Today, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan signed a joint statement on the approval of the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the Chu and Talas river basins aimed at effective transboundary cooperation in the context of climate change to ensure health, security and economic well-being for the 3 million inhabitants as well as ecosystem resilience in the basin. The statement was signed by the Co-Chairs of the Chu-Talas Water Management Commission.
The Strategic Action Programme for the Chu and Talas river basins for 2022-2030was developed through a project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) with support of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). The Programme is based on the findings of the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) for the Chu and Talas river basins. Both documents were developed in close cooperation with the relevant sectoral agencies and with active engagement of expert community and civil society. Implementation of the Programme will support broader cooperation between the countries in the framework of the Chu-Talas Water Management Commission.
The Programme defines six strategic objectives namely water quality and quantity, ecosystems conservation, climate change, bilateral cooperation and monitoring and includes mainly transboundary activities. The Strategic Action Programme is complemented by national action plans covering concrete activities for each country.
UNECE has been supporting both the Republic of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyz Republic in developing transboundary cooperation for about 20 years, namely by facilitating establishment and functioning of the Chu-Talas Water Management Commission and its working groups, preparation of Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and the Strategic Action Programme and development of transboundary adaptation framework followed by implementation of pilot adaptation measures in reforestation, efficient irrigation and awareness raising.
Kazakhstan is a party to the UN Water Convention, which is serviced by UNECE.
