An online working meeting was held between representatives of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) Project Office in Turkmenistan and the Central Asian Institute of Environmental Research (CAIER, Republic of Kazakhstan) to discuss prospects for long-term cooperation, the implementation of joint international projects, and the introduction of innovative technologies in the fields of sustainable water resources management, climate change adaptation, and environmental protection.
The meeting was attended by:
From the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan:
Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan,
Aleksey Sopyyev, Expert of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan,
Dovlet Jumagulyyev, Expert of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan.
From the Central Asian Institute of Environmental Research (CAIER):
Daulet Asylbayev, Managing Director of CAIER,
Adylhan Tovasarov, Project Coordinator and Lead Expert on Rainwater Harvesting Technologies, together with the institute’s team of experts.
Opening the meeting, Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan, welcomed the participants and introduced the office's activities. He presented the Office’s ongoing environmental and climate initiatives to promote the sustainable use of natural resources, strengthen climate resilience, and enhance regional cooperation. He noted that one of the most promising areas for collaboration with CAIER is the implementation of a joint rainwater harvesting project in Turkmenistan.
In his remarks, Mergen Kepbanov emphasized the importance of combining CAIER’s scientific expertise with CAREC’s practical experience to prepare a joint project proposal for international funding, including opportunities through the International Finance Corporation (IFC). He also proposed initiating the preparation and signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation, which would provide a foundation for implementing joint projects and facilitating the exchange of scientific knowledge, technologies, and expert experience between the two organizations.
Aleksey Sopyyev, Expert of the CAREC Project Office, presented the concept of a pilot rainwater harvesting project. He provided an overview of modern rainwater collection and storage technologies and discussed their potential application in the conditions of Turkmenistan. He introduced preliminary technical solutions for installing rainwater harvesting systems in Ashgabat and the “Avaza” National Tourist Zone. Aleksey Sopyyev also stressed the importance of collecting baseline data, including precipitation levels, green area coverage, topographical information, and other technical parameters required for engineering calculations and the preparation of a high-quality project proposal for international donors.
Dovlet Jumagulyyev, Expert of the CAREC Project Office, highlighted the practical significance of implementing the pilot project. He noted that the establishment of demonstration sites would provide tangible evidence of the effectiveness of rainwater harvesting technologies. According to him, the successful implementation of the pilot phase would create a solid foundation for scaling up the initiative across different regions of Turkmenistan while attracting the attention of government authorities and international partners to the adoption of modern nature-based solutions.
Daulet Asylbayev, Managing Director of the Central Asian Institute of Environmental Research, expressed strong interest in developing long-term cooperation with the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan. He emphasized that combining CAIER’s scientific capacity with CAREC’s practical experience would facilitate the development of high-quality international projects addressing water security, climate change adaptation, and the sustainable development of urban areas. Daulet Asylbayev also confirmed the Institute’s readiness to review the draft Memorandum of Cooperation and actively participate in the joint development of the project concept.
Adylhan Tovasarov, Project Coordinator of the Central Asian Institute of Environmental Research, presented the Institute’s scientific achievements in rainwater research, which has been conducted since 2013. He described the rainwater harvesting and storage technology developed by the Institute, shared the results of studies on the quality of atmospheric precipitation, and highlighted the potential application of these technologies in arid climatic conditions. Adylhan Tovasarov noted that the technology could be adapted for use in Turkmenistan through pilot projects aimed at irrigating green spaces and promoting the efficient use of water resources. He also confirmed the Institute’s readiness to provide expert support for the project, deliver the necessary technical recommendations, and coordinate cooperation between specialists from both organizations.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties agreed to prepare and sign a Memorandum of Cooperation, identify pilot sites for project implementation, facilitate the exchange of hydrometeorological and technical data, jointly develop the project concept, and prepare a project proposal to secure international funding.
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Sustainable water resources management and the implementation of innovative nature-based solutions are essential for strengthening Turkmenistan’s climate resilience. We highly value the expertise of the Central Asian Institute of Environmental Research and are confident that combining CAIER’s scientific capacity with the practical experience of the CAREC Project Office will enable us to develop high-quality international projects, attract international financing, and introduce modern rainwater harvesting technologies. The signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation will mark an important step toward building a long-term partnership and implementing joint initiatives aimed at the sustainable use of water resources and strengthening regional cooperation in Central Asia,” noted Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan.
The participants expressed confidence that the partnership between the CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan and the Central Asian Institute of Environmental Research (CAIER) would become an important milestone in strengthening regional cooperation, promoting innovative technologies for sustainable water resources management, and implementing joint environmental projects aimed at enhancing climate resilience in Turkmenistan and across Central Asia.
Additional information:
Mergen Kepbanov, Director of the CAREC Project office in Turkmenistan, turkmenistan@carececo.org