The Integrated Rural Development Project/ TRIGGER, the European Union in collaboration with the FutureWater Consortium (Netherlands) and with the support of the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan (MEWR), are conducting a Study Tour on Water Allocation and Hydrological Modeling for specialists from Tajikistan’s water sector, in Wageningen, the Netherlands.

This tour is specifically designed for the specialists of MEWR, the Agency for Hydrometeorology of Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan (Hydromet), the Institute of Water Problems, Hydropower, and Ecology of the National Academy of Science of Tajikistan (IWP). These organisations play a crucial role in ensuring water security by integrating modern technologies into their operations.

The MEWR, with technical assistance from the IRDP/TRIGGER, has developed a Capacity Development Strategy for the Water Sector in Tajikistan (CDS). This strategy promotes the development and enhancement of training programs to improve the skills of water sector specialists in targeted areas and encourages collaboration with international institutions.

The ongoing study tour includes capacity-building sessions for water sector specialists, featuring practical training on using Spatial Processes in Hydrology (SPHY) and Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) modeling tools for the Zarafshan River Basin, with six climate change scenarios. Participants are also receiving hands-on training in the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) at the University of Utrecht, and Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions on the “Water Allocation and Hydrological Modeling” module using SPHY and WEAP tools.

WEAP and SPHY enhance water security by providing water flow formation, comprehensive analyses and forecasts on water use and allocation.

“This study tour is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience with hydrological modeling tools, which are critical for secure water resource management at MEWR. The SPHY and WEAP models will significantly enhance our capacity to analyze data. The trainings allow us to fully engage in the learning process and practice the acquired skills on-site,” said Buzurgmehr Negmatov, Technical Coordinator of NWIS.

The trainings are led by distinguished international experts, including experts from Future Water, Utrecht University and University of Friborg. The study tour also includes meetings with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (water boards) in The Hague and site visits to various water management facilities. These meetings facilitate the exchange of expertise between Tajikistan and the Netherlands, fostering institutional and technical collaboration.

This two-week training in Wageningen will equip participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to independently set up models for other river basins in Tajikistan. Selected future trainers will gain the technical expertise required to deliver the “Water Allocation and Hydrological Modeling” training module to water sector specialists in Tajikistan. Additionally, participants will acquire skills in drone maintenance and data processing collected via drones for glaciers and snow monitoring.

The Integrated Rural Development Project (IRDP)/ Towards Rural Inclusive Growth and Economic Resilience (TRIGGER) is a joint project of the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to boost the added value of agricultural production in Tajikistan by improving water security and sustainability, enhancing the productivity of selected value chains, supporting market development, export readiness, enterprise promotion and economic policy advice. For further details, please contact: Sharofat Ashurova at [email protected], telephone number +992 987270046.