OSCE Centre in Bishkek supports efficient management of drinking water resources in Isfana

A Memorandum of Understanding between the OSCE, the United Nations World Food Programme in Kyrgyzstan, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit  and the Special Representative of the Government in the Batken province to implement a project on "addressing conflicts over drinking water in Isfana City" was signed on 26 April 2013.

The project aims to mitigate the risk of conflict by helping to improve management of Kyrgyzstan’s natural resource base and provide sustainable and equitable access to drinking water.

Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said: “Water resources are vital for Kyrgyzstan, whose economy is heavily dependent on the agricultural sector. The efficient use and management of drinking and irrigation water will contribute to the sustainable economic development of Isfana and Batken province, which in turn will help minimize the potential for conflict and strengthen political stability.”

The OSCE Centre is participating in the agreement as part of its activities on promoting co-operative approaches in natural resource management. In parallel an OSCE project on supporting Water Users Associations, launched in 2011 in the south of the country, is being continued and extended to Talas province.