Regional mechanisms for the low-carbon, climate-resilient transformation of the energy-water-land Nexus in Central Asia
The challenges of the interdependence between energy, water and land use, are exacerbated by climate change in Central Asia. The project enhances economic and financial analytical work at regional and national level and nexus-relevant financing opportunities will be explored and identified. It will demonstrate the “business case” for co-operation on the nexus, enhance capacity needed for operationalising the nexus approach, and create political momentum for action. The project facilitates the political and technical dialogue for implementing the nexus approach and enhances regional co-operation in various regional and national conferences and capacity development activities. Such tools and knowledge products will also facilitate further engagement with the private sector in nexus-related investments by providing enhanced evidence on the benefits and trade-offs that are inherent to nexus projects.
- Countries
- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
- IKI funding
- 13,661,781.00 €
- Included preparation phase
- 298,219.00 €
- Duration
- 09/2023 till 08/2028
- Status
- open
- Implementing organisation
- The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
- Political Partner
-
- Ministry of Ecology and natural resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) - Tajikistan
- Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic
- Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan
- State Committee for Ecology and Environment Protection, Republic of Uzbekistan
- State Committee for Water Management of Turkmenistan
- Implementing Partner
-
- Scientific-Information Center of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia (SIC ICWC)
- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
State of implementation/results
- The Project Consortium has actively contributed to various regional discussions and has organised several regional workshops within Central Asia, including the following:
- 03/2026, Bishkek: National Policy Dialogue on Water in Kyrgyzstan addressed the new Water Code, nature-based solutions, water-saving technologies and dam safety. UNECE also launched a grant with the Kyrgyz Association of Forest and Land Users for a demonstration project.
- 02/2026, Tashkent: Seminar “Regional Knowledge Center on the Nexus Approach in Central Asia: From Concept to Partnership” discussed establishing a partnership between the Ecological Center for Climate Integration and the SIC ICWC Training Center and presented results of a water security monitoring system for the Amu Darya Basin.
- 02/2026, Dushanbe: National Policy Dialogue on Intergrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) in Tajikistan focused on implementing the National Water Strategy and strengthening dialogue between the government and international organisations.
- 02/2026, Tashkent: Second Steering Committee of the National Policy Dialogue on IWRM in Uzbekistan addressed groundwater and conjunctive management, ecological flows and dam safety, advancing implementation of the new Water Code.
- 11/2025, Tashkent: Conference on International Water Cooperation and Improvement of Legislation of Uzbekistan, organised by SIC ICWC with the Ministry of Water Resources, ADB and SDC.
- 10/2025, Bishkek: Regional technical workshops on Agrifood Investment in Central Asia and on scaling-up investments in climate resilience.
- UNECE also launched regional activities on dam safety and began developing a concept for a regional online academy on dam safety.
- The following EBRD transactions have been supported by grants and guarantees from the Agrifood Nexus Project since September 2023:
- EUR 5 million was mobilised to support a legumes exporter in Uzbekistan. An investment grant from the project will support the green machinery and the expansion of organic production of legumes in the region, contributing to sustainable land and water use through environmental benefits, including water savings and soil health improvements.
- USD 30 million was mobilised to support an Uzbek beverage processor in improving the water and energy efficiency of their production facilities. The company will be supported with an investment grant from the project to procure more sustainable equipment, as well as Agrifood Nexus legal due diligence support to facilitate the transaction.
- Co-financing a USD 1 million loan with a sugar beet and sugar cane processor based in Kyrgyzstan, to support investment into energy efficient agricultural machinery.
- Co-financing a USD 20.5 million loan with a crop producer and agricultural holdings company in Kazakhstan, to support its investment in the modernisation, energy efficiency and environmental impacts of its agricultural machinery.
- Co-financing a USD 10.3 million loan with a sugar beet and sugar cane processor based in Kyrgyzstan, to support investment that encourages water efficiency and sustainable land management.
Latest Update:
05/2026
Project relations
Legend:
The link has been copied to the clipboard