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WATER COOPERATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND POVERTY ERADICATIONWater-related projects have been at the centre of Hungarian internationaldevelopment assistance for decadesImage: VIKUV Water Prospecting and Drilling Joint-stock CompanyHungary’s water pioneersPál Vásárhelyi (1795-1846)elaborated, among others, theplans of the Iron Gate (Vaskapu)on the River Danube regulationand the River Tisza regulation.By 1846 he had prepared acomprehensive regulation conceptcurrently known as Vásárhelyi’sTisza Regulation Plan.As an engineer of hydraulics,the name of Emil Mosonyi(1910-2009) is connected todams and hydropower plantsaround the world. He washonorary professor at a numberof universities and a member ofvarious science academies. TheUniversity of Auckland in NewZealand established the MosonyiPrize to honour his work in thefield of sustainable hydropowerdevelopment.In the second half of the nineteenthcentury, Vilmos Zsigmondy (1821-1888) drilled a well in Budapest(City Park). The well, which was 970metres deep and had a capacityof 2,200 litres per hour at 74 o C,was the second largest in Europeat that time and was consideredsomething of a sensation.Images: The Hungarian Water and Sanitation Industry in the 21st century, HITA, 2013Management Master Plan of Mongolia and the regional master plansfor the following basins:• Mongolian Great Lakes• River Khovd• River Dzabhan• River Kherlen (Kerulen)• Ongijn• Taats• Baidrag rivers.The Mongolian parliament appraised this activity as the ‘Project ofthe Century’ many years after the Hungarian experts had finishedtheir projects and the Hungarian-Mongolian Water ManagementCooperation Agreement was renewed in 2008. Hungarian experts haveexecuted master plans in Tanzania, Nigeria and Morocco, where theyalso managed reservoir construction. Experts have similarly served ashigh-level advisers in Algeria and Kuwait. By 1980, Hungarian hydrologistsand engineers had assisted Mongolia in solving water problems onthe steppe. Hungarian engineers and hydrologists trained and workedclosely with Mongolian young professionals. By 1970, 225 new wellshad been drilled to a depth of 100-200 metres. In connection with waterprospecting, the experts executed geophysical exploration on an area of21,000 km 2 . In the 1970s Hungarian experts provided help in Viet Namand in Mongolia, installing MA-200 type irrigation equipment (about150 pumping plants across Mongolia, and in the Ba Vi irrigation systemin Viet Nam). They provided training and services for maintaining theinstalled irrigation capacities. In Morocco, in the frame of international,technical and scientific cooperation, Hungarian experts were involved inthe construction of the River Moulouya and Rabat regionirrigation systems. Since the 1980s Hungarian consultantsVIZITERV and MÉLYÉPTERV have taken part in differentirrigation projects in Algeria and Tunisia (irrigation ofpalm groves), Yemen (Tihama and Taiz projects), Sudan(Djebel Marra project) and Iran (Gorgan Valley).Recent water related development projects implementedby Hungarian Government assistance include the creationof a water management and irrigation system in the KoboGirana valley in Ethiopia as well as training for local expertsin the framework of development cooperation. Hungaryalso contributed to the establishment of a sanitation centreproviding basic hygienic facilities and clean water in oneof the slum areas of Mombasa in Kenya. Hungarian waterexperts developed the framework for the Herlen river basinin Mongolia and are helping to develop a complex strategyfor the water management of the Eastern Mongolian drainagebasin to mitigate the effects of climate change.Education and capacity building are of critical importancefor the ability to apply new technologies aimed atefficient use of resources. Therefore, Hungary intendsto take a leading role in disseminating knowledge aboutsustainable water use and increase consciousness of waterat all levels. Hungary supports multilateral efforts topromote education on water related issues, particularlysanitation. Hungary is ready to offer capacity buildingtrainings, and share knowledge in the field of sustainablewater resource management.[ 210 ]