Groundwater in Tajikistan: International Dialogue and Joint Solutions
National and international water experts, policymakers, and development partners gathered in Dushanbe on 10 November for the National Policy Dialogue on Integrated Water Resources Management, marking an important step towards strengthening sustainable groundwater management in Tajikistan
On 10 November, the National Policy Dialogue on Integrated Water Resources Management, dedicated to sustainable groundwater management in Tajikistan, was held in Dushanbe.
The event was organized within the framework of the Groundwater Management Project in the Sughd Region of Tajikistan (GWMP), implemented by HELVETAS Tajikistan with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan and other national project partners.
The event was officially opened by Mr. Parviz Jamol Yakhyozoda, Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Opening and welcoming remarks were also delivered by Ms. Denise Lüthi Crișan, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan; Mr. York Schuegraf,, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Tajikistan; Mr. Sudipto Mukerjее, Acting UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan and Mr. Aleix Serrat Capdevila, Senior Water Management Specialist at the World Bank Group.
The dialogue featured thematic sessions focusing on international experience in sustainable groundwater management, digital solutions for improving groundwater monitoring, next steps towards strengthening groundwater governance, and expanding the activities of Water User Associations in Tajikistan.
A particular highlight was the exchange of international expertise, with contributions from representatives of the International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC), the UNECE Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment, the Geological Survey of Estonia, specialists from UZBEKGIDROGEOLOGIYA, as well as a representative from Pakistan.
For the first time, this platform brought together a broad range of national and international stakeholders to discuss groundwater management in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. Participants had the opportunity to learn from international best practices, exchange expert perspectives, address existing challenges, and identify promising areas for future cooperation.
The dialogue marked an important step towards strengthening partnerships, promoting innovative approaches, and advancing a more effective and sustainable groundwater management system in Tajikistan.
