Ashgabat, 15 February 2022: Within the framework of the project "Supporting climate resilient livelihoods in agricultural communities in drought-prone areas of Turkmenistan" jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan and the GEF Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), a working meeting was held in online format to discuss the curriculum on integrated water resources management (IWRM).

The representatives of various ministries and entities of Turkmenistan participated at the working meeting, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Education, the State Committee for Water Resources, the Turkmen Agricultural Institute in Dashoguz, the Turkmen Agricultural University named after S.A. Niyazov, Oguz Han Engineering and Technology University of Turkmenistan, the Institute of Engineering and Transport Communications, the Turkmen State Institute of Construction and Architecture, the Turkmen State Energy Institute, the Turkmen State University named after Magtymguly and the Nature Protection Society.

“Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) aims to ensure the coordinated development and management of water, land and other resources in order to achieve economic and social well-being, taking into account the protection of ecosystems and the environment,”- noted Farhat Orunov, Programme Analyst of the UNDP Environmental Portfolio in Turkmenistan. “The expected changes in water resources management require the availability of qualified personnel in the field of IWRM. To support this process, UNDP raises public awareness on IWRM and promotes the subsequent introduction of IWRM principles into the curricula of the country's universities.”

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A joint project between UNDP and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan " Supporting climate resilient livelihoods in agricultural communities in drought-prone areas of Turkmenistan" was launched in 2016 and aims to support adoption of adaptation measures with climate change considerations for sustainable development of agricultural communities living in Lebap and Dashoguz velayats of Turkmenistan.

One of the main project objectives is to support the Government in improving institutional and legal mechanisms for the effective use of water and land resources, including the introduction of climate adaptation measures through Institutional changes.

In this context, the project is actively involved in the development of a strong regulatory framework in the field of land and water resource management by attracting qualified law specialists and creating a platform for discussions, exchange of knowledge and experience to combine the efforts on the revision of current regulations.