Contribution of CAREC and

IFAS

to the regional cooperation

Mrs. Shynar Toilybayeva

Mr. Amirkhan Kenshimov

• Degradation of Natural Resources and low efficiency of utilization

• Competing interests over natural resources of transboundary nature (energy and water)

• Resource dependent and high footprint economies

• New environmental challenges and low capacities of adaptation

UN ESCAP (CA member states): Environmental Challenges

• CAREC has a mandate both from Central Asian States and Civil Society

• CAREC is catalysing and coordinating:

– environmental and development activities both inside as well as among the CA states

• CAREC operates as a project organization at regional level in Central Asia

• CAREC is represented in each country of Central Asia via Country Offices and regionally in Almaty

Cooperation Principles

• Partnerships with regional organizations in Central Asia:

– Regional cooperation priorities and institutional efforts

• Partnerships with international development and scientific communities:

– Knowledge bridging, agenda setting and advocacy

• Partnerships with states, NGOs, civil society, academia and business in Central Asia:

– Representation, involvement and cooperation

Cooperation Levels

• Nexus Approach:

– linking water-energy-environmental issues (Water and Energy in CA- Water diplomacy project) through programmatic interventions

• Inter-program activities:

– Linking different projects around unique goal or linking few goals through one project (example: AWARE project, Smart Waters- new one and 3 water projects)

– Central Asian Leadership Programme on Sustainable Development (CALPSD): platform for knowledge sharing and inter-programme activities

Cooperation tools and instruments

• Innovative assessment tools improved energy efficiency and low carbon development

– COMOEAST is the flagship initiative of the EU, brought together local, regional and national authorities in fulfilling their commitments to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 20% by 2020 as contribution for the transitioning of countries to “green economy” and improve the quality of life

– Today, more than 6400 cities in Europe and post-Soviet countries are active and have joined the Covenant of Mayors

Cooperation tools and instruments

• Innovative assessment tools improved environmental monitoring

– Environmental monitoring reports are reflecting baseline data on water quality/quantity, socio-economic overview and technical and human capacities for pilot basins (Isfara, Ugam and Aspara river basins)

– Mapping of forestry borders, degraded areas within pilot sites and identification of reforestation measures helped improve decision making

Cooperation tools and instruments

• Innovative assessment tools on climate change – This 2015 is a watershed in the history of global climate negotiations. More than

190 countries will gather in December 2015 in Paris to discuss the possible mechanisms of action of the new agreement.

– Organized jointly by CAREC and international partners, the two regional conferences of National Coordinators and Experts in the field of climate change in Central Asia "On the way to Paris 2015: A new agreement to combat climate change and the prospects for the countries of Central Asia", in January and November 2015 in Almaty, KZ

– The summarized document with common regional position on the low-carbon development and climate resilient future in the region in order to support global commitments and complement national policies on sustainable development and climate change will be used in the work of CAREC side-event to be held on December 4th, 2015 at the Conference of the Parties in Paris.

Cooperation tools and instruments

Cooperation tools and instruments

• Innovative assessment tools improved environmental monitoring

– Economic modeling for ecosystem services as one of the GE tools of valuation have enabled partners to understand and apply economic approaches

– Guidelines (e.g. IWRM principle for small river basin councils) on different aspects of NRM improved analytical skills of partners

– Inter-sectoral working groups proved to be an institutional instrument for coordinated approach on development sector

• Central Asian countries are devoted to implement Sustainable Development Goals:

– National plans and programmes

– Regional programmes, e.g. ASBP-III, Regional Environmental Programmes

• Systems for development, monitoring and implementation of SDG’s at regional, national and local levels

• Unified system of methodologies and instruments are required for implementation and monitoring of SDG’s

SDG’s in Central Asia

• SDGs implementation and monitoring in Central Asia could be improved through:

– Special regional event (regional roundtable on SDG’s) on setting regional component on SDG’s implementation and monitoring

• SDG’s successful implementation requires system of monitoring:

– Indicators for implementation and monitoring( SEIS)

– Information management (Data and information)

– Exchange of “best practices”

SDG’s in Central Asia

• Comprehensive, multi-layered and multi-stakeholder accountability framework is crucial for the success of SDG’s:

– CAREC’s experience on SEIS, Assessment of Assessments could propose regional accountability framework for Central Asia (EMP, WIS, CCSE, ESD)

– Recent work on AWARE, MONECA projects helped to improve monitoring and reporting capacities of the partners

– CAREC’s strong partnerships with national and regional organizations on information management

SDG’s in Central Asia

International Fund for saving the Aral sea (IFAS) –

Was established according to the decision of the

Presidents of Central Asian states.

The main objective of the Fund is financing and crediting joint

practical actions and future programs and projects on saving the

Aral Sea, ecological improvement of the Aral and the Aral Sea

basin as a whole, taking into account the interests of all states

in the region.

Regional programme:

• Program of actions on assistance to Aral sea basin countries for the period of 2011-2015 (ASBP-3)

Possible existing platforms for cooperation in Central Asia

Program of actions on assistance to Aral sea basin countries for the period of 2011-2015 (ASBP-3)

The main aim if the ASBP-3 – improvement of ecological and socio-economic situation in the Aral sea basin.

During the development of project proposals and priorities of the Program intensive consultations between national and international experts have been conducted.

ASBP-3 projects are divided into four directions: – Integrated use of water resources. – Environmental. – Socio-economic. – Improving institutional-legal mechanisms.

• Central Asian countries are having ambitious goals to reach better socio-economic and humanitarian development at the national level- in line with SDG’s

• Linking national level development agendas and global SDG’s- key area of cooperation

• Monitoring and accounting on SDG’s requires both knowledge and systematic efforts

• Regional organizations are well located to implement cooperation around SDG’s

In Conclusion

Thank you!

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