Preparing the Climate Adaptive Water Resources Management in The Aral Sea Basin Project - Socio-Economic Baseline Survey
The problem:
The Aral Sea Basin, once a thriving ecological region, has suffered catastrophic environmental degradation due to decades of unsustainable water management practices. The Climate Adaptive Water Resources Management Project aimed to address these issues by modernizing outdated irrigation and drainage (I&D) systems within the Amu Darya and Zarafshan River Basins in Uzbekistan. These regions are critically dependent on efficient water resources management for agriculture, which supports a large portion of the population, including vulnerable groups such as low-income families, women, and children. The existing infrastructure, however, was outdated and inefficient, leading to unreliable water supply, poor accessibility for all water users, and significant socio-economic challenges for local communities. There was a pressing need to assess and address these issues through a comprehensive socio-economic baseline survey, which would provide the data necessary to evaluate the current situation, identify risks, and propose mitigation strategies. The survey was also essential for developing indicators to measure the project's impact, outcomes, and outputs, ensuring that the rehabilitation efforts would be both effective and equitable.
The solution:
InfoCapital Group LLC (ICG) conducted an extensive socio-economic baseline survey to support the Climate Adaptive Water Resources Management Project in the Aral Sea Basin. The survey covered 1,600 households and 250 farmers across two key regions: 800 households and 150 farmers in the Bukhara region, and 800 households and 100 farmers in the Surkhandarya region. The survey aimed to gather detailed, sex-disaggregated data on various socio-economic factors, including demographic characteristics, quality of life indicators, and the role of women in agriculture. This data was essential for understanding the current land and water use practices, institutional frameworks, and the impact of existing I&D systems on local communities. ICG’s services included a thorough assessment of social and infrastructure aspects such as housing, water and sanitation, local infrastructure, and community services. The economic aspects focused on analyzing land ownership, agricultural practices, crop yields, income levels, and market dynamics. Additionally, the labor aspects examined labor provision, working conditions, and wage structures in the agricultural sector. By providing this comprehensive data, ICG enabled the project to develop targeted interventions that addressed the unique challenges faced by different social groups, particularly vulnerable populations. The survey’s findings were instrumental in shaping gender action plans, social and environmental safeguard documents, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) strategies, ensuring the project’s long-term success in creating a more resilient and equitable water management system in the Aral Sea Basin.
