Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 4-5 November 2025 – The 36th Meeting of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD), as well as a session of the ICSD Advisory Council, was held in Dushanbe. The event was organized by the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, with financial support from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the SIC/FAO CBIT Project. In addition to ICSD bodies, the meeting brought together representatives of environmental authorities from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as international organizations and development partners, including GIZ, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), and others.
Advisory Council Meeting held on November 4. Photocredit to the chairing party.
Objectives of the Meeting
The ICSD Advisory Council meeting, held on 4 November, focused on reviewing the results of ICSD activities for 2024-2025, the implementation of decisions adopted at the previous session, and progress in the implementation of the Regional Environmental Programme for Sustainable Development in Central Asia (REP4SD CA). Particular attention was devoted to strengthening the organizational structure and legal framework of IFAS, as well as to the activities of the ICSD regional centers — the Regional Waste Management Centre in Dushanbe and the Regional Mountain Centre of Central Asia in Bishkek.
Participants also discussed key regional processes, including preparations of Central Asian countries for the upcoming Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as well as engagement in climate negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Among the initiatives presented were proposals for further development of mechanisms for inter-agency coordination, engagement of civil society in the implementation of ICSD decisions, and effective realization of the REP4SD CA.
Advisory Council Meeting held on November 4. Photocredit to the chairing party.
Outcomes and Decisions
During the ICSD plenary meeting on 5 November, participants reviewed the outcomes of ICSD activities over the past period and adopted decisions aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the Commission and strengthening its institutional capacity.
The participants heard a report on the implementation of the ICSD Work Plan for 2024-2026 and reaffirmed the importance of continued coordination of regional programmes and projects in the field of sustainable development. It was decided to include the Regional Waste Management Centre of Central Asia in the ICSD structure as a regional organization, ensuring its regular reporting to the Commission. The meeting also approved the extension of the mandate of the Regional Mountain Centre of Central Asia in line with its Charter.
The Commission endorsed the proposal to conduct an analysis of the ICSD Statute with a view to improving its organizational structure and enhancing cooperation with IFAS. ICSD members emphasized the importance of aligning this process with representatives of the economic sectors and the scientific community of Central Asian countries prior to the next ICSD meeting.
The meeting also considered and took note of the mid-term evaluation of the REP4SD CA implementation, prepared with the technical support of GIZ. The evaluation results were recognized as an important analytical foundation for the further development of the regional programme. In this regard, the Central Asian countries expressed appreciation to GIZ for its support and highlighted the importance of regular information exchange on ongoing initiatives and projects implemented within the framework of the Regional Programme.
The Commission further endorsed the proposal to prepare a joint regional statement of the Central Asian countries for the upcoming 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (COP-17), to be held in Mongolia in 2026. The meeting also addressed issues related to the participation of regional countries in international processes on climate change, biodiversity, and environmental protection.
As an important institutional outcome, the meeting approved the appointment of a new Head of the ICSD Secretariat, marking a significant step toward strengthening the Commission’s organizational framework and ensuring continuity of its work.
Participants of the ICSD Meeting. Photocredit to the chairing party.
Participants underlined the importance of further enhancing regional cooperation among the Central Asian countries in the field of environmental sustainability and integrating efforts within the frameworks of ICSD and IFAS. They also stressed the need for practical implementation of adopted decisions aimed at advancing regional programmes and supporting international environmental initiatives.
Agenda of the ICSD Advisory Council (4 November 2025)
Agenda of the ICSD Plenary Meeting (5 November 2025)
List of Participants
ICSD Decisions 1-4