The National Consultant on Sustainable Irrigation and Water Resources Management

Country: Kazakhstan

Description of the Assignment: The National Consultant on Sustainable Irrigation and Water Resources Management

Period of assignment: Up to 92 working days (estimated from June to December 2026)

Place of Work: Home-based

Contract type: Individual Contract

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Kazakhstan is currently facing critical environmental threats exacerbated by climate change, with Central Asia identified as one of the most vulnerable regions globally due to its arid conditions. Climate projections indicate that for every 1°C rise in global temperature, there is a projected 20% reduction in renewable water resources. In Kazakhstan, this is manifested through rising temperatures (expected to increase by 0.8-1.2°C by 2029), changing hydrological regimes and a reduction in river baseflow during dry seasons, which directly threatens the water supply for agriculture.

The agricultural sector is the primary consumer of water in Kazakhstan, accounting for 60% to 79% of total consumption, yet it is plagued by inefficient irrigation practices. Currently, water losses through evaporation and leakage in canals reach an estimated 40% and the use of modern water-saving technologies in southern regions does not exceed 3%. With plans to expand irrigated land from 300,000 to 750,000 hectares by 2030, the risk of severe water shortages and streamflow reduction is imminent.

The primary objective of this project is to enhance water use efficiency and prevent water shortages by supporting a large-scale transition from traditional to modern irrigation practices. This will be achieved through a holistic transformational intervention consisting of five integrated components:

1. Digitalization for improved water resources management and decision-making.

2. Establishment of Regional Centers of Modern Irrigation (CMIs) to serve as knowledge and capacity-building hubs.

3. Piloting modern resource-saving technologies and building a sustainable business ecosystem.

4. Multi-purpose water management and dam development to increase storage capacity.

5. Regulatory and institutional development to create a stable environment for modern irrigation investments

The purpose of this work is to ensure the sustainability of the Project Components in the face of climate change. This will contribute to reducing the vulnerability of water resources and related economic sectors to climate risks through strengthened digitalization, development of regional centers, enhancement of the business ecosystem, improved water management, and institutional development. The work under this technical assignment is being carried out in close collaboration with the UNDP Project team.

Proposal should be submitted directly in the portal no later than indicated deadline.

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing via messaging functionality in the portal. UNDP will respond in writing including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry.

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