Miraculous Catch in Kazakhstan's Northern Aral Sea

A new dike, financed by the World Bank, has helped raise water levels in a once-dying sea. It has been called “the eighth wonder of the world” by the vice-mayor of Aralsk, a famous for its landlocked harbor, rusty anchors and pathetic beached boats.

Since it was completed in August 2005, the dike has raised water levels by an average of four meters in the Northern Aral Sea. That increase has revived local fisheries, restored hope in long-suffering communities and even affected the microclimate.  More...

"We are now one of the leading producers in the region," farmer Darkhan Tishabayev says proudly of his company, which cultivates wheat in southern Kazakhstan.

"But just a few years ago, we were lagging behind others, struggling to survive." Tishabayev attributes the change to the loan he received as part of a World Bank project to support private farming in Kazakhstan’s transitional economy.  More...

Paying Pensions on Time in Kazakhstan 

The pay-as-you-go pension system Kazakhstan inherited from the Soviet Union had an inefficient collection and payment structure. Coupled with the country's poor macroeconomic performance and growing budget deficits, this led to social tension. 

With World Bank support, the government launched radical reform measures that have created a credible new system. More...

Coming Together to Manage Water Resources in Central Asia

Water management is key to the economic and environmental well-being of people in Central Asia.

The World Bank supports projects that rehabilitate irrigation systems, improve water and sanitation, and facilitate trans-boundary cooperation in the region. More...