Working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and partners, we supported dam safety assessments and strategic action planning in Kazakhstan under a UNDP initiative supporting national water security priorities.
In 2024, Kazakhstan experienced its most severe flooding event in 80 years, impacting thousands of families across multiple regions and resulting in significant economic losses.
The event brought renewed focus to the condition and operation of critical water infrastructure. Ageing assets, limited monitoring systems, and changing hydrological conditions are placing increasing pressure on dam safety and reservoir operations across the country.
Working with UNDP in Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Water Resources of Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, RSE Kazvodkhoz, and in collaboration with Sheerman Chase Partnership, we supported dam safety assessments and strategic action planning for two priority reservoirs in the Tobol River basin: Verkhnetobolskoye and Karatomar.
The work formed part of a wider initiative supporting national water security priorities, using these pilot sites to help strengthen dam safety practices and inform wider application across Kazakhstan’s reservoir network.
Multi-functional assessments were carried out for each reservoir in line with international best practice. These assessments included structural integrity, hydrological performance, and operational efficiency, alongside detailed hydrological modelling to improve understanding of:
A detailed gap analysis compared existing systems, processes, and equipment with the requirements for safe and effective dam management. The analysis highlighted priority improvements in:
A national training workshop brought together over 300 dam operators and managers from across Kazakhstan to share knowledge, strengthen coordination, and support wider stakeholder engagement. Alongside the technical assessments, this helped build a clearer roadmap for implementation and for integrating dam management into a broader national approach to flood resilience.
The second phase of the project will build on this work by supporting the development of a flood forecasting system. Together, these phases will help modernise dam management, reduce failure risk, and strengthen the protection of people and infrastructure exposed to flooding.
Contact our team to learn more about this project.
