International Conference on Financial and Investment Support of Water Resources Rational Use Measures Concludes Successfully in Turkmenistan

Ashgabat, 20 June 2023 - The Government of Turkmenistan, in collaboration with the United Nations (UN), hosted a highly successful international conference on "Financial and Investment Support of Water Resources Rational Use Measures." The event, co-moderated by Mr. Dmitry Shlapachenko, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan, brought together high-level representatives from government agencies, international organizations, and experts in the field of water management.

The conference aimed to address the pressing issues of sustainable water management and the effects of climate change on water resources in Central Asia. Mr. Dyrdy Genjiev, Chair of the Committee for Water Resources of Turkmenistan open the Conference by articulating the Turkmen position. ,The event provided a platform for knowledge-sharing, best practices and  opened opportunities for  formulation of collaborative strategies to tackle water-related challenges.

The conference commenced with a warm welcome and opening remarks key note speakers  including  Mr. Shlapachenko, Mr. Sulton Rahimzoda, Chairman of the Executive Board of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), Ms. Dinara Ziganshina, Director of the Scientific Information Center of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (SIC ICWC), Mr. Muhammed Durikov, Director of the Scientific Information Center of the Interstate Commission for Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD), and Mr. Zafar Makhmudov, Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (REC CA).

Throughout the day, various speakers presented insightful perspectives on critical topics related to water management in Central Asia. Mr. Iskandar Abdullaev, Professor at the University of Gessen, shed light on financing the water sector in the region, taking into account the challenges posed by climate change and the need for adaptation measures. He stressed that investing in the water sector means investing in economic growth and sustainability. Especially given the fact that the Central Asia countries face aging of water infrastructure with the water leakages reported amounting to 60 per cent.

Delegations from the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan together with Turkmen government officials emphasized the importance of water resources in the context of arid climate conditions. Deputy minister-level representatives highlighted their respective country's efforts, experiences, and future plans to ensure sustainable water use.

The conference also explored financial and investment support for water and energy cooperation in Central Asia, with presentations from Ms. Freya von Groote, Director of the Austrian Multi-Country Office, Europe/Central Asia at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Ms. Tamara Kutonova, Manager of the National Policy Dialogues on Water at the Water Convention's secretariat, UNECE, and Mr. Sherzod Muminov, Deputy Director of SIC ICWC.

Moreover, discussions on regional cooperation for implementing the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) Resolution on the establishment of a special program for the Aral Sea basin were led by Mr. Magtymkuly Akmyradov, MFA of Turkmenistan, and Mr. Sanjay Srivastava, Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction at UN ESCAP. The special UN programme led by ESCAP may serve as a pilot for dealing with water basins degradation globally.

Experts such as Ms. Mary Mathews, Programme Manager for Water and Ocean Resources Management at the UNDP Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, Dr. Caroline Milow, Manager of the GIZ Regional Programme "Green Central Asia: Transboundary Dialogue on Climate, Environment and Security in Central Asia and Afghanistan," and Ms. Sara Marjani Zadeh, Land and Water Officer at the FAO Sub-regional Office for Central Asia, shared insights on environmental, social, economic aspects of integrated water resources management, joint strategies for climate-sensitive water management, and sustainable water use in agriculture. The participants found compelling  Ms. Mathews’ call  who urged to address wasting of 30 per cent of food which  translated into 30 per cent loss of water spent to grow this food.

Finally, the conference highlighted the nexus between migration, water, and climate change in Central Asia, as discussed by Mr. Soumyadeep Banerjee, Regional Environmental and Climate Change Specialist at the International Organization for Migration.

The Conference Outcome Document encapsulating the key findings and recommendations, will be circulated to the participants to promote sustainable water management and regional cooperation in Central Asia.

The international conference on "Financial and Investment Support of Water Resources Rational Use Measures" has served as a platform for stakeholders to exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices. It reinforced the commitment of the Government of Turkmenistan and the United Nations to work together in achieving the SDGs and sustainable water management in Central Asia.