Central Asia, comprising Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, spans a combined territory of 3,882,000 square kilometers and is home to over 80 million people. Population growth in the region is projected to remain steady at 1.1% annually in the near future. The region's total gross domestic product (GDP) reached $450 billion in 2023.
Infographic : Blue Peace Central Asia – Project coverage across the region
The water and energy systems of Central Asia are deeply interconnected, having been developed during the Soviet era as part of a centralized infrastructure, designed to serve the economic interests of the Soviet Union as a whole. This complex system encompassed dozens of large reservoirs and hydroelectric power plants, hundreds of thousands of kilometers of irrigation channels and thousands of hydraulic structures, all engineered to regulate and distribute water efficiently across the region.
However, the collapse of the Soviet Union led to the disintegration of this unified system, as newly independent states were left to manage shared resources without a centralized governing authority. The breakdown of integrated economic ties, the introduction of trade and customs barriers, and the dissolution of unified energy and financial networks, severely disrupted the coordinated management of transboundary water resources. Without a common regulatory framework, infrastructure maintenance declined, leading to the deterioration of irrigation systems, reduced hydropower generation and unreliable household water supply.
The absence of established interstate mechanisms for water allocation and conflict resolution further deepened tensions, as each country prioritized national interests over regional cooperation. As a result, competition over limited resources increased, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities in agriculture, energy security and economic stability. This ongoing fragmentation remains a major challenge for the region’s sustainable development, as effective water governance is crucial not only for managing current demands but also for ensuring long-term economic resilience, food security, and energy sustainability in Central Asia.
Economic growth across the region has facilitated increased investment in the reconstruction of existing water and energy infrastructure, as well as the development of new facilities. However, these resources remain insufficient to significantly enhance the overall efficiency of water management systems, necessitating additional funding, including external investments. One critical issue is the aging irrigation infrastructure, with an average age exceeding 50. This outdated system leads to water losses of over 40% due to filtration. At the same time, an escalating shortage of water resources has become a major constraint on economic development in Central Asia, emphasizing the need for modernized infrastructure and improved resource management.
Climate change is further compounding the region's challenges, increasing the vulnerability of critical sectors such as energy, water and agriculture. Rising temperatures, declining precipitation and shrinking glacier areas are expected to exacerbate water scarcity in the region. Currently, Central Asia is classified as being on the threshold of "insufficiently provided" water resources (1,000 to 1,700 m³ per person per year). By 2050, the region is projected to reach "water deficient" status.
Over the past three decades, Central Asian countries have sought to establish a regional framework for economic cooperation. However, geographical and climatic disparities have led to uneven distribution and consumption of natural resources among the states. The region’s future economic development hinges on the efficient management of these resources, especially in the face of challenges such as climate change, population growth and increasing demand for water and energy.
Since gaining independence in 1991, Central Asia has actively worked to develop a new framework of interstate legal relations and regional cooperation institutions. Already in 1992, key organizations such as the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) and the Electric Power Council of the Unified Energy System (UES) of Central Asia, along with its executive body, the Unified Dispatch Center (UDC "Central Asia"), were established.
Efforts to reform the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) began in 2006, with the stated goal of "improving the institutional and legal framework." However, divergent approaches among IFAS member states have hindered the development of a unified strategy. In 2016, Kyrgyzstan suspended its participation in IFAS to expedite reforms, resulting in its exclusion from most regional initiatives under IFAS’s purview.
The worsening shortage of water and energy resources in Central Asia, driven by climate change and inefficiencies in management systems at both national and regional levels, underscores the urgent need for coordinated action.
Blue Peace Central Asia (BPCA) is a regional initiative dedicated to fostering transboundary water cooperation among Central Asian nations. Rooted in the principles of sustainable water management, it underscores the critical nexus between water, energy and climate resilience. By promoting dialogue, knowledge exchange and collaborative governance, the initiative strengthens regional stability and economic development. Through multi-stakeholder engagement, capacity building and policy support, BPCA advances integrated water resource management as a cornerstone for long-term prosperity in the region.