On November 4, 2025, the second meeting of the Advisory Board on Water and Climate of the Central Asian Institute for Environmental Research was held online, bringing together representatives of government agencies, international organizations, and the region's expert community.
The scientific event was opened by the Chair of the Advisory Board, Aselle Tasmagametova, ecologist and founder of CAIER.
The main focus of the meeting was the development of a project proposal in the water sector, one of the most pressing areas on the regional environmental and climate agenda.
Participants discussed the key water challenges facing Central Asia – water scarcity, infrastructure deterioration and increasing climate risks – as well as possible ways to join forces to develop cross-country and cross-sectoral initiatives that could form the basis for future programmes and partnerships. In addition, it was proposed to create a regional platform for an up-to-date database of regulatory and legal acts and current international environmental projects, which would ensure systematic analysis, coordination of actions, and transparency in the formation of new project proposals.
The participants of the meeting listened with interest to the report by CAIER Research Project Coordinator Danila Uvarov. He spoke about the work being done to develop a roadmap and presented the concept of creating a Regional Network for Monitoring Drought and Water Scarcity (DroughtNet-CA), highlighting the priority of this area for each of their countries in particular and the region as a whole. Viktoria Krylova, Head of the CAIER Research Department, highlighted the importance of monitoring transboundary river flows to increase transparency and sustainable regional cooperation. Bakhrom Uzakov presented a project to provide drinking water to remote rural areas through the establishment of water kiosks. During the discussions, the experts focused on analyzing the risks and assessing the potential of all the ideas presented. Erlan Zhumabaev, Director of the RECCA branch in the Republic of Kazakhstan, confirmed Kazakhstan's country priorities in the water sector and emphasized the particular importance of projects aimed at groundwater management and increasing drought resilience. He also noted that these areas are key to ensuring water security and climate adaptation in the region.
Following the discussion of project ideas, Asel Tasmagambetova emphasized the importance of the proposals and expressed her vision for their further development in order to move on to the next stages of implementation and review with international partners and national agencies.
During the meeting, the results of the analysis of the regulatory and legal environmental framework in Central Asian countries were presented. Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the RECCA Project Office in Turkmenistan, delivered a report presenting the results of the analysis of the regulatory and legal framework in the region. Dalerjon Khojiboyev presented an overview of current donor programs and projects in Tajikistan. Based on the data presented, the participants determined that the existing initiatives of the World Bank, EBRD, GEF, and Islamic Development Bank create favorable conditions for promoting a new project proposal aimed at sustainable water management and climate-adaptive agricultural development.
The Council agreed to develop two to three project ideas in the format of “problem – solution – expected result – partners – timeline – indicative budget.” These developments will form the basis for the preparation of a joint project application reflecting the common interests of the countries in the region and the strategic priorities of international donors.
Thematic areas for future working groups were also identified:
– water resources management and land reclamation;
– introduction of innovations and digital technologies in the water sector;
– water resource management and land reclamation;
– introduction of innovations and digital technologies in the water sector;
– improving the climate resilience of rural areas.
The importance of combining the expertise of Council members representing leading scientific and practical organizations was emphasized. This joint effort will enable a transition from the exchange of ideas to concrete actions, forming projects ready for presentation to international platforms and potential funding.
The Advisory Council's activities are aimed at creating a hybrid platform – an independent expert network capable of simultaneously performing analytical and coordination roles, developing project proposals, and facilitating the development of solutions that meet the interests of the region and its partners.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to prepare a consolidated package of project ideas, which will be presented for discussion and further promotion at the regional level. The Council expressed confidence that the development of the project initiative in the water sector will be a practical step towards strengthening cooperation among Central Asian countries in the context of climate change.
The scientific event was opened by the Chair of the Advisory Board, Aselle Tasmagametova, ecologist and founder of CAIER.
The main focus of the meeting was the development of a project proposal in the water sector, one of the most pressing areas on the regional environmental and climate agenda.
Participants discussed the key water challenges facing Central Asia – water scarcity, infrastructure deterioration and increasing climate risks – as well as possible ways to join forces to develop cross-country and cross-sectoral initiatives that could form the basis for future programmes and partnerships. In addition, it was proposed to create a regional platform for an up-to-date database of regulatory and legal acts and current international environmental projects, which would ensure systematic analysis, coordination of actions, and transparency in the formation of new project proposals.
The participants of the meeting listened with interest to the report by CAIER Research Project Coordinator Danila Uvarov. He spoke about the work being done to develop a roadmap and presented the concept of creating a Regional Network for Monitoring Drought and Water Scarcity (DroughtNet-CA), highlighting the priority of this area for each of their countries in particular and the region as a whole. Viktoria Krylova, Head of the CAIER Research Department, highlighted the importance of monitoring transboundary river flows to increase transparency and sustainable regional cooperation. Bakhrom Uzakov presented a project to provide drinking water to remote rural areas through the establishment of water kiosks. During the discussions, the experts focused on analyzing the risks and assessing the potential of all the ideas presented. Erlan Zhumabaev, Director of the RECCA branch in the Republic of Kazakhstan, confirmed Kazakhstan's country priorities in the water sector and emphasized the particular importance of projects aimed at groundwater management and increasing drought resilience. He also noted that these areas are key to ensuring water security and climate adaptation in the region.
Following the discussion of project ideas, Asel Tasmagambetova emphasized the importance of the proposals and expressed her vision for their further development in order to move on to the next stages of implementation and review with international partners and national agencies.
During the meeting, the results of the analysis of the regulatory and legal environmental framework in Central Asian countries were presented. Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the RECCA Project Office in Turkmenistan, delivered a report presenting the results of the analysis of the regulatory and legal framework in the region. Dalerjon Khojiboyev presented an overview of current donor programs and projects in Tajikistan. Based on the data presented, the participants determined that the existing initiatives of the World Bank, EBRD, GEF, and Islamic Development Bank create favorable conditions for promoting a new project proposal aimed at sustainable water management and climate-adaptive agricultural development.
The Council agreed to develop two to three project ideas in the format of “problem – solution – expected result – partners – timeline – indicative budget.” These developments will form the basis for the preparation of a joint project application reflecting the common interests of the countries in the region and the strategic priorities of international donors.
Thematic areas for future working groups were also identified:
– water resources management and land reclamation;
– introduction of innovations and digital technologies in the water sector;
– water resource management and land reclamation;
– introduction of innovations and digital technologies in the water sector;
– improving the climate resilience of rural areas.
The importance of combining the expertise of Council members representing leading scientific and practical organizations was emphasized. This joint effort will enable a transition from the exchange of ideas to concrete actions, forming projects ready for presentation to international platforms and potential funding.
The Advisory Council's activities are aimed at creating a hybrid platform – an independent expert network capable of simultaneously performing analytical and coordination roles, developing project proposals, and facilitating the development of solutions that meet the interests of the region and its partners.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to prepare a consolidated package of project ideas, which will be presented for discussion and further promotion at the regional level. The Council expressed confidence that the development of the project initiative in the water sector will be a practical step towards strengthening cooperation among Central Asian countries in the context of climate change.