On February 5-6, 2026, a regional training on climate-resilient integrated water resources management (IWRM) was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, for representatives of basin and water management organizations in Central Asian countries, followed by a field visit to the Charvak Reservoir.
The event was organized by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) as part of the "Climate-Responsive and Gender-Sensitive Basin Management" project implemented under the regional program "Climate Sensitive Water Resources Management in Central Asia" of 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 training was the final event of the project and brought together 30 specialists from water management organizations in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Representatives of the Syr Darya and Amu Darya Basin Water Authorities, relevant ministries, and agencies also participated in the event. Special attention was paid to the participation of female specialists.
The aim of the two-day training was to improve the qualifications of senior and middle-level specialists in the water management sector and strengthen their capacity in water resources management, taking into account climate risks.
As part of the program, participants reviewed current reforms in the region's water sector, various aspects of integrated water resources management, including the development of basin plans, case studies of basin planning for the Chu and Zarafshan rivers, rational water use and conservation, and an inclusive approach to water resources management. The discussions touched upon issues of transboundary water sharing and the practical implementation of the NEXUS approach (water-energy-food) in the countries. The program was organized with the involvement of invited speakers, representatives of GIZ, CAREC, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, as well as leading regional experts in the water sector in Central Asia.
"For the countries of Central Asia, water management based on the basin principle and an integrated approach is now moving from a theoretical concept to a practical necessity. It is precisely such training courses that create an important platform for dialogue, exchange of experience, and strengthening of professional ties between basin organizations in the region," said Abrozhon Karimov, representative of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea Agency in the Republic of Uzbekistan.
On the second day, participants visited the Charvak Reservoir, where they were given a tour with a demonstration of the main elements of hydraulic structures.
The Charvak Reservoir is located in the Bostanlyk district of the Tashkent region of Uzbekistan, on the Chirchik River, below the confluence of the Pskem and Chatkal rivers, at an altitude of about 1,620 meters above sea level. The reservoir is one of the largest water management and energy facilities in the country and plays a strategic role in providing drinking and technical water to the city of Tashkent and settlements in the Tashkent region. The Charvak Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP-6) is one of the largest hydroelectric power plants in Uzbekistan, whose construction began in 1963 and was completed in 1972. Currently, the HPP is owned by Uzbekhydroenergo JSC and is an important source of hydropower, contributing to the development of irrigation, industry, and the socio-economic development of the region.
At the end of the event, participants gave positive feedback on the quality of the training and its importance for the development of practical skills, emphasizing the need to apply the knowledge and approaches acquired in national water management practices.
Background:
From 2024 to 2026, CAREC is implementing the project “Climate-Responsive and Gender- Sensitive Basin Management”. 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 training courses have been implemented at the national, transboundary, and regional levels.
Contact information:
Irina Yugay - Project Manager, Acting Manager of the Water Initiatives Support Program, CAREC, i.yugay@carececo.org