IOM has been rehabilitating kahrizes since 1998. In 2001, IOM and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) jointly launched the “Community-Owned Sustainable Water Use and Agricultural Initiatives Project” (2001-2007).  

The ongoing project’s objective is to support employment and income generation in the rural areas of NAR, by enhancing communities’ access to water through the rehabilitation of kahrizes and downstream water management, and by supporting livelihoods and business development services related to the rehabilitation and maintenance of kahrizes. By creating alternative livelihood opportunities for those impoverished communities in NAR, the project will contribute to preventing undesired economic migration. Specific objectives include: (a) to increase communities’ access to water for consumption and agriculture, through the renovation of 100 kahrizes in rural areas of NAR;  (b) to enhance the capacity of selected local entrepreneurs (kankans, concrete manufacturers) to engage into and/or expand their business for kahrizes rehabilitation and maintenance and downstream water management; (c) to promote optimized use of water (including downstream water productivity); and (d) to support scale-up of kahrizes renovation in other areas (including Mainland), through awareness raising, information sharing and technical assistance targeting relevant government agencies, civil society organizations, academics and entrepreneurs at the regional and national levels.  
IOM adopts a three-pronged approach consisting of three interrelated components: acceleration; professionalization and institutionalization.

The project also continues to implement a community-driven approach and pay specific attention to cross-cutting issues such as gender, governance and environmental sustainability.

Project Duration is from the 01 November 2007 till 31 October 2010.