Promoting Sustainable Development in Central Asia: Key Highlights from the Eurasian Development Bank’s Roundtable

According to a press release issued by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), on November 16th, 2023, Almaty, Kazakhstan, served as the venue for a critical roundtable hosted by the EDB, titled "Promoting Sustainable Development in Central Asia". This gathering saw the participation of representatives from a wide range of international organizations and multilateral development banks. Attendees included the likes of the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, FAO, UNIDO, UNEP, ESCAP, UNDP, the World Health Organisation, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, and CICA. The agenda was packed with discussions revolving around irrigation, water challenges, environmental and social standards of international financial institutions, and case studies that showcased collaborations in project implementation12. The EDB's latest report, "Efficient Irrigation and Water Conservation in Central Asia", was introduced during the roundtable's first session. Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board, underscored the essential interrelationship between water, food, and energy in Central Asia. He declared the development of the region’s water and energy resources as a strategic priority for the EDB. He also expressed concerns over an impending water deficit in Central Asia within the next five years, urging for collective action supported by multilateral development banks3. Tatiana Proskuryakova, the Regional Director for Central Asia at the World Bank, also spoke at the event. She emphasized the importance of sustainable development in Central Asia to international organizations and multilateral financial institutions. She revealed that the World Bank has allocated approximately a quarter of its $12 billion investment portfolio in Central Asia to water, energy, and environmental sectors. This proportion is expected to rise to almost half in the near future4. Following this, Evgeny Vinokurov, EDB Chief Economist, presented the study "Efficient Irrigation and Water Conservation in Central Asia". He proposed a ten-step solution to address the prevalent issues. The steps include establishing an International Water and Energy Consortium; fostering collaboration among multilateral banks; creating a regional cluster to produce irrigation equipment; consolidating efforts to strengthen cooperation with Afghanistan; using PPP instruments; instituting proper water accounting; gradually integrating investment charges into the tariff structure; improving land conditions; implementing digital technology, and leveraging state-of-the-art irrigation technology and laser levelling.

USAID and Aga Khan Foundation Improve Access to Water and Sanitation in Bartang Valley

As outlined in a press release on its website, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in partnership with the Government of Tajikistan completed and inaugurated a new drinking water supply system and a school latrine in two villages of Rushan’s Bartang valley. The drinking water supply systems will provide uninterrupted access to clean water for 72 households (397 people) in Pasor and Bopasor villages. Additionally, 40 schoolchildren and teachers will have access to sanitary toilets in school #40 of Bopasor village, the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan said. In the remote mountainous villages of Pasor and Bopasor, lack of access to potable water was a significant problem. Although the villages are blessed with an abundance of water, the absence of infrastructure forced the residents to fetch water from a distance of 500-800 meters at an elevation of 3,000 meters above sea level during harsh winters that last for five months. The USAID and AKF joint partnership, Thrive Tajikistan, works hand-in-hand with the Government of Tajikistan and people of the Bartang Valley to tackle this monumental challenge. To date, Thrive Tajikistan has provided 14 potable water supply systems and 14 school latrines in Farkhor, Hamadoni, Nosiri Khusrav, Panj, Qubodiyon, Roshtqala, Shahritus, and Rushan districts. These systems provide 43,558 people with access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation and hygiene services to 8,344 people. The five-year (2018-2023) “Thrive Tajikistan: Partnership for Socio-Economic Development” program expands the partnership between USAID, AKF and the Government of Tajikistan to improve the quality of life for people in all 16 districts of Tajikistan along the country’s border with Afghanistan in Khatlon province and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast.