The World Bank will provide a $20 million grant to support cross-border cooperation on water resources management in Central Asia, according to a World Bank press release published on Tuesday.
The funds will be allocated to the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) to implement the Central Asia Water Efficiency Cooperation (CAWEC) project. The initiative aims to attract investment in the modernization of water infrastructure, strengthen regional cooperation and improve the management of shared water resources.
The World Bank estimates that about 40 million people across Central Asian countries will directly or indirectly benefit from the project through improved regional water governance.
By 2031, the IFAS Executive Committee plans to develop up to six projects for cross-border water infrastructure involving two or more countries in the region. The projects are expected to attract additional investment for upgrading irrigation systems, conserving and accumulating water resources, and improving the management of shared water supplies.
The project will also support the digitalization of water accounting systems, modernization of information systems for the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins, training of up to 100 specialists from regional water organizations, and expanded knowledge exchange among Central Asian countries.
