NEWS FROM THE 10th WORLD WATER FORUM
On May 21-22, a number of sessions were held as part of the thematic and regional process. In particular, sessions on innovative methods of "green" financing of the water sector, including in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
The proposed solutions involved the use of technical (gray) and nature-based solutions, and the need to combine both. The issues of private financing were raised, and challenges with private sector engagement in water sector, for example, through public-private partnerships (PPPs) were highlighted at the session. The experience of Central Asia and Caucasus in mobilizing water finance for climate resilience was presented.
Director of SIC ICWC Dr. D. Ziganshina participated in the side event "Enhancing Water Security through National Dialogues on Water" (May 22) organized by the Asian Water Council and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that have facilitated national water dialogue in Asia since 2021.
Best practices of Indonesia, Thailand, Mongolia and Uzbekistan and lessons learned from national water dialogues, in particular, the role of legislation, financial tools for technological innovations to improve water security and effective water management were discussed.
Dr. D. Ziganshina made a presentation on “Water sector in Uzbekistan: policy reforms and remaining challenges”, she underlined the priority of improving water use efficiency for the Government of Uzbekistan, as for other countries of the world as well as the results of water policy reforms in the country and the current national policy dialogue, with SIC ICWC assistance in assessing an enabling environment for investment in the water sector of Uzbekistan.
On May 22, the Basin Segment Day included several high-level sessions on governance and planning, transboundary cooperation, water information systems, environmental security and the basin approach.
Sh. Khamraev, Minister of Water Management of the Republic of Uzbekistan, delivered a keynote address at the session on transboundary cooperation, stressing the importance of river basin management and noting the achievements of Uzbekistan in this area.
The experience of countries’ cooperation on major river basins of the world, including the Colorado, Rio Grande and Nile Basins as well as problems faced by the countries of transboundary watercourses, and their solutions were addressed during the session.
At the session on water information systems, Dr. D. Ziganshina presented the Regional Water Information System in Central Asia, she noted the need to adapt it to current realities, involve stakeholders (issues of energy-water-land nexus) and support the entire cycle of knowledge production, assessment and integration into decision-making and water management practices to ensure its inclusiveness and sustainability.
On May 22, a Ministerial Declaration was adopted at the Ministerial Meeting.
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