SIC ICWC and UNDP Discuss Prospects for Cooperation in Transboundary Water Management

On 20 October 2026, a meeting was held at SIC ICWC with representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The meeting focused on prospects for transboundary cooperation, water data sharing and monitoring, coordination of activities in the Syr Darya River basin and the development of regional analytical tools.

The meeting took place as part of the visit of the UNDP International advisor for water resources management to Uzbekistan, scheduled for 19-23 October 2026. The visit program included consultations with national partners on priorities in the water sector, digitalization and water monitoring, transboundary and regional cooperation, as well as the identification of promising areas of cooperation.

SIC ICWC was represented by Deputy Directors Sh. Muminov and A. Nazariy, as well as heads of departments I. Beglov, Sh. Kenjabaev, and experts A. Dolidudko and L. Sychugova.

UNDP was represented by Hubert Lohr, International advisor for water resources management for Kazakhstan and Central Asia; Oleg Khmelev, International Chief Technical Advisor for the UNDP-GEF project in the field of energy and green economy; Alisher Utemisov, UNDP Programme Manager in the Aral Sea region; and Malika Ikramova, Head of the laboratory at SRIIWP.

The parties discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation in water management, enhance data accessibility and interoperability, improve monitoring systems, and develop analytical products to support evidence-based decision-making. Particular attention was paid to coordinating activities in the Syr Darya River basin and facilitating information exchange among regional organizations.

A key highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Water Security Index for the Aral Sea Basin developed by SIC ICWC as part of the IKI project “Regional Mechanisms for the Low-Carbon and Climate-Resilient Transformation of the Energy-Water-Land Nexus in Central Asia.”

The Water Security Index is a composite indicator calculated at the level of administrative-territorial units within the Aral Sea Basin. The tool is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of water conditions and related risks, while identifying regional characteristics in water security.

The Water Security Index provides an analytical framework for assessing water-related risks, identifying priority areas for intervention, and supporting informed decision-making in sustainable water management. This approach is particularly relevant in the regional context, where water resources are increasingly affected by climate change and growing water scarcity, while requiring the coordination of diverse stakeholders’ interests.

The meeting provided a platform for exchanging expertise and discussing opportunities to further strengthen cooperation between SIC ICWC and UNDP in regional water cooperation, water monitoring and data exchange, and the development of analytical tools to support the sustainable management of water resources in the Aral Sea Basin.