Water Institutional Reforms in Kyrgyzstan - The Politics of Water Institutional Reform in Neopatrimonial States - page 88

tical work, which depends on the environmental conditions: if pumping stations must be
served, there is greater need for staff. The RaiVodKhoz of Sokuluk, the raion of the local case
study, has between 100 to 115 employees, depending on the season. This is the same amount
as during Soviet times. 99
Figure 9: Organizational structure of the water administration

Structure of Water Management

Ministry of Agriculture,
Water Management and
Processing Industries
Department of Water
Management

WB/ADB Project
Implementation Unit

WUA Support
Department

Provincial Basin Water
Management Department
(Obl VodKhoz)

Provincial WUA
Support Department

District Water Management
Department
(RayVodKhoz)

District WUA Support
Department

Water User
Associations

Water Users/Farmers

Source: own compilation based on Hassan et al. 2004: 9.
Since the mid nineties, Water User Associations (WUAs) have become established as the low
est level of water management. They are designed as formally independent non state organiza
tions responsible for the operation and maintenance of tertiary (on farm) channels. Their func
tion and role in relation to the state water administration will be analyzed in detail in chapter
6.3. In order to assist, train, and control the WUA staff, World Bank financed WUA support
departments have been established. They are attached to the central level, the OblVodKhozes as
well as at many of the RaiVodKhozes in order to facilitate the interaction between the respective
RaiVodKhoz and WUAs (see Figure 9). These normally consist of a WUA development special
ist, a hydro engineer, and an accountant.
In the final year of the Soviet Union, budget allocations to the then Ministry of Water Re
sources were above 35 Mio USD. In 1999, the DepVodKhoz received about 5 Mio USD. This is
a reduction by more than 85%. Today funding covers only about one third of all necessary
operational costs (Bucknall et al. 2003: 4). 100 According to Johnson III, Stoutjesdijk, and Dja
lobaev (2002: 8f), the budget consists of 2 Mio USD direct allocations from the Ministry of
Finance, 1.7 Mio collected from water fees (ISF, see ch. 6.3.4) and 2.1 Mio grants from the
European Commission. According to the otdel podderzhki AVP (2001: 1), budget allocations
99 Author's interview with the director of the RaiVodKhoz Sokuluk, Sokuluk, 05/10/2005.
100 Author's interview with the vice-director of the DepVodKhoz , Bishkek, 09/15/2004