Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan, 25–26 June 2019 – The final Third Meeting of the Regional Working Group on the development of the Regional Environmental Programme for Sustainable Development of Central Asia (REP4SD CA) was held in Almaty. The meeting was organized by the Scientific-Information Centre of the Interstate Commission for Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD) with substantial support from international partners, including the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The meeting brought together representatives of SIC ICSD from the countries of Central Asia, as well as representatives of international organizations and partner institutions. The event marked a key milestone in the multi-year collaborative process aimed at formulating a regional strategic framework to strengthen environmental sustainability and advance the principles of sustainable development in Central Asia.
The Third Meeting of the Regional Working Group on the development of REP4SD. Photocredit to GIZ website.
During the meeting, participants reviewed the revised draft of the REP4SD CA, which had been prepared on the basis of prior national consultations and expert-level discussions. Particular attention was given to the alignment of priority areas of the Programme that are of common interest to two or more countries of the region and have a clear transboundary dimension. This approach ensured the regional relevance of the document and enhanced its practical applicability in addressing shared environmental challenges.
Participants of the Regional Working Group during the Third Meeting. Фотоматериал с сайта GIZ
Over the course of the two-day meeting, detailed discussions were held on all sections of the draft Programme, during which Central Asian countries and partner organizations presented their comments and proposals. The deliberations addressed both the strategic priorities of the REP4SD CA and potential implementation mechanisms, including the process for developing and advancing regional projects. Experts from SIC ICSD and representatives of GIZ made a significant contribution by presenting analytical inputs and recommendations for the further development of the Programme.
As a result of extensive in-person and remote consultations, participants reached consensus on the key provisions of the document and agreed on the final version of the Regional Programme. The finalized REP4SD CA was subsequently formally adopted in October 2019, providing an important foundation for coordinating the efforts of Central Asian countries in the areas of environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and sustainable management of natural resources.