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Central Asian countries, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan to work on strategy to address water, energy and environment challenges

Central Asia lacks a coherent regional approach to address water, energy and environment challenges, which are largely transnational and can only be tackled in a collaborative manner.  


To remedy this situation, water, energy and environment specialists from seven countries (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan), which are members of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), will discuss proposals for the development of a targeted Strategy.


The aim is to develop policy recommendations to help member countries comprehensively address regional water, energy and environmental issues and achieve related national development objectives, including those defined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).


The Strategy will guide countries in:
  • Formulating and implementing national strategies on water, energy and environment, with particular focus on transboundary and regional issues.
  • Promoting interlinkages of energy and water issues and improving water and energy cooperation opportunities and addressing intersectoral and transboundary impacts in the SDG implementation.
  • Addressing environmental problems emerging from new economic developments.
  • Addressing environmental challenges such as sand and dust storms, sustainability of water-related eco-systems, as well as related safety considerations such as dam safety.

It will also strengthen the capacity of the SPECA Working Group on Water, Energy and Environment to deliver on its mandate.


The 23rd session of the SPECA Working Group on Water, Energy and Environment, organized by UNECE, will take place on 2 October 2019 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

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