Activities
Project "Regional dialogue and cooperation on water resources management in Central Asia"
Background
Goal and components
Events
Statements and documents
Press releases and articles
Links
Contacts
Background
Efficient and sustainable management of water resources and related energy issues in the five countries of Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – remain highly important for political, economic and environmental cooperation in this sub-region and beyond. They also present numerous challenges for security. Climate change impacts loom and call for improved cooperation. Moreover water quality aspects which have been neglected in the past are increasingly recognized as being of high relevance for sub-regional cooperation. The institutional and legal frameworks for water resources management established in the early nineties face difficulties in addressing the growing differences over water release regimes and water distribution.
At the first "Water Unites" conference (1 April 2008, Berlin), the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier launched the Berlin Water Process. The process aims to be a new start in international efforts to find effective, long-term solutions to the complex problems related to the management of water resources in the subregion and builds on the political will displayed by the countries of Central Asia. The process is an important part of the water and environment pillar of the European Union’s Central Asia Strategy, which is coordinated by Italy.
The process continued with a special international conference “Water Unites – Strengthening Regional Cooperation on Water Management in Central Asia” (Almaty, 17–18 November 2008), organized by the Government of Germany, UNECE, the Executive Committee for the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS) and UNDP.
The most extensive element of the Berlin Water Process is the Programme “Transboundary Water Management in Central Asia” (Eng, Rus). This Programme is carried out by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ – German Technical Cooperation) on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Programme, to be implemented over the period from 2009 to 2011, includes three major areas, which focus on fostering regional institutional cooperation, strengthening transboundary river basin management, and national pilot projects for improved water management.
The UNECE leads the implementation in the first major area of the Programme through “Regional Dialogue and Cooperation on Water Resources Management” project. The UNECE involvement builds on its neutral engagement in the regional discussion on water management over the past few years and relies on the solid framework of UNECE environmental conventions.
Goal and components
The goal of the project “Regional Dialogue and Cooperation on Water Resources Management” is to empower the countries of Central Asia to develop and implement mutually acceptable, long-term solutions to improve cooperation on transboundary water resources. This will be done by enhancing the regional dialogue and strengthening the capacity of regional institutions for water resources management.
The project “Regional Dialogue and Cooperation on Water Resources Management” includes several interrelated components. Through the first component, the countries of Central Asia are supported in analyzing the needs for reforms in the legal framework and overall institutional setting for transboundary water management, with a focus on the International Fund for saving the Aral Sea (IFAS).
Following such analysis, the project facilitates the development of proposals for adaptation of mandates, objectives and responsibilities of regional water institutions according to countries’ recommendations. The commitment to further improve the organizational structure and legal framework of the IFAS, expressed by the Presidents of five Central Asian states at the IFAS summit (Almaty, 28 April 2009), would provide a basis for activities in this area.
The second component involves building capacity on international water law and policy. It aims to initiate the dialogue between all five states of Central Asia about the needs and possible content of regional guidelines/principles for water management in Central Asia. The discussion will involve representatives of governments and regional institutions (e.g. International Fund for saving the Aral Sea, Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia, and Interstate Commission for Sustainable Development of Central Asia). The work will build upon existing frameworks such as the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, the UNECE Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, the UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents, and other relevant international legal instruments in the area of water management.
The project may proceed with developing by governmental agencies and regional institutions of recommendations on the modernization of bilateral and regional agreements in the region, which would then constitute the third component.
The fourth component will support regional institutions and representatives of five Central Asian countries to strengthen water monitoring and to improve data exchange, in close coordination with existing UNECE and other projects.
Events
Briefing “UNECE environmental conventions: key aspects and opportunities for Central Asia” (side event in the framework of the Second meeting), Geneva, Switzerland, 23 March 2011
Second meeting of the Expert Group on the revision of statutory documents of IFAS, Geneva, Switzerland, 22-23 March 2011
National seminar "On the way to the International Year of Water Cooperation:
the role of international law, including the UNECE Water Convention,
in strengthening cooperation on water resources management", Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 14-15 March 2011
Joint High-level Meeting of Donors and IFAS Board on the Third Aral Sea Basin Program, Almaty, 15 December 2010
Donors Coordination Conference on the Third Aral Sea Basin Programme, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 9 December 2010
National seminar "Strengthening integrated water resources management and transboundary water cooperation:
the role of UNECE conventions and of the EU Water Initiative National Policy Dialogue", Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 6-7 December 2010
Expert Group on the revision of statutory documents of IFAS, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 22 October 2010
National seminar "UNECE Water Convention and its role in international law", Almaty, Kazakhstan, 18-19 October 2010
National Seminar “Legislation and procedures for the application of the Espoo Convention in Tajikistan”, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 22-23 July 2010
Donors' Coordination Meeting on Third Aral Sea Basin Programme, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 21 May 2010
Second meeting of the Working Group on Institutional and Legal Strengthening and Aral Sea Basin Programme - 3, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 20-21 April 2010
Workshop for representatives of international and donor organisations, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 17 March 2010
National Consultations (Almaty, Dushanbe, Ashgabat, Tashkent, Bishkek, February - March 2010)
Consultative meeting with international organizations and donors on the development of ASBP-3, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 3 February 2010
First meeting of the Working Group on Institutional and Legal Strengthening and the Development of Aral Sea Basin Programme - 3, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 10-11 December 2009
Consultative meeting with international organizations and donors on the development of ASBP-3, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 17 November 2009
High-Level Segment "Transboundary Water Cooperation: the Case of Central Asia" (during the fifth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, Geneva, 10-12 November 2009)
Seminar on “International water laws and negotiation of mutually beneficial multilateral water agreements in Central Asia”, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 19-21 April 2009
Statements and documents
Statement by Mr. Andrey Vasilyev, Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNECE, at the High-level Meeting on the Third Aral Sea Basin Program, Almaty, 15 December 2010
Statement by Mr. Marton Krasznai, UNECE Regional Adviser, at the Consultations on Enhancing Security in Afghanistan and Central Asia through Regional Cooperation on Water, European Parliament, Brussels, 7 December 2010
Statement by Mr. Ján Kubiš, UNECE Executive Secretary, at the High Level Public Hearing, European Parliament, Brussels, 12 October 2010
Statement by Mr. Ján Kubiš, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, during the high level dialogue meeting “Implementation of the IFAS Summit Conclusions and Outcomes of the UN Secretary-General’s visit to Central Asia”, Ashgabat, 20 July 2010
Documentation of the Working Group on Strengthening Institutional and Legal Frameworks and Aral Sea Basin Programme - 3 including the Discussion Paper "Strengthening the Institutional and Legal Frameworks of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea: Review and Proposals"
Opening Statement by Mr. Ján Kubiš, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe at the International Coordination Meeting “Responding to the Compound Crisis in Central Asia: a Framework for Action”, 20-21 July 2009, Almaty
Statement by Mr. Ján Kubiš, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, during the Coordination Meeting on the Follow-up to the IFAS Summit in Almaty, Ashgabat, 16 July 2009
Press releases and articles
UNECE facilitates dialogue on the strengthening of institutions for water cooperation in Central Asia UNECE Weekly No 418, 28 March - 1 April 2011
UNECE organizes Central Asian workshop to help mainstream environmental concerns in Government plans and policies Geneva, 16 March 2011
UNECE Seminar on International Water Cooperation opens in Tajikistan Geneva, 14 March 2011
Central Asian States finalize the Third Aral Sea Basin Program Geneva, 17 December 2010
UNECE organizes seminar on water management in Turkmenistan Geneva, 6 December 2010
Kazakhstan: strengthening transboundary water cooperation with the help of the UNECE Water Convention Geneva, 18 October 2010
Executive Secretary discusses strengthening cooperation in the Aral Sea Basin Geneva, 16 July 2010
Marton Krasznai, UNECE: Mutually advantageous cooperation on water and energy resources is fully possible in Central Asia! CARNet, 8 July 2010
UNECE supports joint work of Central Asian countries on regional water resources management UNECE Weekly No 370, 3-7 May 2010
Institutional and Legal Strengthening of Regionial Water Resources Management in Central Asia UNECE Weekly No.353, 4-8 January 2010
UNECE-GTZ Programme helps Central Asian countries to strengthen regional institutions for transboundary water management Geneva, 10 December 2009
Water Unites in Almaty: German Government and UNECE present the Berlin Water Process, part of the EU Strategy for Central Asia Geneva, 21 November 2008
Water unites: improving water management in Central Asia Geneva, 14 November 2008
Links
German Federal Foreign Office
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ – German Technical Cooperation)
Executive Committee of the International Fund for saving the Aral Sea
Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia
CA WATER info
UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia (UNRCCA)
Contacts
ECE Project Task Force
Mr. Bo LIBERT, Regional Adviser on Environment
Environment, Housing and Land Management Division
UN Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Telephone: 0041-22-917 23 96
Telefax: 0041-22-917 06 21
E-mail: bo.libert(at)unece.org
Mr. Marton KRASZNAI, Regional Adviser on Economic Cooperation and Integration
Economic Cooperation and Integration Division
UN Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Telephone: 0041 22 917 2760
Telefax: 0041 22 917 0178
E-mail: marton.krasznai(at)unece.org
Ms. Francesca BERNARDINI,
Secretary to the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of
Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes
Environment, Housing and Land Management Division
UN Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Telephone: 0041 22-917 2463
Telefax: 0041-22-917 0107
e-mail: francesca.bernardini(at)unece.org
Ms. Iulia TROMBITCAIA, Expert on Water Management
Environment, Housing and Land Management Division
UN Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des Nations
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Telephone: 0041-22-917 3332
Telefax: 0041-22-917 0621
E-mail: iulia.trombitcaia(at)unece.org