OSCE builds capacity of Chu-Talas Water Basin Council in Kazakhstan

An OSCE-supported training seminar for the Chu-Talas Water Basin Council and its regular meeting for some 30 representatives from the national water authorities, academia and civil society organizations concluded on 2 November 2016 in Taraz, South Kazakhstan.

The event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, in partnership with the Chu-Talas Water Basin Council and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia.

It is the second of the OSCE supported Chu-Talas Water Basin Council meeting designed to underline the importance of water management planning and water diplomacy from the regional context with a special focus on practical aspects of water basin planning.

The training seminar aimed to enhance participants'  knowledge and improve their skills on  effective water management practices, in particular on legal aspects of water quality and drinking water supply, as  well as on the possible introduction of permit systems for using water resources. Participants also discussed the need for improved collaborative multi-agency approach and explored opportunities to increase capacity of the regional water authorities and other stakeholders.

The event is part of the Office’s multiyear efforts to raise awareness and build capacity of state institutions in the area of water governance and to contribute to the transboundary dialogue by involving the representatives of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyzstan. It falls in line with the OSCE Serbian Chairmanship’s priorities and the OSCE Strategy Document for the Economic and Environmental Dimension which stresses the need of public involvement in decision-making on water management issues.