CAREC hosted the 4th regular meeting of regional organizations
March 16-17, 2017, the 4th meeting of regional organizations, involved in the issues of sustainable development and water management in Central Asia, took place in Almaty. The event was organized within the framework of «Strengthening capacities in sustainable water management at regional, national and catchment levels» with the support of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), «Transboundary water management in Central Asia» programme.
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Participants discussed regional initiatives in the field of environmental nature protection and sustainable development in Central Asia.
Discussions were participated by: Executive Direction of the International Fund for saving the Aral sea (ED IFAS), Science-Information Center of the Interstate Coordination Water Commission (SIC ICWC), Secretariat of the Interstate Commission for Sustainable Development (Secretariat ICSD), Regional Centre of Hydrology (RCH),basin water management organization (BVO) «Syrdaria» and BVO «Amudaria», Regional mountain centre of CA (RMC CA), The Regional Centrer or Renewable Energy (RCREEE), Regional environmental centre for Central Asia (CAREC), and international organizations such as World Bank, The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Participants reviewed and supported promotion of «Environment and sustainable development for Central Asia» process. They highlighted the necessity for consultations with governmental bodies, regional and international consultations, public representatives and other stakeholders in order to set up the process. Moreover, they should be carried out with taking into account the experience of previous initiatives such as Central Asian Initiative (CAI) and different processes that are being implemented under IFAS such as the Regional Environmental Action Plan (REAP), Aral Sea Basin Programme (ASBP), etc.
Major upcoming events in Central Asia were also considered. Regional organizations will examine the draft agenda of the Central Asian Environmental Forum and discuss its participation in the Forum and in case of interest will appeal to governmental bodies in order to become part of the national delegations. Special emphasis participants paid to provide support for holding jubilee events on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the ICWC. The EC IFAS proposed their readiness to take part as co-financing and participation.
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Participants also considered issues related to establishing of common information space in the field related to the water-energy resources and environment in Central Asia.
During discussion of needs assessment and opportunities to strength capacities of regional organizations participants noted that it will assist to indicate themes for seminars and expert skills of each other in order to conduct trainings. At the same time, assessment will help to know better capacities of each other in case of common projects.
All participants mentioned the need for further cooperation, working cohesively and together, and ready to take concrete actions for that.