Shymkent, Kazakhstan – Ten senior and mid-level specialists from the Aral-Syrdarya Basin Inspection (ASBI) of Kazakhstan and the Lower Syrdarya Basin Irrigation Systems Authority (LBIISA) of Uzbekistan have successfully completed a one-day training program on water resource management, considering climate impacts, aimed at implementing national adaptation strategies at the basin level.
The transboundary training took place on October 17, 2024, in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.
The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) held this training within the framework of the project “Climate-Responsive and Gender-Sensitive Basin Management” (hereafter referred to as the Project). The Project is part of the Regional Program “Climate-Sensitive Water Resources Management in Central Asia,” implemented by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
The intensive sessions, which included workshops and discussions, thoroughly equipped participants with technical knowledge and practical tools essential for water accounting, allocation, and efficient water use. The topics "Automated Water Accounting Systems" and "Water-Saving Techniques and Irrigation Technologies" sparked particular interest, as all Central Asian countries are actively digitizing their canals and focusing on the rational use of water due to its increasing scarcity. The training program also featured a session on the importance of considering gender aspects and the needs of vulnerable groups in water management strategies.
"The training was very interesting and useful for my future work. I gained a lot of information on the automation of water accounting, the safety of hydraulic structures, and water conservation. I will further study the materials on CAREC's climate portal (ed. – CACIP)," noted Nurzhan Beketov, Chief Specialist of the Aral-Syrdarya Basin Inspection for the Kyzylorda region.
"We learned a lot from the trainers. It was interesting to discover new irrigation technologies and methods. A big thank you to GIZ and CAREC for providing the opportunity to exchange experiences with our Kazakh colleagues, with whom we jointly manage the Syr Darya River," shared Abdukarim Azimov, Deputy Head of the Lower Syrdarya Basin Irrigation Systems Authority of Uzbekistan.
he training concluded with a group discussion and the presentation of certificates to the participants.
Additional Project Information:
From 2024 to 2026, CAREC will implement the project “Climate-responsive and gender-sensitive basin management” (hereinafter referred to as the Project). The Project is part of the Regional Program "Climate Sensitive Water Resources Management in Central Asia," implemented by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
The project's goal is to strengthen regional cooperation among countries in the region by providing informational and theoretical support to stakeholders in the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). As part of the project, 24 gender-sensitive trainings will be conducted at national, transboundary, and regional levels.
Contact Person: Irina Yugai, Project Manager (Water Initiatives Support Program), wisspecialist@carececo.org