During June and July 2026, the Turkmenistan Country Water Partnership (GWP Turkmenistan) participated in various events aimed at promoting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the country. These engagements provided a valuable platform for dialogue among national and international stakeholders, focusing on identifying needs to strengthen institutional, legal, and technical aspects of water management, while also exploring opportunities for further cooperation with development partners.
First Meeting within the National Policy Dialogues on Water
23 June 2026 – Ashgabat, Turkmenistan:
The first meeting organised as part of the National Water Policy Dialogues brought together representatives of government institutions (including ministries, state committees, research and design institutes), representatives of UN agencies, as well as experts from internationally supported programmes and projects implemented in Turkmenistan, and CWP Turkmenistan. Representatives of the private sector, state media, and civil society organizations in Turkmenistan working on water resources management in the context of climate change also participated in the discussions.
The goal of the was to develop a coordinated intersectoral vision for further introduction of integrated water resources management in Turkmenistan.
Meeting objectives:
- discuss the priority objectives of Turkmenistan’s water sector and possible pathways and measures for their achievement;
- get acquainted with international and regional best practices in applying IWRM, with a view to their possible adaptation and implementation;
- identify needs for improving institutional, legal, and technical aspects for better water management and opportunities for further cooperation with development partners.
Progress Assessment Meeting for SDG 6.5.1
2-3 July 2026 – Ashgabat, Turkmenistan:
CWP Turkmenistan co-organised an inter-sectoral dialogues on assessment of progress on SDG 6.5.1. to ensure the comprehensive collection of data and participatory approach as per methodology developed by UNEP-DHI. The representatives of 19 institutions (state organisations and ministries, leading business companies and analytical agencies as well as delegates of CSOs) took part in the first round of discussions. These consultations are considered as a good start for the development of regular country report – 2026 to be submitted to UNEP in September 2026.
Consultative Workshop on Finance Plans for Biodiversity
30 July 2026 – Ashgabat, Turkmenistan:
CWP Turkmenistan participated in a consultative workshop delivered within the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project “Umbrella Programme to Support Development of Biodiversity Finance Plans” funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan. The event brought together national stakeholders to present and review the key outcomes of the Policy and Institutional Review (PIR) and the preliminary results of the Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER) in Turkmenistan.
The project utilises the globally recognised Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) methodology to assess national financing needs, evaluate current expenditures, and identify strategic opportunities to mobilise additional resources for nature conservation. By aligning national efforts with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the initiative aims to close the biodiversity finance gap.
During the workshop, participants reviewed the project’s initial findings on biodiversity finance in Turkmenistan, including how current public and private investments support biodiversity, the existing policy and institutional framework, and preliminary estimates of biodiversity-related expenditures. Their feedback will help refine these analyses and inform the next stages of the project. Learn more in UNDP’s Press Release from the session.