Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 12-13 February 2025 - The Regional Workshop on the Outcomes of the Third Reporting Cycle for SDG Indicator 6.5.2 and the exchange of best practices in using reporting as a tool to advance transboundary cooperation was held. The event was organized by the International Water Assessment Centre (IWAC) in collaboration with the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), UNESCO, and the Scientific Information Center of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia (SIC ICWC), with financial support from the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).
The workshop brought together representatives of state agencies responsible for managing surface and groundwater resources, the environment, and foreign policy from Central Asian countries. Participants also included delegates from international and regional organizations, civil society groups, and experts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC).
During the event, participants discussed the methodology and key components of SDG Indicator 6.5.2, emphasizing its significance for fostering transboundary cooperation. Special attention was paid to global and regional progress on this indicator, identifying major gaps and obstacles, and defining needs to accelerate its achievement. A key focus was the linkage between SDG Indicators 6.5.1 and 6.5.2, particularly the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) at all levels. Additionally, an overview of current progress on SDG 6.5.2 in Central Asia was presented, highlighting regional achievements, persistent challenges, and lessons learned in reporting.
Mr. Batyr Mammedov, Head of the ICSD Secretariat, delivered a presentation on the role of regional basin organizations in advancing progress toward SDG Indicator 6.5.2. He highlighted the Regional Environmental Programme for Sustainable Development in Central Asia (REP4SD CA), a critical tool for environmental cooperation that contributes to achieving SDG 6.5.2. The presentation showcased key regional projects aligned with Priority Area 2.2 of the REP4SD CA — "Ensuring Effective Water Quality Monitoring in the Aral Sea Basin" — which aim to improve water quality and strengthen transboundary cooperation across the region.
| Project | Duration | Information |
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Project "Enhancing Cooperation in Water Quality Management in Central Asia", implemented by CAREC and UNECE under the FinWaterWei programme, aims to foster basin-wide regional cooperation on water quality. The initiative established the Regional Working Group on Water Quality in Central Asia (RWG-WQ) |
2016 – 2018 | Link |
| Phase II of the regional project "Blue Peace Central Asia", implemented by CAREC with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), promotes evidence-based political dialogue and sustainable transboundary water management in Central Asia | 2023 – present | Link |
This event supports the achievement of:
| Priority Area dedicated to SDG 6 on "Ensure Availability and Sustainable Management of Water and Sanitation for All" |
| 2.2 Ensuring efficiency of water quality monitoring in the Aral Sea Basin. |