Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan, 12-13 December 2024 — A representative of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development of Central Asia (ICSD) participated in the 13th meeting of the Working Group on the improvement of the organizational structure and legal framework of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS). The meeting was organized by the IFAS Executive Committee in cooperation with the Central Asia Water and Energy Program (CAWEP) of the World Bank. The event brought together more than 40 representatives of the IFAS founding States, members of the Working Group and experts from relevant organizations. The principal objective of the meeting was to reach consensus on key aspects of the Fund’s reform, including the refinement of its organizational structure, its possible future name and the location of its Executive Committee.
During the discussions, participants achieved significant progress in advancing proposals to strengthen the institutional structure of IFAS. Following a detailed review of the proposed changes, national delegations agreed on a compromise draft of a possible organizational structure for a modernized Fund. This draft will serve as the basis for further intergovernmental consultations among the founding States.
Participants of the13th meeting of the Working Group on the improvement of the organizational structure and legal framework of IFAS. Photocredit to ICSD.
At the initiative of the delegation of the Republic of Tajikistan, the programme of the meeting was revised to allow for a dedicated session during which the Working Group developed and agreed on its Work Plan for 2025. The adopted document outlines the sequence of further steps to prepare recommendations aimed at strengthening the institutional and legal foundations of IFAS.
At the conclusion of the meeting, it was agreed that the IFAS Executive Committee would circulate an official request to the founding States inviting them to submit their national positions on the proposed organizational structure and on a suggested option for the future name of the Fund. In addition, the Executive Committee was requested to seek support from the World Bank and CAWEP in preparing draft regulations governing the structural units within the updated institutional framework.
The participation of the ICSD representative contributed to ensuring that environmental and institutional considerations were duly reflected in the process of improving IFAS, while further strengthening cooperation among regional mechanisms for sustainable development, water resources management and environmental protection in Central Asia.
The event supports the achievement of:
| Priority area No 6 of REP4SD dedicated to SDG 17: “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development” |
| 6.3 Strengthening of legal, institutional and technical frameworks of the ICSD and its bodies to ensure the implementation of regional programmes and projects, organization of environmental monitoring in Central Asia, and cooperation with other regional and international organizations for the sustainable development of Central Asia. |