SIC ICWC took part in the Inception Workshop of the Central Asia Water and Land Nexus (CAWLN) Programme in Samarkand

On 2-3 June 2026, the Inception Workshop of the Central Asia Water and Land Nexus (CAWLN) Programme was held in Samarkand. This initiative aims at ecosystem restoration, improved natural resource management and increased resilience to external impacts.

The programme is being implemented under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The programme’s objective is to promote a transformative approach to transboundary water use at the regional level, as well as to modernize national management practices to foster sustainable agricultural development, conserve biodiversity, and achieve the SDGs. The CAWLN framework comprises seven child projects covering both national and regional levels of cooperation.

The event brought together representatives of relevant government agencies from Central Asian countries, regional organizations, implementing partners, child project coordinators, and international experts. The main purpose of the meeting was to officially launch the Programme, agree on its overall concept, management mechanisms, and monitoring and reporting systems, as well as to identify priorities for the first year of implementation.

The participants discussed the following in detail:

• The Programme framework and GEF requirements regarding the implementation and monitoring;
• Issues related to environmental and social safeguards, gender mainstreaming, and risk management;
• Preparation of annual work plans and budgets, as well as the alignment of performance indicators.

Particular attention was paid to strengthening coordination between the national and regional components of the Programme. Following the meetings, the parties established communication channels and agreed on next steps for launching practical initiatives.

SIC ICWC of Central Asia jointly with UNECE and national consultants from Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan is engaged in implementation of the regional project “Strengthening Integrated Water Management in Amu Darya, Zarafshon, and Panj River Basins” specifically Component 1: “Creating an Enabling Environment for Integrated Water and Land Resources Management in the Amu Darya, Zarafshon, and Panj River Basins.”

This Component includes:

• Preparation of a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and a Strategic Action Program (SAP).
• Development of National Action Plans (NAPs).
• Strengthening the capacity of relevant institutions to implement the water-land nexus approach.

A. Galustyan, representative of SIC ICWC, and T. Kutonova, expert from UNECE, delivered a joint presentation in which they outlined the goals, objectives, and expected outcomes of Component 1, as well as the action plan for the first year.

Participation of SIC ICWC in the CAWLN Programme is to contribute largely to the development of regional cooperation, promote further the integrated water management, and enhance environmental resilience of transboundary river basins in Central Asia.