The first meeting of the newly-established Coordination Council of Partners for the Development of the Water Sector took place in Astana on September 30. The meeting was organized by the Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The meeting gathered representatives from the UN, international organizations, financial institutions, foreign development agencies, the diplomatic and business communities.
The meeting discussed partnerships in managing Kazakhstan’s water resources and also focused on strategic partnerships and priority areas in the country’s water sector.
A Water Partnership Initiative for 2024-2030, a joint proposal of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and UNDP, was presented at the first meeting of the Coordination Council. The document outlines specific activities in several areas, including the development of an information system for water resources, modernization of water infrastructure taking climate challenges into account, implementation of modern irrigation systems, and transboundary water cooperation.
“I am convinced that the Coordination Council will greatly boost cooperation in Kazakhstan’s water sector,” said Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Kazakh Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation. “The council will play a key role in exchanging knowledge and experience with international partners. Joint research, technology, and innovation can enhance water supply levels and resilience to climate change. The council will also serve as an important platform for fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors. Its establishment will help clearly identify priority areas and resources for their implementation. We invite our partners to co-chair the council on a rotational basis. This year, we propose that this role be taken by UNDP.”
“Given the complexity of the water agenda, it is clear that no single government or organization can tackle these issues alone. Therefore, addressing these challenges requires a combination of resources, investments, technical expertise and innovations. I hope that the Partnership Initiative proposed today by UNDP and the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation will serve as an important catalyst in this process,” said Katarzyna Wawiernia, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan.
