Drainage, Irrigation and Wetlands Improvement Project

The Drainage, Irrigation and Wetlands Improvement Project Phase 1 (DIWIP) dealed with alleviating drainage and associated soil salinization problems which affected the right bank of the Amu Darya in Uzbekistan. The situation was remedied through the construction and rehabilitation of drainage collectors, irrigation structures and improved irrigation water management throughout the irrigation and drainage system, including water management in the fields. A related concern addressed by the projectwas to reduce the disposal of drainage water into the Amu-Darya River to avoid occurrence of excessive mineralisation concentrations which had arisen in the past. The total project volumewas 74.5 million USD.

The M&E Component monitored the correct implementation of the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) at the construction sites, the effects on herders’ livelihood and livestock on pasturelands, the impact on archaeological monuments, the development of wetlands along the new drainage water collectors, including biodiversity and water supply to the Badai-Tugai Nature Reserve, the effects on drainage on soil salinization, effects of improved irrigation water management and the socio-economic impact on farming and non-farming inhabitants as well as their health and drinking water provision. The M&E consultancy had two separate, but connected objectives:

To ensure early identification of potentially negative consequences on project implementation including timely and effective corrective measures;
To provide information to all stakeholders on the effectiveness of the project’s activities and enable improvements to be introduced in subsequent stages of project implementation or in follow-up projects.