rainfall, such
as floods and landslides, but also dry spells. At the same time, farming and
firewood collection are widely practised in ecologically fragile areas, such as
the upper zones of watersheds. Inadequate land management practices result in
soil degradation and increased water runoff, which alter the water balance and
increase the risk of disaster. Integrated Watershed Management (IWSM) uses Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices to manage trade-offs between
immediate human needs and the protection of ecosystems in watershed areas.
Between 2013 and 2015, the
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) worked to integrate
watershed management projects in Muminabad district and the Rasht and Ferghana
valleys. Technical support was provided by the Centre for Development and
Environment (CDE) of the University of Bern, which made accessible
state-of-the-art knowledge and know-how to project partners.
The project integrated
activities at the local and national levels, linking them to the global
level. Five workshops brought together local stakeholders in Muminabad
District, Rasht Valley, Ferghana Valley, and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous
Region. The knowledge management component was designed to provide
state-of-the-art approaches and methods, while facilitating exchange among IWSM
practitioners and decision-makers. Inputs were provided to the Central
Asian Mountain Partnership regional forum and SDC’s multi-country
field–field exchange on DRR in 2012. The project used WOCAT tools and
resources, and developed them further in the field of watershed management. It
also worked with PhD and MSc students of the University of Bern and the
University of Central Asia.
The project showed that
effective IWSM and DRR can be delivered through sound SLM practices that consider
the local context and incorporate local people’s knowledge about cultivation
practices. Spreading SLM practices thus requires a community-based approach
that enables local actors to participate in decision-making on local plans and
strategies. Tajikistan’s ongoing reform of the water sector provides an
opportunity to integrate aspects of knowledge management and local stakeholder
participation in effective IWSM planning.
Knowledge management at the
watershed level
Workshops and training of
trainers were conducted for the different SDC projects and in collaboration
with the IWSM implementing partners: Caritas in Muminabad (2012 and 2014),
MSDSP in Garm (2014), and ACTED and Helvetas in the Ferghana Valley (2014 and 2015).
Spreading lessons learned and
knowledge on IWSM among stakeholders at the national level
Policy briefs and videos were created to spread IWSM
knowledge among stakeholders involved in watershed management, project staff,
and government experts. The materials were used and distributed at training
events, round tables, and in conferences. IWSM policy brief No. 1 was published
in May 2014 and provided background information on IWSM in Tajikistan. IWSM policy
brief No. 2 followed in May 2015 and focused on “Pathways to effective
integrated watershed management”.
Sharing knowledge across the Central
Asia region and globally
The CDE team and IWSM partner organizations held
presentations at various workshops and conferences at the regional and global
level, to share knowledge from the IWSM activities in Tajikistan with a wider
audience.
PhD and MSc studies helped build the
knowledge base on IWSM
The collaboration with Central Asian and Swiss PhD
students was a win-win situation for the IWSM projects as well as the research.
The students contributed to building the IWSM knowledge base while interacting
with stakeholders. Central Asian PhD researchers registered at University of
Bern, and part of the Central Asia Faculty Development Program (CAFDP) of the
University of Central Asia (UCA), contributed in various ways: especially
through moderating workshops and providing presentations, but also with
translations and organizational support.
EDA: Disaster risk reduction, emergency relief and reconstruction. Read here.
Switzerland
