LocationsPartnership to spur complex water management agenda presented at Coordination Council meeting
September 30, 2024
Astana, 30 September 2024 - The first meeting of the Coordination Council of Partners for the Development of the Water Sector took place in Astana. The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Participants included representatives from the UN, international organizations, financial institutions, foreign development agencies, the diplomatic corps and the business community.
Attendees discussed partnerships in managing Kazakhstan's water resources and also focused on strategic partnerships and priority areas in the country's water sector. Following presentations by members of the Coordination Council, an open microphone discussion was held. Speakers highlighted ongoing water initiatives, discussed planned projects and proposed their own initiatives for the council's work.
A Water Partnership Initiative for 2024-2030, a joint proposal of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was also presented at the first meeting of the Coordination Council. The document outlines specific activities in several areas, including the development of an information system for water resources, modernization of water infrastructure taking climate challenges into account, implementation of modern irrigation systems and transboundary water cooperation.
"I am convinced that the Coordination Council will greatly boost cooperation in Kazakhstan's water sector. The council will play a key role in exchanging knowledge and experience with international partners. Joint research, technology, and innovation can enhance water supply levels and resilience to climate change. The council will also serve as an important platform for fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors. Its establishment will help clearly identify priority areas and resources for their implementation. We invite our partners to co-chair the council on a rotational basis. This year, we propose that this role be taken by UNDP," stated Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation.
"Given the complexity of the water agenda, it is clear that no single government or organization can tackle these issues alone. Therefore addressing these challenges requires a combination of resources, investments, technical expertise and innovations. I hope that the Partnership Initiative proposed today by UNDP and the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation will serve as an important catalyst in this process," noted Katarzyna Wawiernia, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan.
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The event is supported by the UNDP project "Institutionalization of adaptation planning and integration of climate risks into Kazakhstan’s development planning processes to enable implementation of adaptation measures as part of coherent National Adaptation Planning (NAP) policies" implemented under the financial support of Green Climate Fund.
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