Regional Drought Dialogue “Translating Drought Risk and Resilience Assessment Results into Regional Priorities and an Action Plan”

On May 29, 2026, SIC ICWC participated in the Regional Drought Dialogue “Translating Drought Risk and Resilience Assessment Results into Regional Priorities and an Action Plan” held in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan.

МThe event was organized by the World Bank under the Central Asia Water and Energy Program (CAWEP) in cooperation with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and regional partners.

Participants included representatives of regional organizations in Central Asia, international projects and programs addressing climate change, drought, water, and sustainable development issues, as well as specialized research and analytical institutions with regional mandates, development partners, and donor organizations. SIC ICWC was represented by Zulfiya Yarullina.

The dialogue was held immediately following the Dushanbe High-Level Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” 2018–2028, enabling the participation of key regional stakeholders, development partners, and technical organizations already present in Dushanbe.

The Regional Dialogue was organized within the framework of the Drought Risk and Resilience Assessment (DRRA) project. The objective was to promote a regional approach to drought risk assessment, strengthen resilience, and identify common priorities for future action. Unlike national drought dialogues, which focus on country-specific challenges, the regional event addressed issues requiring interstate and interagency coordination.

During the event, participants were presented with a regional drought profile highlighting key trends, major risk factors, and potential areas for regional cooperation. The findings of a long-term assessment of drought impact on the environment, based on data collected across Central Asia, were also shared.

A central component of the dialogue was group work involving representatives of regional organizations and internationally funded projects with a regional focus. These discussions aimed to develop practical proposals for regional cooperation in drought monitoring, information exchange, institutional coordination, financing, capacity building, and joint measures to enhance drought resilience.

As a result of the discussions, participants established a common understanding of regional drought-related challenges, identified priority areas for cooperation, and developed draft proposals for further integrating regional approaches into the DRRA process and related partnership initiatives.

SIC ICWC presented proposals on priority areas of work related to the drought impacts on the region’s ecosystems, which are particularly vulnerable to drought conditions. The Center also emphasized the importance of strengthening public awareness of drought risks and their consequences.

Overall, the dialogue provided a solid foundation for enhanced cooperation among regional organizations and international partners working to strengthen drought resilience across Central Asia.