The EU Integrated Rural Development Project/TRIGGER (IRDP/TRIGGER) presented its achievements in the field of sustainable and safe water resources management in Tajikistan at the Third High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028.

On June 10, IRDP/TRIGGER co-organised the International Glacier Forum, discussing the upcoming International Year of Glacier Preservation 2025. The Head of Integrated Water Management of the IRDP/TRIGGER project, Esteban Boj García, led a session on climate adaptation, highlighting the application of hydrological modelling for climate resiliency and increasing the capacity of water sector specialists. The forum emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts and the application of modern tools for cryosphere preservation.

In addition, the project hosted a session at the Regional Forum of Basin Organizations, focusing on best practices in the Zarafshon River Basin. About 100 participants learned about the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and the Nexus approach. The project strengthened cooperation between the Zarafshon River Basin Organization and the River Basin Council, showcasing the legal framework for the Zarafshon River Basin Management Plan and its formulation process.

On June 12, IRDP/TRIGGER supported the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan in organising a side event highlighting the role of Tajikistan’s Water Sector Reform in achieving the goals and objectives of the International Water Decade. The First Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan, Jamshed Shoimzoda, together with representatives of development partners, discussed progress and future plans in the water sector of Tajikistan, presenting the National Water Strategy until 2040 and the State Program of Drinking Water Supply and Drainage until 2032.

On the same day, the project specialists organised a side event on enhancing cooperation in education and science for IWRM. The project introduced eight training modules developed by Kazakh-German University to train future water specialists. The event highlighted the IWRM Cluster Development Strategy at Tajik Agrarian University, accelerating innovation and knowledge sharing among the water sector specialists.

The Integrated Rural Development Project (IRDP)/ Towards Rural Inclusive Growth and Economic Resilience (TRIGGER) is a joint project of the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to boost the added value of agricultural production in Tajikistan by improving water security and sustainability, enhancing the productivity of selected value chains, supporting market development, export readiness, enterprise promotion and economic policy advice. For further details, please contact: Sharofat Ashurova at [email protected], telephone number +992 987270046.