SUB-REGION SYNTHESIS SESSION DESCRIPTION FORM
10TH WORLD WATER FORUM
Session Title: Synthesis of Paths towards Water Security in Central Asia
22 May 2024 16:40 – 18:10 (Room 5)
Sub-Region (Central Asia) Synthesis Session
Sub-region Coordinators (Name, Position, Organization, email, mobile number):
1. Mr.Serik Bekmaganbetov, Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the International
Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, Deputy Chairman of EC IFAS, serik.ifas@gmail.com
2. Dr. Vadim Sokolov, Chair of TAC GWP CACENA, Vice-President of ICID, Head ofAgency of IFAS in Uzbekistan e-mail : vadim_sokol@mail.ru; info@aral.uz
3. Ms. Zhanar Mautanova, Director of the International Water Assessment Center,zh.mautanova@iwac.kz

Session Description (300 words):
Countries if Central Asia are facing increasing water deficit, which is due the impact of climatechange, aging water infrastructure, application of low-efficiency water use technologies and weakorganizational capacity of existing regional water authorities.
Region observes increased demand for water because of population growth, as well as increasingneeds of the economic sectors of the countries, including Afghanistan, which still is not directly
covered by regional cooperation frameworks.
Central Asian countries must think about development of the integrated basin-wide strategy to
optimize water use efficiency and maximize efforts to resist to the climate challenges. It is necessary
to combine efforts to improve IFAS, implement ASBP-4 and try to find the new models forinteraction and adopt principled decisions on the emerging new risks. Transboundary water
cooperation in the Aral Sea basin is crucial for developing the economic potential of countries andensuring security and stability in the region, as well as for rehabilitating the environmental situation.
This session aims at bringing together high-level water related officials and stakeholders from Central
Asia countries, key development partners and international organizations, as well as other parties tofind mutual consensus on how to move towards water security under stress from climate change
impacts.
Water availability in a semi-arid region like Central Asia is a key to generate sustainable economic
development for all regional countries. This can, however, only be reached through joint actions on
ensuring effective cooperation between the regional countries and their development partners withmain focuse on the effective use of limited available water resources.
The session outcomes are planned to be discussed at the global event “One Water Summit” in
September 2024 in New York, USA.
The session outcomes also would be useful for Central Asian countries to be better prepared for next
COP-29 which will be held in November 2024 in Azerbaijan.

Key messages from your Sub-region (2 maximum)
1. Together, the key stakeholders in the region aim to gather consensus and initiatives to scale up
their efforts and best water practices to overcome water security challenges
2. Also the session aims to shed light on sources of financing, both domestic and international, forcountries in the sub-region to elevate capability and scaling of climate finance to deliver water
security goals and targets.
Concrete outcomes (eg. Initiatives, practices, dialogue, commitment, etc.) (5 maximum)
1.
Water availability is a key factor for improving the well-being of the regional population anda key parameter for sustainable development, which can, however, only be reached throughsystemic transboundary cooperation.
2.
There are needed urgent actions as well as region faces severe and intensifying water security
challenges, which are aggravated by climate change.
3.
While continuing to strengthen domestic climate policy incentives, Central Asian countries
are expected to embed goals and targets in National climate change adaptation plans and enhanceaccountability and transparency to not only attract finance but also assure outcomes and impacts.
4.
Regional countries and their development partners are committed for increasing of capacityand capability of water project development and mobilization of capital from domestic andinternational donors and funders.
Detailed Session plan:
ESTIMATEDTIMING

ITEM DESCRIPTION /ROLE

2,5 minOpening - session brief
description (Moderator)

15 min10 min10 min15 minWelcome address andoutcomes from Regionalsession RP8, Transboundary
Water Cooperation in theAral Sea basin for a better
FutureOutcomes from Regionalsession RP7 “Mobilizing
Water Finance for Climate
Resilience in Central Asia
and Caucasus”
Contribution from Project“GreenCentralAsia:
Transboundary dialogue on
climate, environment andsecurity in Central Asia andAfghanistan”
Contribution from National
Water Resources

SPEAKERS
Session moderator Dr. Vadim
Sokolov, Chair of TAC GWPCACENA
Chair of Executive Committeeof IFAS, Mr. Askhat Orazbay

SPEAKERSSTATUS (OK ORTBC)
OKOK

Dr. Vadim Sokolov, Chair ofTAC GWP CACENA

OK

Dr. Mrs. Caroline Milow,
Project
Coordinator(GIZ,Germany)

TBC

Dr., Ms. Omina islamova,International Project manager

OK15 min

17,5 min

5 min(Totally = 90 min)Management Project in
Uzbekistan, Phase III(NWRM)The CAREC Water Pillar- avehicle for long termcooperation in Central Asia
Agreement to converging
vision, strategy andpartnerships (three to fivesynergy priorities) as asolid foundation for thepathway forward, to get all
partners and countries in theregion to act together bypulling resources, expertiseand projects together
Finalization and session
closing

SDC, Switzerland
Mrs. Yasmin Siddiqi, Director,Agriculture, Food, Nature, andRural Development Sector
Office of ADB

Session moderators Ms. Zhanar
Mautanova, Director of theInternational Water Assessment
Center and Dr. Vadim Sokolov,
Chair of TAC GWP CACENA

Chair of Executive Committeeof IFAS, Mr. Askhat Orazbay

OKOKOK