Workshop on the Baseline Assessment of Water Supply, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Health in Uzbekistan and the Development of Draft National Target Indicators under the Protocol on Water and Health

On 10 September 2025, a technical workshop was held in Tashkent to discuss the results of the baseline assessment in the areas of water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and health in Uzbekistan, as well as the next steps for the development of draft national target indicators under the Protocol on Water and Health.

The workshop was organized by the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health under the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in cooperation with the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health, and with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

The event brought together representatives from relevant ministries and government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders. Zulfiya Yarullina and Matluba Rakhimova participated on behalf of the SIC ICWC.

Objectives of the workshop:

• To present the baseline assessment of water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and health, and to discuss the main findings and conclusions related to the target areas outlined in Article 6 of the Protocol on Water and Health;
• To discuss priorities and specific proposals for draft target indicators to be developed for Uzbekistan based on the results of the baseline assessment;
• To consider an initiative to develop cross-sectoral target indicators in water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and health through a consultative process involving multiple stakeholders, aligned with Uzbekistan’s needs and capacities;
• To familiarize stakeholders with the relevant provisions of the Protocol on Water and Health related to setting target indicators, as well as Uzbekistan’s legal obligations as a Party to the Protocol;
• To clarify the next steps and coordination mechanisms for developing and establishing national target indicators in Uzbekistan.

Welcoming remarks were delivered by:

• Nurmat Atabekov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
• Sabine Machl, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan;
• Shohrukh Avazov, National Program Officer for Water, Infrastructure, and Climate Change, Embassy of Switzerland in Uzbekistan.

Introductory presentations were given by:

• Leonid Kalashnik, International Consultant to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe;
• Elena Drozdova, Deputy Director for Scientific Work at the Research Institute of Hygiene, Toxicology, Epidemiology, Virology, and Microbiology (Belarus).

Their presentations covered general obligations under the Protocol and provided an overview of the relevant target areas.

The session focused on presenting the baseline assessment of water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and health in Uzbekistan and its findings. Participants were provided with a brief overview of the current situation and invited to discuss the assessment results for each target area outlined in the Protocol.

Following the discussion, workshop participants put forward a number of recommendations and additions to be included in the baseline assessment materials and the list of target indicators.