The Kazakh capital hosted on Sept. 30 the first meeting of the coordinating council of partners on the development of Kazakhstan’s water sector, aimed at supporting the nation in addressing water-related challenges. The event also featured the presentation of the Water Partnership Initiative, developed with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The council meeting brought together key stakeholders from the Kazakh government, international organizations, financial institutions, diplomatic circles, and the private sector. The meeting focused on urgent issues facing the water sector of Kazakhstan, a country facing increasing pressure on its water resources due to climate change, inefficient irrigation systems, and outdated water infrastructure.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov emphasized the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors and with international partners. He highlighted that the council will play a crucial role in fostering these partnerships, allowing for the exchange of knowledge, research, and technology to better address Kazakhstan’s water challenges.
“I am confident that the Coordinating Council will significantly boost cooperation in Kazakhstan’s water sector,” said the minister. “Joint research, technology, and innovation can enhance water supply and climate resilience.”
“We invite our partners to co-chair the council on a rotational basis. This year, we are proposing this role to the United Nations Development Programme,” said Nurzhigitov.
UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan Katarzyna Wawiernia echoed these sentiments, stressing that countries cannot address the complex issues surrounding water management alone.
“Given the complexity of the water agenda, it is clear that no single government or organization can tackle these issues alone. Therefore, addressing these challenges requires a combination of resources, investments, technical expertise and innovations. I hope that the Partnership Initiative proposed today by UNDP and the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation will serve as an important catalyst in this process,” said Wawiernia.