WATER-ENERGY NEXUS TOPS AGENDA AT THE 2025 SDG FORUM

On 4–5 September 2025, the Ninth North and Central Asia Multi-Stakeholder Forum on the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals was held in Almaty. The Forum was organized by UN ESCAP and its partners and brought together representatives of governments, international organizations, academia, and the business community to discuss transformative, innovative and coordinated actions in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Forum’s agenda covered key SDG areas, including sustainable water management and sanitation (SDG 6), access to affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), industrialization and innovation (SDG 9), sustainable cities and settlements (SDG 11), as well as strengthening regional partnerships (SDG 17). Discussions focused on such issues as investment in water infrastructure, transboundary water sharing, transition to clean energy and green technologies, smart cities, and new mechanisms for regional cooperation.

During the panel discussion “Leveraging synergies in the water-energy nexus for the implementation of Goal 6 and Goal 7”, Dr. Dinara Ziganshina, Director of SIC ICWC Central Asia delivered a presentation.

In her presentation ‘Water-Energy Cooperation in the Syr Darya River Basin: Hierarchies, Networks and Markets” based on the IKI Nexus project’s results, Dr. Ziganishina underlined that future sustainable water management in the region should rely on hybrid coordination models combining hierarchical mechanisms, partnerships and market incentives. She cited examples of institutional and financial transformations in the water and energy sectors, emphasizing the need to bridge the sectors through tariff reforms, digitalization, joint investments, and long-term contracts. Dr. Ziganshina paid particular attention to the Kambarata HPP-1 project, which is seen as a ‘laboratory of a hybrid model’ as it demonstrates how joint ownership, shared financing, and interstate agreements can contribute to mutually beneficial development.

The Forum in Almaty served as an important platform for knowledge and experience sharing, strengthening regional cooperation, and exploring innovative solutions for achieving the SDGs in the region.