27 February 2014: The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Kyrgyz authorities have organized meetings aimed at promoting water cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakstan in the transboundary Chu and Talas Rivers.

The meetings took place on 27-28 February 2014, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. On the first day, participants discussed the outcomes of the project on ‘Promoting Cooperation to Adapt to Climate Change in the Chu and Talas Transboundary Basins’ jointly supported by UNECE and UNDP under the framework of the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC) and funded by Finland. The meeting highlighted the importance of climate-proofing water-related development and ensuring robust water management.

On the second day, participants were presented and discussed the project document for the ‘Enabling Transboundary Cooperation and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the Chu and Talas River Basins’ to be funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project under development aims to increase transboundary cooperation on monitoring of water quality and quantity. [UNECE Press Release]