Representatives of the Government of Uzbekistan, the Government of Japan, the Republic of Karakalpakstan, development partners, and local stakeholders gathered in Tashkent this week for the inception workshop of the recently launched project “Strengthening Water Resource Governance and Resilience to Climate Change in the Aral Sea Region,” UNDP Uzbekistan reported.
Implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in close cooperation with the Ministry of Water Resources of Uzbekistan and funded by the Government of Japan, the USD 4.6 million initiative aims to strengthen climate-resilient water governance, modernize irrigation infrastructure, introduce digital water monitoring systems, and support sustainable livelihoods in the Aral Sea region.
The workshop brought together representatives from national and regional government institutions, international organizations, farmer associations, water sector institutions, and development partners to discuss the project’s implementation approach, expected results, and opportunities for cooperation.
“Our Ministry highly values that this project focuses on improving the efficiency of water resource management, introducing modern digital solutions, upgrading water infrastructure, supporting local communities in adapting to climate change, and, in particular, advancing the digitalization of the water sector. We believe that through this close cooperation, we will achieve even more effective results in water resource management,” said Utkir Sheraliev, Deputy Minister of Water Resources.
“Japan is committed to the efforts to mitigate the dire effects of the Aral Sea crisis,” noted in his opening speech Kenji Hirata, Ambassador of Japan to Uzbekistan.
He highlighted that “Through this project we aim to build local capacities to digitally monitor water use, promote water saving farming, support climate-resilient agriculture and strengthen sustainable water management. I hope that this project achieves its objectives and inspires similar approaches in the area of water resource management across Central Asia.”
Vladimir Jollibekov, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, emphasized the importance of turning strategic plans into practical action for communities facing the consequences of the Aral Sea crisis: “We place great hopes on this project because it offers not just isolated fixes, but a comprehensive transformation in how we manage our most valuable resource — water. For our population, water scarcity, land degradation and outdated irrigation infrastructure are not abstract concepts, but an everyday reality directly affecting livelihoods, food security and the well-being of rural families.”
He also noted that the project would help introduce transparent, data-driven water management systems while supporting practical innovations such as the rehabilitation of irrigation networks, precision agriculture technologies, wastewater reuse systems, and renewable energy-powered desalination solutions.
Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, highlighted the urgent need for integrated and innovative solutions in one of the regions most affected by environmental degradation and climate change.
“UNDP remains committed to supporting Uzbekistan’s national and regional priorities to strengthen water governance, improve water efficiency, modernize infrastructure, and build resilience to climate-induced water challenges in the Aral Sea region,” she noted. “This project promotes water saving on all fronts — from introducing digital monitoring systems and modern irrigation solutions to reducing water losses, improving reuse practices, and supporting communities and farmers in adopting more sustainable and climate-resilient water management approaches.”
