Water Institutional Reforms in Tajikistan - The Politics of Water Institutional Reform in Neopatrimonial States - page 132

7 Water Institutional Reforms in Tajikistan

This chapter presents the case study on Tajikistan. Its structure is similar to the one on Kyr
gyzstan: First, the key political actors in water governance will be described (7.1). Then an
overview of the perceptions of the problem will be given and the general policy objectives
presented (7.2). The subsequent subchapters deal with the various reforms: the formulation of
a policy (7.3.1), the reform of the general legal framework (7.3.2), the introduction of irrigation
service fees (7.3.3), and the transfer of irrigation management (7.3.4). In the following discus
sion of the water institutional reforms, the influence of the neopatrimonial institutional context
on the above mentioned processes and outcomes will be analyzed (chapter 7.4). The final
subchapter will summarize the findings of the case study (ch. 7.3.5).

7.1 Administrative Structure and Key Actors in Water Governance

To start with, this chapter will give an overview of the organizational actors involved in in
water governance and the competencies of each. It will first describe the water administration
in a narrow sense (7.1.1), and then it will go on to name other agencies and actors involved in
water governance (7.1.2).

7.1.1 The Water Administration

In Tajikistan, the MinVodKhoz ( Ministerstvo Melioratsii i Vodnogo Khozyajstva ) is a distinct Ministry
of Irrigation and Water Management, which already existed in Soviet times . The basic respon
sibilities of the MinVodKhoz include the development of the policy strategy for water manage
ment and implementation mechanisms for laws; the allocation of irrigation water via licenses;
up dating of the state water register ( kadastr ); 195 operation and maintenance (O&M) of inter
farm facilities for irrigation agriculture; and water supply for pastures. In rural areas, it is also
the MinVodKhoz that is responsible for the maintenance of the drinking water supply; in the
cities and municipalities, it is the local administration, the khukumat . 196
The structure of the MinVodKhoz and its subdivisions has hardly changed since the end of
the USSR. The only new department to emerge since Tajikistan's independence is a special
division for foreign investments. Its task is to coordinate donor projects. All donors are ex
pected to inform the department on the projects. In practice, the department only attends to

195 The water register is published each year based on information on water usage that all water users are required to
provide.
196 Author's interview with the vice-minister of the MinVodKhoz , Dushanbe, 10/09/2003; with a senior official at the
MinVodKhoz , Dushanbe, 08/20/2004.