Central Asia’s water future depends on dialogue, cooperation and trust. Rivers such as the Amu Darya and Syr Darya connect five nations — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. These common water resources also pose shared challenges amid growing demand, climate change and environmental stress.
Addressing these challenges together is at the heart of Blue Peace Central Asia (BPCA). The initiative aims to transform water from a potential source of conflict into a foundation for cooperation, trust and sustainable development across the region. As a key implementation partner of the BPCA, IWMI-IUCN-CAREC are working to strengthen regional dialogue, support basin-level initiatives, and develop the next generation of water diplomats and experts to promote long-term peace and resilience in Central Asia.
“Blue Peace is an initiative that addresses the challenges of managing shared and transboundary water resources,” said Switzerland’s Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Konstantin Obolensky, reflecting on the goals of Blue Peace Central Asia, which is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). “Water can indeed be a source of conflict, but, more importantly, it represents a source of opportunity — for cooperation, for dialogue and for shared progress.”
Water as a bridge, not a barrier
During the regional workshop “Water Challenges in Central Asia” on November 13 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, more than 60 stakeholders from across the region discussed long-term strategies for sustainable water management and climate resilience. Participants included government representatives, scientists and development partners from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The workshop was organized by IWMI, the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with support from SDC and the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
“Sustainable water management is one of the most critical issues for the future of Central Asia,” said Ilkhom Dzhuraev, first deputy director of the Agency for the Operation of Water Management Facilities under the Ministry of Water Resources of Uzbekistan. “All our countries depend on the same river systems. Only by strengthening dialogue, sharing information, and investing in modern technologies can we ensure equitable and efficient water use.”
The regional workshop centered on the three main pillars of BPCA: hydro-diplomacy, small transboundary tributaries (STTs) and capacity building. Participants explored how climate change, glacier retreat and increasing water demand are reshaping the region’s hydrological landscape and how data-driven foresight and joint planning can help countries adapt.
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Stakeholders identified common adaptation priorities such as innovative financing, data sharing and strengthened institutional partnerships among research centers, universities and basin-level organizations.
Regional ownership and future direction
In the upcoming year, BPCA will focus on expanding cooperation at the basin level, developing pilot projects in small transboundary tributaries, strengthening academic initiatives such as a regional master’s program in hydro-diplomacy and promoting youth engagement through hackathons that support innovation in water management.
Through initiatives like Blue Peace Central Asia, which foster regional dialogue, joint learning and trust-building, IWMI-IUCN-CAREC stand committed to strengthening the region’s ability to manage its shared rivers together. In doing so, Central Asia’s waterways can continue to unite rather than divide its nations, turning water into a driver of peace and sustainable development.