Uzbekistan's water resources depend to a large extent on those provided by the transboundary Amu Darya river which are fully allocated and highly sensitive to climate change and water demand and management changes. Especially the agricultural sector, but also the energy and urban water supply sector need to transform into more resilient systems by investing in projects that have climate adaptation as the core objective. This project will support the government in integrating strategic climate adaptation planning and the identification of investment areas in the Amu Darya river basin. FutureWater will deliver a climate change risk hotspot analysis and lead a team of international and local experts in the identification of climate adaptation investments, integrating stakeholder priorities.

Uzbekistan is highly sensitive to climate change which will cause changes in the water flows and distribution: water availability, use, reuse and return flows will be altered in many ways due to upstream changes in the high mountain regions, but also changes in water demand and use across the river basin. The resulting changes in intra-annual and seasonal variability will affect water security of Uzbekistan. Besides, climate change will increase extreme events which pose a risk to existing water resources infrastructure. An integrated climate adaptation approach is required to make the water resources system and the water users, including the environment, climate resilient.

This project will support the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) of Uzbekistan in identifying key priorities for climate adaptation in the Amu Darya river basin and support the identification of investment areas within Amu Darya river basin. The work will be based on a basin-wide climate change risk assessment as well as on the government priorities with an explicit focus on reducing systemic vulnerability to climate change.

The project will undertake:

  • Climate change risk analysis and mapping on key water-related sectors, impacts on rural livelihoods, and critical water infrastructures.
  • Climate change adaptation strategic planning and identify barriers in scaling up adaptation measures at multiple scales with stakeholder consultation and capacity building approach.
  • Identification of priority measures and portfolios for integration into subproject development as well as for future adaptation investment in the Amu Darya river basin. The identification will cover shortlisting of potential investments, screening of economic feasibility, and potential funding opportunities.

FutureWater leads this assignment and develops the climate risk hotspot analysis, and coordinates the contribution of international and national experts, as well as the stakeholder consultation process.

Related publications

  • 2023 - Final ReportD. De Condappa, Hunink, J.E., Khanal, S., Nolet, C., Gaffarov, K., Gojenko, B., Muradov, R., Dosmukhamedova, R., Gaipnazarov, N., Iskanov, A., Kholmatjanov, B., Khujakulov, A., Mamarasulov, K., Tursunov, M., Van der Tak, C. 2023. Climate Risk Analysis and Prioritisation of Adaptation Measures for the Amu Darya River Basin, Uzbekistan. Final Report.X

    Climate Risk Analysis and Prioritisation of Adaptation Measures for the Amu Darya River Basin, Uzbekistan

    D. De Condappa, Hunink, J.E., Khanal, S., Nolet, C., Gaffarov, K., Gojenko, B., Muradov, R., Dosmukhamedova, R., Gaipnazarov, N., Iskanov, A., Kholmatjanov, B., Khujakulov, A., Mamarasulov, K., Tursunov, M., Van der Tak, C.

  • 2023 - FutureWater ReportS. Khanal, Nolet, C., Tursunov, M., Hunink, J.E., de Condappa, D. 2023. Climate Change Risk Mapping of the Amu Darya river basin, Uzbekistan. FutureWater Report 257.X

    Climate Change Risk Mapping of the Amu Darya river basin, Uzbekistan

    S. Khanal, Nolet, C., Tursunov, M., Hunink, J.E., de Condappa, D.