The Global Water Crisis: Addressing an Urgent Security - Unu-inweh ...

3.2. Early doubts vis-à-vis progress and achievements
The AHDR points out that in 2010, the targets proposed in the Water Sector Strategy for 2010 have failed to be achieved,
owing to an over-optimistic and flawed analysis (CPHD, 2011).
Table 1. Afghanistan’s Water Sector Strategy 2008, targets and progress (CPHD, 2011).
For instance, concerning water resources management, the AHDR (2011) expresses doubt regarding the expected buy-in
of local and national actors in the new water governance concepts at the sub-basin level. A key argument is the absence
of a comprehensive analysis justifying the relevance of IWRM, RBM and MSP approaches in the specific context of the
post-Taliban era. The authors of an earlier study in 2008 were already skeptical about the significance of the achievements
of new organizations – seen as precursors for new river basin management institutions – whether in terms of learning
experiences or tangible outputs (Varzi and Wegerich, 2008).
Furthermore, resolving the overarching issue of capacity 4 – whether institutional, human resources or knowledge based
– reinforces the suspicion vis-à-vis IWRM and RBM as a feasible option in the current development status of Afghanistan.
Last but not least, the proposed reform requires a strong enforcement capacity (Islamic Republic of Afghnistan, 2007),
something that is still lacking in the country’s current situation.
3.3. Limited effectiveness in the adoption of River Basin Management principles and
participation
A recent study (Thomas et al., forthcoming) covering the 2011 drought in northeastern Afghanistan highlights the
disparity that seven years after the launch of the government’s pilot programme aimed at introducing the principles of
good governance promoted in the Water Law, local institutions still address their water allocation issues at the sub-basin
level through procedures which fall far from the sanctioned discourse on ‘good’ water governance. For instance, while
institutional reform includes the devolution of decision-making power to water users, with the government taking a more
advisory and facilitation role, the reality in the Lower-Kunduz Sub-Basin (LKSB) shows that local government actors still play
a major role in decision-making, and are keen to skip participatory processes when the power balance is in their favour.
Similarly, although the Water Law discusses translating existing water rights into permits, it is the traditional system of
abandâz – which does not formally recognize the rights of downstream communities within the sub-basin – which remains
firmly applied. Additionally, the governance model behind the Water Law praises decentralization in decision-making;
however, the reality in the Taloqan Sub-Basin (TSB) shows that Parliament, central Ministries and even the President’s
4 The capacity challenge was already highlighted in an early draft of the WSS in 2007 (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, 2007).
116 The Global Water Crisis: Addressing an Urgent Security Issue
Target Progress (2011)
Water resources management: Provide 30% of irrigation
water from large water works by establishing river basin
organizations (for example, river basin councils, sub-basin
councils and related agencies) in Balkh, Kunduz and the
western region by the end of 2010.
Urban development: In conformity with the Millennium
Development Goals, greater investment in water supply
and sanitation will ensure that 50% of households in Kabul
and 30% of households in other major urban areas will have
access to piped water and improved sanitation by the end
of 2010.
Rural development: By the end of 2010, access to safe
drinking water will be extended to 90% of villages, and
access to sanitation to 50% of villages.
Not achieved. No river basin agency or
river basin council has been established.
WUAs have been established, but only
informally; they lack legal status.
Herat (85%), Kunduz (50%) and Mazar-i-
Sharif (70%) have met the target. Kabul,
Kandahar and Nangarhar have not.
Current rural access to safe drinking
water sources is 20% .
(see chapter 3). -
The current rate of progress of 1% per
year means that the target will not be
reached within the next few decades.