Water Services and Institutional Support Project

active

The objectives of the Water Services and Institutional Support Project for Uzbekistan are to: (i) improve coverage, quality and efficiency of water supply and sanitation services in selected project areas; and (ii) strengthen the planning and regulatory capacity of the water supply and sewerage sector. The Project has four components. 1. Sector policy, regulations and institutions component will finance activities (goods and services) at the national level designed to strengthen policy and regulatory frameworks and institutional capacity to advance sector reform and promote sustainable service delivery. 1.1. Support for water supply and sewerage sector reforms subcomponent will finance a slice of the Government’s national water metering program and expert advisory services and technical assistance targeting priority areas of reform and institutional strengthening. 1.2. Project management and preparation of future investments subcomponent will finance project management-related activities, including monitoring and evaluation (M and E), project and entity audits, training, etc. 2. Energy efficiency financing facility component will (i) develop and implement a facility for financing of cost-effective investments in Energy Efficiency (EE) in the Suvokovas; and (ii) provide technical assistance to develop the capacity of the Suvokovas, PCU and MHCS to assure its sustainable usage. 2.1. Financing facility subcomponent will finance physical investments, including eligible goods and works, for improving EE within the sector, accessible to all 14 Suvokovas. 2.2. Technical assistance for energy efficiency management subcomponent will provide technical assistance for energy audits, monitoring and verification, communications and outreach and capacity building activities to support the start-up and sustainable implementation of this facility and ensure that the investments achieve the expected EE results and gains. 3. Regional infrastructure investments component will finance resilient infrastructure investments to expand access, improve efficiency and quality of water services in targeted areas within three regions of Uzbekistan. The Component will finance goods, works and services and will include civil and electrical/mechanical installations for water supply production and transmission and distribution to households, along with sewerage collection, conveyance, treatment and disposal / re-use facilities. 3.1. Reconstruction and expansion of sewerage systems in selected subproject areas within Nukus, Takhiatash and Khodjeyli of Karakalpakstan subcomponent will improve the environment by preventing surface and groundwater contamination, livability and public health in these sensitive areas located within the south Aral Sea basin. 3.2. Improving water supply and sewerage systems in selected subproject areas within Syrdarya region subcomponent improve water supply service for around 242,500 residents, covering the three remaining districts of the Syrdarya region which were not included under the recently closed Syrdarya Water Supply Project. The sewerage investments will provide improved services for around 63,700 people in the project areas. 3.3. Reconstruction of water supply and sewerage systems in Kattakurgan town in the Samarkand region subcomponent will directly benefit around 91,800 people residing in and around Kattakurgan town, 90 percent of which will have access to sewerage services. 4. Professionalization of participating water utilities component will finance activities (goods and services) designed to support and strengthen the capacity of participating water utilities.