Kazakhstan and FAO Strengthen Cooperation on Sustainable Water Resource Management

Astana, March 6, 2025 – A roundtable discussion was held in Astana to explore conceptual approaches and priorities for the FAO-Kazakhstan Partnership Programme on sustainable water resource management and irrigation.

Effective water management is crucial for ensuring sustainable socio-economic development, as well as securing water, food, and energy resources in Kazakhstan. However, current water consumption and utilization practices are often unsustainable and inefficient, leading to overuse, pollution, and depletion of vital water sources.

The pressure on Kazakhstan’s limited freshwater resources is intensifying annually. In 2022, water stress levels reached 34.6%, as reported by FAO AQUASTAT. According to the SDG 6.4.2 methodology, this classifies Kazakhstan as a water-stressed country. The nation's heavy dependence on transboundary rivers and low water-use efficiency further exacerbates these challenges.

Recognizing the urgent need for sustainable solutions, FAO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan, is developing a new Partnership Programme aimed at: enhancing water sector governance and management, improving water use efficiency in agriculture, reducing water stress through sustainable solutions and addressing transboundary water challenges

The importance of this initiative was underscored by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his visit to FAO Headquarters in Rome in January 2024. In his meeting with the FAO Director-General, he emphasized the urgency of defining key entry points for the development of the Partnership Programme.

“Our objective today is to identify priority areas for the partnership programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, as well as other key stakeholders. These priorities must align with Kazakhstan’s long-term goals for sustainable water management, irrigation, and food security. FAO is committed to leveraging its global expertise to facilitate dialogue, provide technical assistance, and build capacity to achieve these objectives,” said Viorel Gutu, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia.

To ensure the programme's effectiveness, FAO conducted a field mission in September 2024 to assess water management and irrigation challenges in key agricultural regions, including Kyzylorda, Turkistan and Zhambyl regions.

Given the transboundary nature of water issues, the majority of projects under this partnership will focus on cross-border water cooperation. FAO's regional presence and technical expertise in agricultural water management, irrigation, and transboundary governance position it as a key strategic partner in promoting sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.

Kazakhstan is actively modernizing its water sector, implementing large-scale infrastructure projects to improve water storage and distribution. “We discussed prospects for deeper cooperation in the water sector. Kazakhstan is undertaking significant modernization efforts, including the construction of 20 new reservoirs, the reconstruction of at least 15 existing reservoirs, and the renovation and digitalization of more than 3,500 km of irrigation canals. Additionally, meeting participants stressed that addressing the environmental crisis of the Caspian Sea must become a priority for long-term international cooperation,” said Nurlan Aldamzharov, Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

As a result of the roundtable, key conceptual approaches and preliminary priorities for the FAO-Kazakhstan Partnership Programme were identified. These will be submitted to the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and FAO for further review and integration into the final programme framework.

FAO will continue to provide technical expertise and strategic support to advance sustainable water resource management, irrigation system development, and food security in Kazakhstan.

Through this strengthened partnership, Kazakhstan and FAO reaffirm their commitment to ensuring the long-term sustainability of water resources, safeguarding food production, and securing environmental resilience for future generations.