The global water crisis has been identified as one of the major global risks over the past 3 years. As the forecasts are not encouraging, water supply is likely to become an even greater source of tension and instability in the future. In this context, Switzerland is committed to promoting
The project development objective is to (i) increase access to climate-resilient water services in selected river basins, and (ii) strengthen institutional capacities for climate-resilient water management at the local and national levels. The project will improve the coverage and quality of WSS and I&D services in selected basins. At the national level, the project will increase institutional capacities for climate-resilient water management. With regards to the first part of the PDO, climate resilient water services are defined as water services that achieve coverage and quality standards despite possible climate risks (droughts, high temperature and extreme heat, urban flooding and sewerage overflows, floods, and mudflows). With regard to the second part of the PDO, climate-resilient water management is defined as the ability of water sector institutions at the local and national levels to prepare for disruptions and recover from shocks related to climate risk.
The project is to improve stability, economic prosperity, and healthy ecosystems by establishing:
Well-trained human capital and strengthened educational institutions that address both integrated water resources management (IWRM) and the water-energy-food-environment (WEFE) nexus.
Sustainable river basin councils that promote cooperation over transboundary rivers for mutual economic benefit.
Enhanced national and regional initiatives that address transboundary water cooperation with focus on benefit sharing.
The joint initiative with UNDRR aims to build disaster and climate resilience in Central Asia. The Action specific objective is to increase use of risk and disaster data in decision and policy making. Thus, the Result area is focused on: building the foundations for greater resilience in Central Asia through data, capacity, governance and cooperation at regional, national and local level. It will support the Almaty-based Centre Centre for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction.
This fund provides grants to civil society organizations to conduct conservation projects in areas of high biological diversity.
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).
