World Bank Launches $20 Million CAWEC Program for Central Asia
Uzbekistan
The World Bank Group's Board of Executive Directors has approved the Central Asia Water and Energy Program (CAWEC), allocating a $20 million grant to support the preparation of joint water resource management projects across Central Asia. The initiative will be coordinated by the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS) in cooperation with the region's governments.
The program aims to strengthen transboundary water management, enhance regional cooperation and prepare large-scale investment projects. According to the World Bank, around 40 million people across Central Asia could benefit from the initiative.
The program addresses aging hydraulic infrastructure, limited data exchange among countries sharing the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins, and the growing impact of climate change. The World Bank notes that glacier coverage in the region has declined by nearly one-third over the past 60 years, while inefficient joint management of water resources results in annual economic losses exceeding $4.5 billion.
By 2031, the program is expected to prepare up to six cross-border investment initiatives focused on modernizing irrigation networks, expanding water storage infrastructure and improving the efficiency of shared water facilities. It also includes the digitalization of water monitoring systems, modernization of information platforms and training for up to 100 specialists working in the water sector.
The program addresses aging hydraulic infrastructure, limited data exchange among countries sharing the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins, and the growing impact of climate change. The World Bank notes that glacier coverage in the region has declined by nearly one-third over the past 60 years, while inefficient joint management of water resources results in annual economic losses exceeding $4.5 billion.
By 2031, the program is expected to prepare up to six cross-border investment initiatives focused on modernizing irrigation networks, expanding water storage infrastructure and improving the efficiency of shared water facilities. It also includes the digitalization of water monitoring systems, modernization of information platforms and training for up to 100 specialists working in the water sector.
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