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Kanybek, Ilyas

University of British Columbia

The goal of the current study is to gain a better understanding of the effectiveness of transboundary water governance in the Chu-Talas River Basin, shared between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Kazakhstan. To achieve that, I apply water governance and post-socialist theories to critically assess the legal frameworks, institutional settings, and central role of the Chu-Talas River Commission (CTRC). I have organized my research findings based on the distributional theory of Zwarteveen. et al. (2017), which considers 1) the distribution of water, 2) the distribution of voice and authority, and 3) the distribution of knowledge and expertise. The research relies on fieldwork conducted during the summer and fall of 2023, which involved semi-structured interviews and in situ observations, as well as archival research of government reports and literature review. The findings indicate that while the CTRC has been effective in addressing narrow scope of issues outlined in the Chu-Talas River Agreement of 2000, it faces significant challenges in addressing broader governance issues. The research also highlights the continued influence of the Soviet legacy on current water governance, necessitating the renegotiation of frameworks to ensure equitable cross-border cooperation. Furthermore, the study underscores the need for improved data collection and transparency, and a greater focus on addressing climate change and water scarcity issues. The findings suggest that enhancing institutional capacity and fostering regional cooperation are crucial for achieving more inclusive and effective water governance in the Chu-Talas River Basin.

Text

2024-08-29

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/89097

Interdisciplinary Studies

University of British Columbia

UBCO

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/