Since 2004, the European Union has taken several steps in support of the Government of Afghanistan in its reconstruction efforts by allocating an estimated EUR 120 million contribution to different River Basin Projects under the umbrella of initially two river basin programs, the Kunduz River Basin Programme (KRBP) and the Amu River Basin Programme (ARBP). In 2011, both programs were consolidated under a unique initiative, the Panj Amu River Basin Programme (P-ARBP), which started in 2009.
P-ARBP will finish in 2016 but the EU would like to continue its support to the basin through a new project to be administered by Asian Development Bank (ADB). This is in line with the EU’s policy in Afghanistan of moving funding on-budget or co-financing, with the aim that the Government of Afghanistan can manage such funds with increased ownership, and thus sustainability.
The European Commission launched a tender for a services contract to undertake a Feasibility Study for the new Panj-Amu River Basin Project which was awarded to Landell Mills Ltd
The purpose of the Study is to inform the decisions of the Government of Afghanistan (GoA), the board of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Union (EU) on the allocation of a budget of USD 76.75 million (US$50m from EU, $26m from ADB and $0.75m in government in-kind contribution) for a Project with a 7 year implementation period in line with the existing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) project (the Panj-Amu River Basin Programme (P-ARBP)) in the Panj-Amu River Basin.
While the Study is financed and contracted by the European Commission (EC), it will follow the typical requirements for a Project Preparatory Technical Assistance (PPTA) which are to conduct due diligence for the Project, and prepare project documents for approval for loan/grant funding and co-financing. The loan will be a sector loan so that it can maximise the impact of investments by removing barriers in the enabling environment (policies/reforms).
The new Project will increase agricultural productivity in the Panj-Amu River Basin through improving access and use of water at farm, scheme and river levels. The project will improve yields, cropping intensities and irrigated areas on a command area of 74,500ha, resulting in increased farm incomes and reduced rural poverty for over 55,000 households (over 400,000 beneficiaries), improved food security, import substitution, especially for wheat hence improving self-sufficiency, and an increase in exports for high-value products such as fruit and nuts. Additional benefits include a reduction in conflict over water use, and an increase in sales of agricultural inputs such as fertilisers.
The Project will have three outputs as follows:
Output 1: Water allocation and availability improved. This output provides the capacity and resources for MEW, and associated River Basin Agency (RBA) and Sub-Basin Agencies (SBAs) in the Panj-Amu river basin to: (i) improve the conveyance and allocation of water to the irrigated farm systems through rehabilitating and upgrading (including climate proofing) of water conveyance infrastructure (head works and main canals) in priority schemes (ii) establish and strengthen the capacity of 112 water user associations (WUAs) and (iii) improve the capacity of MEW, RBA and SBAs and systems in place for more effective water allocation (i.e. sharing) between schemes.
.Output 2: On-farm water management enhanced. This output provides the capacity and resources for MAIL, and associated DAILs in up to five provinces (Kunduz, Takhar, Baghlan, Badakshan and Bamyan) in the Panj-Amu river basin, to: (i) improve irrigation infrastructure (at the secondary and tertiary canal level), predominantly in schemes identified for improvement under Output 1 in order to have an integrated approach. (ii) establish and strengthen the capacity of at least 112 IAs to operate and manage irrigation infrastructure in these schemes t; and (iii) improve water use efficiency at the farm level by improved on-farm water management and agronomic techniques with at least 6,300 farmers having improved knowledge from 21 demonstration plots.
Output 3: Watersheds properly managed and protected. This output provides the capacity and resources for MAIL, and associated DAILs in up to five provinces (Kunduz, Takhar, Baghlan, Badakhshan and Bamyan), to improve community-based watershed management. This will result in the restoration and protection of 10,500 hectares of forestry/rangeland. This output includes (i) preparation of a community-based natural resources management technical manual and guidebook; (ii) training of DAILs’ staff as master trainers who will conduct training of communities; (iii) identification of approximately 21 watershed/rangeland sites for restoration and protection; (iv) creation of community forestry/rangeland associations for these sites; and (v) preparation and implementation of NRM plans for these sites (including initatives such as small water storage reservoirs; check dams; bunds; tree planting, rangeland management and alternative livelihood activities.