Stakeholder Engagement and Regional Celebration of Amu Darya River Day

Stakeholder groups in water resources management can vary, including the private sector, scientists, youth, and others. River Day, a global initiative typically celebrated on the last Sunday of September, serves as an effective mechanism to engage diverse stakeholders, emphasize the importance of conserving water resources and the environment, address related challenges, and explore solutions. It is also a practical way to encourage behavioral changes that support more sustainable water use.

The organization of Amu Darya River Day events is based on recommendations from the Project’s national partners. Celebrations help raise regional awareness of water management and usage issues in the basin and actively engage youth in dialogue on water governance. The Project organized a series of national-level events in each of the four basin countries—Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. These events engaged children and youth through competitions in drawing, essays/poetry, and video creation, as well as activities such as river and canal clean-ups.

The regional celebration of Amu Darya River Day brings together all national activities. In addition to official presentations and an exhibition of winning children’s works, participants will have the opportunity to learn interesting facts about the river and its basin in an informal setting, gain information on key hydraulic structures, and explore other fascinating aspects of the Amu Darya River and its surrounding territory.

Participants:

• USAID Mission in Central Asia
• Members of the Regional Coordination Committee (RCC)
• Executive Committee of IFAS (EC IFAS) and its structures
• Youth representatives (winners of drawing and essay competitions)
• Representatives of basin organizations
• Media representatives