3rd National Steering Committee Meeting on the Zarafshan River Basin Project. Results and Prospects

Uzbekistan hosted the 3rd National Steering Committee (NSC) meeting of the project “Climate-Resilient Integrated Water Resources Management in the Zarafshan River Basin” in Tashkent on 11 February 2026.

The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Jusipbek Kazbekov, Deputy Chair of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, and Andrin Fink, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in Uzbekistan and Head of Cooperation. 

The event brought together representatives of relevant ministries and agencies, members of the Zarafshan River Basin Council (RBC), and project consortium partners.

Key Results of 2025

During the meeting, the consortium presented the project’s achievements for 2025. Major highlights included:

• Strengthening the institutional framework of the RBC: meetings of the Governing Body and General Assembly were held; amendments to the Charter were adopted; and a working group for the River Basin Development Plan (RBDP) was established.
• Hydrometeorological modernization: installation of new weather stations in Navoi and Samarkand regions and integration of data into the national hydrometeorological network; enhancement of hydrological forecasting tools.
• Modern water management solutions: introduction of smart water measurement devices (“Smart Channel”), on-farm water accounting systems, and weather-based water and climate services (WWCS).
• Gender and cross-border cooperation: exchange visit with Tajikistan focusing on women’s participation in water governance.

Baseline survey: 796 large-scale irrigated farms across five provinces of the basin were surveyed, providing key insights into water-saving technology adoption and gender participation in water management

Activity Plan for 2026–2027

The NSC members also discussed and provided feedback on the Activity Plan for 2026–2027. Key priorities include further institutionalization of the RBC, development of the River Basin Development Plan (RBDP), expansion of the Blue/Green Schools initiative, and strengthening analytical capacities in groundwater monitoring and modelling.

Participants emphasized the importance of a systematic, climate-resilient approach to integrated water resources management, including digital innovation, scientific support, and active community engagement.

Project Significance

The project is implemented by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in partnership with Caritas Switzerland and aims to establish a sustainable model of climate-resilient Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the Zarafshan River Basin. It contributes to strengthening institutional dialogue, enhancing evidence-based decision-making, and fostering regional cooperation.

CAREC remains committed to providing expert and institutional support to promote sustainable water governance and climate resilience across Central Asia.

Additional information:

Nodirbek Rahimjonov - CAREC Country Director in Uzbekistan, uzbekistan@carececo.org