Astana, Kazakhstan, 25-26 February 2026 — The 15th meeting of the Working Group on improving the organizational structure and legal framework of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) was held in a hybrid format (in person and online). Representatives of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan participated in person. Members of the IFAS Executive Committee from the founding States, as well as representatives of IFAS system organizations - the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC), the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD), the Amudarya Basin Water Organization (BWO Amudarya) and the Syrdarya Basin Water Organization (BWO Syrdarya) - also took part in the meeting (online).
Over the course of two days, participants held three thematic sessions focused on developing recommendations to improve the organizational structure of IFAS and to shape an updated governance model (Step 3). Particular attention was also given to issues related to strengthening the financial framework of the improved management structure (Step 4), as well as to the development of proposals for enhancing the legal framework of IFAS with a view to establishing an effective and sustainable institutional mechanism for regional cooperation (Step 5).
Country delegates in due course of the Working Group Meeting. Photocredit to EC IFAS.
A representative of the Scientific-Information Center of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD) participated in the meeting and contributed to discussions on strengthening the institutional capacity of IFAS, improving coordination mechanisms, and enhancing the sustainability of inter-State cooperation in the field of sustainable development. The participation of SIC ICSD underscored the importance of integrating environmental and sustainability considerations into the process of modernizing the Fund’s organizational and legal framework.
As part of strengthening regional water diplomacy, the UNDP/GEF project “Conservation and Sustainable Management of Land Resources and Ecosystems in the Aral Sea Basin” supported the participation of the Turkmen delegation in a key round of negotiations of IFAS held in Kazakhstan. Facilitating the in-person participation of the Dashoguz branch of IFAS in the process of developing a new legal framework for the Fund represented not merely logistical assistance, but the practical implementation of a programmatic objective aimed at creating a platform for multilateral dialogue. This support enabled the delegation of Turkmenistan to contribute to the development of long-term solutions for the management of transboundary resources based on regional consensus.
As a result of the two-day deliberations, the proposals and recommendations of the Parties were reviewed, and a draft Work Plan of the Working Group for 2026 was prepared. The decisions adopted at the 15th meeting will be reflected in the Final Document and circulated to the founding States and IFAS system organizations in due course.
Photo of Meeting participants during the Working Group Meeting. Photocredit to EC IFAS.
The meeting marked an important step toward strengthening the institutional sustainability of IFAS and further advancing regional cooperation in the Aral Sea basin.
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. |