Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan, 22-25 April 2019 – The Second Technical Meeting of the Regional Working Group on the development of the Regional Environmental Programme for Sustainable Development in 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 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC).
The meeting brought together representatives of SIC ICSD from Central Asian countries, as well as experts and partners from international organizations involved in the development of the regional environmental programme. The event marked an important step in the continued refinement of the REP4SD CA, aimed at establishing a coherent regional approach to addressing the environmental and socio-economic challenges facing Central Asia.
Over the course of four days, participants engaged in in-depth discussions of the updated draft of the Programme, taking into account proposals submitted by countries during previous consultation processes. The main focus was placed on refining the structure and content of the REP4SD CA, aligning regional priority areas, and addressing issues related to financing, implementation mechanisms, timelines, and procedures for further endorsement of the document.
The work was conducted through a detailed review and editing of all sections of the draft Programme, ensuring its logical coherence, practical relevance, and alignment with national priorities of the member States of the Interstate Commission for Sustainable Development. Particular attention was given to areas of transboundary significance that require coordinated regional action.
At the conclusion of the meeting, participants summarized the results achieved and confirmed their commitment to continue the joint refinement of the REP4SD CA through subsequent regional consultations. The technical meeting made a substantive contribution to the development of a consolidated regional framework, which subsequently served as a foundation for strengthening cooperation among Central Asian countries in environmental protection, sustainable natural resource management, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.