Eurasian River Basin Portal

20.04.2016

On August 31, 2016 at the World Water Week in Stockholm, CAREC held a mini-session on the achievements of the Global 2030 Agenda and the position of Central Asian countries on the example of SDGs 6 and 13.

The main purpose of the mini-session was to discuss and formulate possible support to achieve SDGs process in Central Asia through regional projects and initiatives.

After welcoming all participants of the mini-session, Dr. Jusipbek Kazbekov, Water Specialist on CAREC projects in Uzbekistan, gave a brief overview of SDGs, regional processes and projects in Central Asia, aimed at the achievement of 2030 Agenda. Amongst others, he highlighted the processes of the UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), the Dushanbe Summit Symposium on SDG-6, the UNDP initiatives and processes for planning and tracking SDGs progress in the Central Asian region. Then CAREC introduced its contribution to these processes made through projects on promotion and achievement of SDGs in Central Asia. The examples of these projects were concerned issues related to climate change and improving water cooperation in the region. 

Ms. Yekaterina Strikeleva, Advisor to the CAREC Executive Director on Large Program Projects, talked about the climate change processes promoted through CAREC projects, such as CAMP4ASB. This project is funded by the World Bank and is being implemented in cooperation with EC IFAS. By fulfilling this project, CAREC will make a significant contribution to the promotion and implementation of SDG 13 «Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts».

Dr. Jusipbek Kazbekov added information on CAREC activities in the field of water resources management. As part of its projects, such as the Smart Waters project, implemented with the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Central Asia Water-Energy Cooperation Project (CAWECOOP), funded by the European Union, CAREC contributes to the promotion and implementation of SDG 6 «Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all». It should be noted that within the CAREC projects the focus is driven to key aspects of cooperation in reaching the SDG 6: the involvement of stakeholders in the water management process, the development of integrated basin management plans, cross-border cooperation and other issues, which also act as indicators of the 2030 Agenda.

Following the interactive discussion of regional processes in Central Asia driven through CAREC projects, participants performed several suggestions. In particular, they proposed to pay more attention to the integration of all aspects of the water resources use within CAREC projects: energy, agriculture, food security, sanitation, etc. These aspects should not be excluded from the project planning and implementation processes.

The subject of the workshop was relevant not only for the Central Asian region, thus caused great public interest in the mini-session. Besides the participants from Central Asia, the mini-seminar was attended by international partners, representatives of donor organizations and other participants of the World Water Week.

Drawn from the concluding points of the mini-session, CAREC plans to carry out adjustments to some work plans in order to fully consider the national development priorities of CA countries to identify common ground and common issues.