TRAINING SEMINAR ON FORMATION OF A NATIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM
IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CAREWIB PROJECT
The first training seminar on formation of a national information system in the Republic of Kazakhstan was organized and held from 12 to 15 November 2007 in Astana by the CAREWIB Project staff.
The seminar was held in line with the Memorandum signed between the Committee for Water Resources (CWR) at the Ministry of Agriculture (MA) of Kazakhstan and SIC ICWC. According to this Memorandum, SIC ICWC will help national water management organizations to create national databases, including renewal of resource base and training of personnel. This activity will be carried out within Phase 2 of the CAREWIB Project and is the major project direction in Phase 2.
The CAREWIB Project staff purchased and delivered computer equipment to CWR MA of Kazakhstan, including: server for storage of national database; computer for data input and handling; printer; network equipment (hub, cable, modem). The equipment was installed in the national focal point established at CWR MA Kazakhstan, and all necessary work on installment and checkout, including on connecting two computers to the network was done.
Specialists from CWR MA Kazakhstan and “KEGOC” JSC passed the training.
Project Manager I.F. Beglov familiarized the participants with all the sections of the CAWater-Info portal in detail, showed all capabilities to use the portal for getting necessary, well-timed and reliable information. All the participants were also familiarized with the project goals and objectives, achievements of Phase 1, expected results of Phase 2.
IS Block Coordinator D.A. Sorokin presented the participants a template of national database prepared by the project staff for CWR MA Kazakhstan. The participants were familiarized in detail with the parameters of this database and technique for handling it. The capabilities of the database were presented, and directions for further upgrading (linking additional information blocks, analytical module and so on) were set out.
D.A. Sorokin also told about general principles for creation of databases, architecture, project decisions, familiarized the participants with methodical materials prepared for the seminar, and answered put questions.
During the discussion, K.A. Askarov noted that the Syrdarya Channel and North Aral Reconstruction Project has an information system, but it is impossible to use it due to the absence of trained specialists and incompletely adapted interface. Thereupon, the CAREWIB IS, which meets all fundamental requirements for such IS and has an intuitive interface, could be used successfully not only by specialists of CWR, but also in the Syrdarya Channel and North Aral Reconstruction Project.
G.B. Sarsenbayeva emphasized that populating the database for the national information system was assigned to the Aral-Syrdarya Basin Water Authority, of which the specialists were invited to training.
During practical exercises, the participants of the training were familiarized with the procedure for information input to database. Furthermore, training was organized on fundamentals for DB design in management systems. It was showed how to make up tables, queries, data visualization forms and reports at requests of users.
Moreover, D.A. Sorokin and A.V. Kats completely adapted “Water Supply” section in “Water Sector” component under 2TP-vodkhoz Form of CWR MA Kazakhstan, and created a new installation package for the national system of Kazakhstan.
For automatic information transmission from provincial centers to the national focal point (dispatching center) and to the project office (SIC ICWC), a block of data transmission via e-mail was developed. Thus, an opportunity emerged for augmenting and updating information in the database of the regional information system in automatic mode.
Persons, who are responsible for creation of national databases and have passed initial training, will be provided with consultations through the forum on the CAWater-Info portal and via e-mail. Similar training seminars will be held twice a year, the dates will be agreed with ICWC member for Kazakhstan, Chairman of CWR MA Kazakhstan A.D. Ryabtsev. Every year one regional conference will be held, at which it is expected to listen to yearly progress reports made by leaders of the national focal points.
In conclusion, all the participants of the seminar expressed their sincere gratitude to the seminar organizers – SIC ICWC and seminar sponsor SDC.
A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ARAL SEA SAVING
HELD IN DUSHANBE
A regular meeting of the Board of the International Fund for Aral Sea Saving (IFAS) was held on 20 November in Dushanbe. The participants of the meeting considered the progress in the implementation of projects and programs related to solving problems in the Aral Sea basin using all funding sources, and challenges for activating the efforts of IFAS Bodies and Founder States to implement the Aral Sea Basin Program (ASBP-2) for 2003-2010.
The meeting participants noted that the Aral Sea problem will be of special significance in the oncoming meeting for heads of states and governments from 49 countries at 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit to be held from 3 to 4 December this year in Japan.
Special attention was given to the issues related to preparation for 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit, a model Law “On safety of hydraulic structures” and a draft Document “On cooperation in the field of prevention, localization and elimination of consequences of accidents at hydraulic structures”, and the theme on preparation and holding of an international conference on reduction of water related disasters in 2008 in Dushanbe. Telling about the oncoming Dushanbe International Conference 2008, it was noted that Central Asian region is exposed to more than 20 types of dangerous natural phenomena, including earthquakes, floods, landslides, avalanches and inundations caused by the break of glacial lakes. The aim of the oncoming conference is to contribute to raising awareness among population, stimulating activity on cooperation promotion towards prevention of impacts from natural water-related disasters.
Based on the results of the IFAS Board meeting, appropriate decisions were made.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Land Reclamation and Water Resources of Tajikistan Saidi Yokubzod, Acting Chairman of IFAS Executive Committee Sulton Rakhimov, delegations from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, and representatives from international organizations accredited in Dushanbe.
IFAS was founded in 2003 according to the decision of heads of five Central Asian states. At present, the Fund is headed by President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon on a rotation basis. The IFAS Executive Committee is located in Dushanbe.
Source: IA KHOVAR
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