The overall objective of the Project (named the Panj-Amu River Basin Programme (P-ARBP)), of which this contract was part, was 'to contribute to the improvement of rural livelihoods (food security and farm incomes) and thus to the overall economic recovery of Afghanistan, respectfully of the natural resource base.' The purpose of this TA was as follows: water and land resources are more economically and equitably managed and sustainably protected. Results to be achieved through the contract included:
Result 1: Integrated River Basin (RB) and project management capacity at central government, Panj-Amu River Basin and Upper & Lower Kunduz / Taloqan Sub-basin levels is further enhanced:
1.1: Basin and sub-basin organisations are in place while project management capacity is enhanced at central government level in relation to river basin;
1.2: Capacity for integrated river basin management further enhanced;
1.3: Land and water planning tools at basin level are operational;
Result 2:
Hydraulic systems are sustainably improved and Water Users' Associations / Groups (WUA/Gs) strengthen the existing Mirab system to allow a more equitable distribution of irrigation water and more efficient Operation & Maintenance (O&M) by the water users:
2.1: Irrigation, drainage and water flow control assets and structures in selected hydraulic systems in the Upper & Lower Kunduz and Taloqan sub-basins are rehabilitated and sustainably improved where appropriate;
2.2: Targeted communities represented by WUAs have the technical, business and management skills required to improve the management of irrigation water and enhance its equitable distribution and ensure application of their agreed O&M plans;
2.3: More economic and equitable irrigation water management is promoted across the Khanabad Irrigation Scheme, for increased reliability of distribution and efficiency.
Result 3:
Biomass increases, and physical and biological erosion control measures are adopted and replicated in selected sub-catchments;
Result 4 (horizontal):
4.1: Any necessary administrative assistance is provided to the Contracting Authority in the management of the Programme;
4.2: Liaison, synergies and complementarities within the Programme and between the Programme and other similar initiatives are developed and lessons learned through programme implementation serve to improve the relevant sector policy development and programming (incl. institutional replication in other basins);
4.3: Local and governmental monitoring capacity is strengthened.
As a result of interventions, 58,000ha (64 irrigation schemes) have directly benefitted from improved irrigation infrastructure, leading to an increase in irrigated cropped area by 27,000ha (an increase of 7% on the irrigated area of the basin, and a 20% increase in the total area irrigated under target irrigation schemes), while over 800,000 water users (19% of the population of the basin) are represented in water user associations (WUAs) which manage almost 170,000 ha of command area under various irrigation systems, which is around 40% of the P-ARBP irrigated area. These are demonstrably helping to reduce conflict over water distribution.
Over 150,000 upper catchment users, with equal female and male members, are represented in 300 catchment management associations or groups, regenerating and protecting over 120,000 ha of pastures, rangeland and degraded woodlands. Tree planting has resulted in approximately 123,000 tonnes of CO² sequestered annually, the equivalent of removing about 27,000 cars from the road.
Under each project component the following was achieved:
River basin management
One river basin agency and six sub-basin agencies established. Water law enacted 3 regulations/procedures approved plus 2 others preparedSupport to preparing the Water Sector Strategy and the draft groundwater management policy.Basin knowledge base/Geographic Information System (GIS), schematic, atlas, profile, model and investment plan prepared4 manuals and 8 guidebooks prepared and disseminated (including on MEW website) and training delivered, both for stakeholders in the Panj-Amu basin, plus in other basins.
Irrigation rehabilitation
780 irrigation (water regulating) structures (such as intakes, off-takes and cross-regulators), as well as approximately 30 head works (including weirs) and the Khanabad barrage, constructed or rehabilitated through civil works investments totalling approximately EUR 44,000,000, averaging EUR750/ha, with an estimated economic internal rate of return (EIRR) of 21%.
Community-based water management
98 water user associations (WUAs) established, registered with the government, and functioning to operate and manage irrigation infrastructure such that the project's physical investment is sustainable and to manage the equitable distribution of water between farmers.418 simple water distribution and management plans codified, monitored and updated411 checklists and schedules for regular and periodic maintenance are in place and implementedOver 1200 training events for over 22,000 participants
Watershed management
Establishment of over 1000 household based nurseries, all managed by women, and 650 anti-erosion devices, to prevent erosion which could lead to flash flooding, damaging irrigation and other infrastructure downstream. 2,080 training events have been organized so far on upper catchment land management related subjects through various NGOs, with 40,217 participants trained2,201 actions agreed in Community Management Groups/ Associations (CMGs/CMAs) meetings and 1,579 successfully implemented.597,876 tree saplings planted (average 88% survival rate) under community forestry and 1,400,768 trees planted under agro forestry (average 89% survival rate)
As a reflection of project success, Landell Mills was awarded the International Development: Non-Physical Project of the Year Award for 2018 by British Expertise, the association of UK consulting firms – see
https://medium.com/british-expertise-international/british-expertise-international-awards-2018-66db4c2b8432