Water Efficiency and Conservation MPA - Uzbekistan National Irrigation and Energy Efficiency Improvement Project (Phase 1)

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The National Irrigation and Energy Efficiency Improvement Project (NIEEIP) is a Phase 1 of the Water Efficiency and Conservation Multi-Phase Programmatic Approach. The project aims to upgrade aging infrastructure and implement water delivery systems designed to minimize water losses. These measures address the looming challenges of increasing water scarcity and climate variability by improving the reliability of irrigation service delivery. As a result, agricultural production will become more resilient to the impacts of climate change, including reduced water availability and increasing water demands. Modernization of the main irrigation delivery system and digitally monitoring this delivery will improve the service reliability and flexibility, ensuring climate-resilient water access (smaller flows with higher on-demand frequency) and helping farmers adapt to increasing drought risks while transitioning to high-value, climate-resilient agriculture. Additionally, climate-induced water variability disproportionately affects tail-end mainly poor farmers. By reducing water losses, the project will enhance service equality among upstream and downstream farmers, ensuring equitable and climate-resilient water distribution. The project will also reduce operational costs and GHG emissions associated with irrigation services delivery. The Development Objective of the MPA program is to increase water-use efficiency and enhance resilience in selected countries of Central Asia and the Development Objective of Phase 1 (Uzbekistan National Irrigation and Energy Efficiency Improvement Project) is to improve the quality of irrigation service delivery within the project area. This will be addressed by the three project components: (1) Infrastructure Investments and Irrigation Service Improvements , (2) Institutional Strengthening for Climate-Smart Service Delivery, and (3) Project Management.Relationship to CPF:The project contributes to achieving the core strategic priorities of Country Partnership Framework (CPF) FY22-FY26 for Uzbekistan (Report No. 170931), which was discussed by the Board of Executive Directors on May 24, 2022 . The project supports CPF High-Level Outcome 3 (improve livelihoods and resilience through greener growth), particularly Objective 3.2 (more efficient use of natural resources), as well as CPF High-Level Outcome 1 (increase inclusive private sector employment), in particular Objective 1.3 (increase the return from agriculture and agribusiness development). Also, citizen engagement mechanisms will be designed under the project that will ensure consistency with CPF’s cross-cutting objective of strengthening citizen engagement and strengthening accountability for public services.