3rd Meeting of the Regional Network for the EU–UNEP Project

On May 13, Sherzod Muminov, Deputy Director of SIC ICWC and Leader of the EU–UNEP Project, met with Tileq Tekebaev, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in Jalal-Abad province.

The meeting focused on the progress and achievements of the project. Mr. Tekebaev emphasized the importance of the initiative, expressed his strong interest in and full support for its implementation, and reaffirmed his readiness for further cooperation in the area of water management and climate resilience.

Following this meeting, the 3rd meeting of the EU–UNEP Project Regional Network was held in Manas, Kyrgyz Republic on May 14–15.

The event aimed to strengthen regional cooperation and practical coordination through the exchange of experiences, mutual learning, and joint planning within the approved subproject areas. The meeting also served as a platform for deepening technical cooperation, enhancing accountability, and improving the coherence and quality of project implementation.

The meeting brought together representatives of government authorities of Jalal-Abad province, water management and environmental agencies, NGOs, the expert community, and grant recipients of the EU–UNEP project from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Opening remarks were delivered by representatives of the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in Jalal-Abad province, the Suzak district administration, and the provincial branch of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision. In their statements, the speakers emphasized the importance of project activities in supporting adaptation and promoting socio-economic stability not only in the Kyrgyz Republic, but across the entire Fergana Valley.

Sherzod Muminov, Deputy Director of SIC ICWC and Project Leader, highlighted the exceptional importance of regional cooperation among the participating countries within the framework of the project. Boris Gozhenko also took part in the meeting on behalf of SIC ICWC and served as moderator of the event.

During the meeting, project grantees presented and discussed preliminary plans and early results of their subprojects.

In addition to discussions on the main areas of activity, grant recipients participated in a training session on the use of water-saving irrigation technologies, which included both theoretical lessons and practical exercises.

The second day of the meeting took place in the sites of subprojects implemented in the Suzak district of Jalal-Abad province by one of the project grant recipients, the consortium of NGO “Orchun” and NGO “Independent Environmental Expertise.”

Participants visited three aiyl aimaks (rural settlement), where key nature-based solutions for adaptation to climate change at the community level are being implemented under the project through March 2027.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants emphasized the high relevance of the presented nature-based measures and their contribution to strengthening climate resilience, reducing the potential for conflict and enhancing socio-economic stability in the region.