Halcrow was commissioned to develop an integrated water resources plan at a river-basin level.

The project was divided into three phases:

Phase 1 of the project ensures that the necessary legal and regulatory framework has been defined, and that amended legislation has been prepared, reviewed and is ready for enactment.

Phase 2 of the project includes: - production of an integrated water resources development plan for the Nura-Ishim basins - creation of a water resources planning computer model and accompanying user manual - development of a training programme and details for the replication of this form of river basin management nationwide.

Phase 3 involves the roll-out of similar river basin planning techniques in the 8 river basins nationwide.