On 5-7 June 2023 in Dushanbe, Green Central Asia actively participated in the International Conference “Central Asia: Towards a Sustainable Future through a Strong Regional Institution”, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea.
Session 1 on inter-basin dialogue was co-organised with the Swiss Development Cooperation and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE); session 4 on policy-science dialogue was co-organised with USAID Regional Water and Vulnerable Environment Activity; all Green Central Asia consortium partners (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit – GIZ, Martin Luther University Halle Wittenberg – MLU, GeoResearch Centre Potsdam – GFZ, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research – PIK and German-Kazakh University – DKU contributed with presentations. GIZ Programme Manager Dr. Caroline Milow also participated in the panel of the workshop on institutional reform of IFAS organized by the World Bank.
On behalf of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the current President of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea Mr. Emomali Rahmon, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Kohir Rasulzoda, opened the conference. High-ranking officials from the other Central Asian countries- First Deputy Prime-Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. R.V. Sklyar, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Sh.M. Ganiev, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan A.O. Yasmiradov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic M.S Ramatov. took part. The development partners were represented by Ms. A. Salsia, UN Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary of UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP), Ms. A. Basani, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia, Amb. T. Hakala, European Union Special Representative for Central Asia and others.
Germany was represented by Amb. Andreas Prothmann and Ms. Christina Wegelein, Head of Geopolitics and Climate Change Division of the Federal Foreign Office as well as by the Green Central Asia Team.
During the conference’s award ceremony, Green Central Asia awarded the winners of the competitions announced in the frame of the 30th anniversary of IFAS for the best animation films and for the best infographic. Prizes were awarded to E. Gromova, Kazakhstan, Sh. Toirova, Tajikistan and B. Aitmetov, Uzbekistan.
For her contribution to the water sector in Central Asia and the development of IFAS, Ms. C. Milow, GIZ Programme Manager of, received an order of EC IFAS.
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The conference celebrated the special role of IFAS as a unique platform for water, energy and environmental cooperation in Central Asia, reflected on the past achievements of the Fund, provided insight into the current directions of cooperation and discussed a future vision for IFAS. The conference included 7 special events and numerous side events organised by development partners and aimed at promoting dialogue between different stakeholder groups, lessons learnt from years of cooperation in the region and the need to respond to new challenges requiring a more inclusive and transformative approach. The Conference included various interactive dialogue sessions that provided participants with the opportunity to share knowledge, years of experience, discuss interesting projects, approaches, initiatives and solutions related to the history and future of water partnership and cooperation in the field of environmental protection.
