Regional Workshop on Sustainable Water Use and Cross-Border Cooperation in Central Asia

A high-level regional workshop titled “Sustainable and Efficient Water Use in the Context of Small Rivers of Central Asia: Challenges, Solutions, Experience Sharing, and Prospects” took place on June 16 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, drawing together nearly 35 water management professionals and experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and beyond. The event was organized by Hydro4U project partner International Water Management Institute (IWMI) as part of its broader engagement in regional water governance and sustainable development.

 

Focusing on small river systems—an often-overlooked but critical component of Central Asia’s hydrological network—the workshop provided a timely platform to address water security in relation to food production, energy access, and ecosystem sustainability.

 

Key Outcomes and Highlights
Participants engaged in vibrant discussions and technical exchanges aimed at addressing pressing challenges and identifying practical, sustainable solutions. Major highlights of the workshop included:

 

  • Assessment of current water management challenges in transboundary small rivers;

 

  • Demonstrations of innovative water-saving technologies and data tools to support decision-making;

 

  • Experience sharing from regional initiatives such as the Global Partnership for Shared Waters, Hydro4U, WE-ACT, ISTC, and CGIAR’s Policy Innovations Program;

 

  • Enhanced dialogue on cross-border collaboration at the sub-basin level, a critical scale for implementing integrated water resource management (IWRM);

 

  • A collaborative review of indicators for IWMI’s draft Agreement Template, developed under the Hydro4U project to support hydropower and water-sharing agreements.

 

The workshop not only facilitated meaningful exchanges between countries but also underscored the importance of cooperative, science-based approaches to managing shared water resources in the face of climate variability and growing demand.

 

Looking Ahead

Organizers and participants reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing collaboration and to strengthening the technical and institutional foundations needed for water security in Central Asia. The outcomes of this workshop are expected to feed directly into the implementation of regional projects and contribute to policy development at both national and basin levels.

 

As small rivers play an increasingly strategic role in local livelihoods and environmental health, the insights and cooperation fostered through this event mark a step forward toward more resilient and sustainable water systems in the region.

Author and Picture credits: Bunyod Holmatov, IWMI