REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON SDG 6.5.2
A regional workshop on the outcomes of the third reporting exercise on SDG indicator 6.5.2 and sharing experience in using reporting as a tool for developing transboundary cooperation in Central Asia was held in Tashkent on 12-13 February. The workshop was organized by the International Water Assessment Centre in cooperation with the UNECE, UNESCO and SIC ICWC with financial support from German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
The workshop brought together representatives of interested state authorities in the field of surface and groundwater resources, environment, regional and international organizations, as well as experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The session "Progress in achieving SDG indicator 6.5.2 in Central Asia" presented the results of the third reporting exercise on SDG indicator 6.5.2 at both global and regional levels, identified key gaps and obstacles in achieving the indicator in Central Asia, including the lack of coordination between countries and insufficient information on transboundary water resources, and discussed the linkages between indicators 6.5.1 and 6.5.2.
As part of discussions on regional experiences in transboundary water cooperation, the countries in the region shared reports on key achievements and challenges in reporting. The importance of strengthening institutions for transboundary water cooperation was emphasized, along with the need to improve data sharing. The role of regional organizations in achieving SDG indicator 6.5.2 was considered and the necessity of developing partnerships between countries and engaging international organizations for funding and technical assistance was highlighted.
International experiences and best practices from Europe, Africa and the South Caucasus were shared as well. Those included cooperation between Armenia and Georgia on water monitoring in the Khrami-Debed basin, water regulation in Senegal and Mauritania based on reporting on SDG indicator 6.5.2, and the experiences of France and Poland in transboundary water cooperation.
A key topic of the workshop was transboundary groundwater management, its inclusion in SDG indicator 6.5.2 and integration into the cooperation processes. This included global experiences in groundwater monitoring (UNESCO, IGRAC), regional examples such as the Pritashkent transboundary aquifer, and the issues related to joint surface and groundwater management.
SIC ICWC actively participated in the workshop as both a co-organizer and a knowledge hub on water cooperation in Central Asia. In the third session, SIC ICWC Director Dinara Ziganshina made a presentation on the role of SIC ICWC in facilitating transboundary water cooperation and reporting on SDG indicator 6.5.2. At the session on tools helping develop agreements and arrangements, she reported on financing transboundary water cooperation and strategies for attracting additional sources.
Based on the discussions, practical recommendations and proposals for strengthening transboundary water cooperation will be drafted.
Detailed information about the regional workshop is available here
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