The first meeting of the Basin Council of the Karadarya-Syrdarya-Amudarya (KSA) Basin was successfully held on 23 March 2026 in Osh. The event brought together representatives of national authorities, regional administrations (Batken, Jalal-Abad, Osh), sectoral agencies, the scientific community, and technical experts.
The meeting marked an important milestone in advancing basin-level water governance reforms in Kyrgyzstan. Key outcomes included the formal discussion and approval of the Basin Council composition, initial alignment on roles and responsibilities, and increased awareness among stakeholders on integrated water resources management at the basin level.
The session was officially opened by the representative of the Water Resources Service, which emphasized the importance of basin-based governance. This was followed by a presentation from the Head of the KSA Basin Water Resources Management Authority, outlining ongoing activities and priorities.
Participants engaged in an active discussion on the composition of the Basin Council, ensuring balanced representation across key sectors and regions. As a result, the Council membership was approved, including representatives from regional state administrations, environmental and technical oversight bodies, emergency services, as well as hydrometeorological and water management institutions.
The meeting demonstrated strong intersectoral engagement, with participation from the water, environmental, health, emergency, and forestry sectors.
Background:
The establishment of basin councils in Kyrgyzstan is guided by the Government Resolution of 6 April 2023, which promotes the transition to integrated water resources management (IWRM) at the basin level.
The Karadarya-Syrdarya-Amudarya Basin is of strategic importance due to its transboundary nature, the high dependence of agriculture on irrigation, and increasing pressure from climate change and water variability. The Basin Council is designed as a multi-stakeholder platform to enhance coordination, planning, and sustainable water use.
