Kazakhstan

1: Bringing together industry, politics, science and stakeholders from CA and the EU to develop visionary SHP solutions for a climate resilient and sustainable future of Central Asia
2: Demonstration and assessment of two sustainable, innovative European small-scale hydropower technologies (FCPS and HSPS) in CA
3: Optimizing the sustainability impact of small hydropower plants (SHP) through a more holistic approach by focusing on long-term solutions in a climate-sensitive, transboundary Water-Food-Energy-Climate nexus context
4: Implementation of a GIS-based decision support system covering all CA countries to explore unexploited SHP potential and determine site-specific hydropower plant sustainability
5: Development of a scalable water accounting system to manage water resources in a sustainable way and to share energy and agriculture benefits in a climate-sensitive manner under the Water-Food-Energy-Climate nexus context in Central Asia, thus contributing to regional cooperation
6: Supporting the competitiveness and sustainable market uptake of European small hydropower technologies in Central Asia and globally 7: Enhancing problem awareness and objectiveness of policy makers and implementers, NGOs and the public

Project promotes EU best practice for addressing water challenges. It contributes to strengthening the dialogue among the government agencies, academia, international community, civil society and business structures in CA on water issues and the formation of joint solutions for sustainable development of the region. It has set up a Water Statekholders Platform that acts as an information exchange scentre.

This is the first dedicated and sizeable programme in years to focus on sustainable energy in Central Asia (covering both renewable energy and energy efficiency) through a regional approach. It will naturally be in line with EU best practices and priorities, not least the Green Deal’s iterations.

The programme will have a range of activities that will work towards achieving concrete outputs to strengthen public capacity (institutional, human and regulatory, financial), raise awareness, improve data and modelling, improve the identification of bankable projects, and boost regional cooperation thereby paving the way for sustainable connectivity. To be implemented by 1 service contractor (possibly leading a consortium of consultancies). The programme follows the EU4Energy Programme (2016 – 2020).

Supports the elaboration and implementation of evidence-based energy policies in Eastern Partnership and Central Asian countries, based on improved use of statistics and sharing of best practice and EU experience. It is being implemented by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Energy Community Secretariat, and the Energy Charter Secretariat (total budget 19.3 MEUR). Central Asia benefits from activites under the components on data, policy and WebPortal, all implemented by the IEA (total 12.1 MEUR for EiP + CA). EU4Energy Phase 2 to be launched by DG NEAR in 2020/2021 in the EaP countries, whereas the EU Support to Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA) will continue and accelerate the good work done in Central Asia, this time enlarging the focus on strengthening public capacity, awareness raising, data and modelling, and identification of investments.

Currently in its third phase, WECOOP continues with the same activities, but now also facilitates the development of green infrastructure projects as part of the more structured policy dialogue based on the EU Acquis.

Continuation of work with UNECE to support the implementation of the UNECE Water Convention (see seperate project description).

The project is implemented as part of WECOOP programme with the objective to enhance IWRM and inter-sectoral coordination for water security at the national level in CA countries to support sustainable development. Enhancing water policies at national levels and approximating them to EU standards and promoting green investments in the water sector in CA are specific objectives of the project.

The work on EUWI NPDs is important considering that the area of water is no longer discussed as extensively as it used to be under the EU-Central Asia Platform on Water and Environment Cooperation.

The Project will further strengthen regional and national dialogues on the Water, Energy and Food (WEF) Security Nexus based on the results achieved during Phase I (2016-2019). The ultimate goal is to institutionalize the WEF Nexus approach in national and regional governance structures and investment decisions for water, energy and food security in five Central Asian States.

CAEWDP is a World Bank-administered Multi-Donor Trust Fund and promotes energy and water security and operates under three main pillars: (1) the Energy Security Pillar (2) the Water Security Pillar (3) the Energy and Water Linkages Pillar. National and cross-border activities are implemented under each pillar including diagnostics, capacity building of national and regional organizations and technical support to investments. Other donors to the Trust Fund include the Swiss’ State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and UK’s department for international development (DFID). The EU joined CAWEP (then called CAWEDP) for the first time in 2012 with a contribution of EUR1 million, when the Programme was already in its second phase).