The World Bank Regional Water Security Initiative

Introduction

This 2 year project, funded by the World Bank assessed the water security challenges and opportunities in Europe and Central Asia (ECA).

It involved the development and testing of an innovative science-based methodological framework for assessing water security at a national and regional level.

The project successfully explored and operationalized the multi-dimensional concept of water security and generated actionable knowledge to inform policymakers at national and regional levels.

Overview

The World Bank Europe and Central Asia Regional Water Security Initiative aims to promote the World Bank’s vision of “a water-secure world for all” by extending the World Bank’s approach to water security across the ECA region.

This involved applying a systematic approach to water security within a broader context of national (or regional) macroeconomic trends and development objectives, such as the SDGs.

Bringing this Initiative to implementation required addressing a number of gaps, predominately that there is no simple approach to quantifying and integrating all the dimensions of water security.

In an attempt to establish a robust methodology for measuring water security, the Water Global Practice of the World Bank has developed a “Water Security Diagnostic Framework”. This framework is intended to establish a consistent and structured approach to diagnosing water security, without being overly prescriptive. The approach recognizes that not all water-related challenges are equally significant in their impacts on people, ecosystems, and economies, but that a consistent approach is important to identify the most serious risks and greatest unexploited opportunities, to facilitate global comparisons and Benchmarking between countries. Until now, this Framework has been applied in several countries within and beyond the ECA region, and with mixed approaches and results. Against this background, the current project aims to develop a robust and consistent Methodological Framework, building on best practices from previous assessment and new proposals that can help to operationalize the “Water Security Diagnostic Framework” in the ECA region.

Project Team

IIASA leads the research consortium, which has been selected by the World Bank to undertake this project. 

HYDROPHIL is a global consulting and engineering company specialized in the water and environmental sectors. HYDROPHIL works all over the world and has special experience with projects and development processes in countries with developing and transition economies. The company provides services in the fields of water resources management, natural hazards (e.g., floods), irrigation and agriculture, climate change adaptation, water supply and wastewater infrastructure as well as institutional development. HYDROPHIL is uniquely positioned to contribute to water sector analysis and institutional dimensions of anchoring water security solutions.    

InterSus is an environmental policy consultancy specialized in environmental economics with a focus on water management and economics, impact assessment of policies, cost-benefit assessments, water accounts, ecosystem services approach, the science-policy interface and capacity building/training. It has supported the development and implementation of European policies on several different topics with a focus on water-related Directives and has worked extensively on water economics in the Mediterranean region, the Balkans, Africa and Central Asia.  

Funding

This project was funded by the World Bank.

Project Outputs

Methodological Guidelines and Datasets

• One Water Security for All-Methodological Framework for the Rapid Assessment, Smart Planning and Development of Practical Recommendations
• Datasets-ECA Water Security Toolbox

Regional Water Security Assessments

• A Blueprint for Resilience: Charting the Course for Water Security in Europe and Central Asia
• Danube Region-Regional Water Security Assessment

Country Water Security Assessments

Central Asia

• Kazakhstan - General Water Security Assessment
• Tajikistan - General Water Security Assessment
• Uzbekistan - General Water Security Assessment
• Kyrgyz Republic - General Water Security Assessment

South Caucasus

• Armenia - General Water Security Assessment
• Azerbaijan - General Water Security Assessment
• Georgia - General Water Security Assessment

Balkans

• Albania - Deep Dive Water Security Assessment and Action Planning 
• Serbia - Deep Dive Water Security Assessment and Action Planning