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Add to Preferred SourcesThe European Union and the World Bank signed an agreement for a new €7 million grant to support water and energy security in Central Asia.
The funding will contribute to the Central Asia Water & Energy Program (CAWEP) implemented by the World Bank, helping the Central Asian countries strengthen their energy and water security through knowledge exchange, analytical work, policy advice, and project preparation.
Water is a key driver in the socio-economic development of Central Asian countries. An ever-growing demand for water due to economic development, population growth, urbanization and climate change along with recurrent natural hazards presents significant challenges to the region’s economic expansion. If current water management policies and practices persist, water scarcity could lead to a significant slowdown in the region’s economic performance. The almost disappearing Aral Sea, resulting dust storms and their catastrophic impact on agricultural lands and human health give a powerful incentive for regionally coordinated development.
“The Central Asia region has the most to gain from properly managing water resources under climate change compared to other regions. Our assessments show that of all the world’s regions, the impact of future water consumption patterns has the greatest impact on economic growth in Central Asia,” said Lilia Burunciuc, the World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia.
Since its start in 2009, CAWEP had a remarkable impact. With its support, new regional projects have been launched to address some critical issues including dam safety, climate change adaptation, weather forecasting, electricity trade, and youth engagement.
Going forward, CAWEP will continue to provide technical expertise, analytical and investment support to help Central Asian countries move towards water and energy secure development paths.
Along with the European Union, the Program is also supported by Switzerland and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development.
Original source: World Bank
Published on 23 May 2019