Uzbekistan’s experience in tackling water scarcity presented in Stockholm
The Agency for Governance Efficiency under the President of Uzbekistan and the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement was finalized during World Water Week 2026 in Stockholm.
The collaboration will enhance expertise in water diplomacy, climate adaptation, international negotiations, conflict prevention, basin management, and the science-policy interface among civil servants, sector specialists, young researchers, and students.
It will include training sessions and practical programs. The parties will conduct joint research, in accordance with national legislation and institutional policies. Additionally, the parties will facilitate the exchange of scientific publications, new methodologies, and innovative developments.
This collaboration will help promote environmental sustainability in Uzbekistan and the wider region by implementing sustainable water management practices and adopting modern international methods in the sector.
During World Water Week 2026 in Stockholm, T. Butunbayev, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, shared the country’s approach to addressing water scarcity.
In 2017, water-saving technologies accounted for less than 1% of irrigated land. Today, they cover over 60%, amounting to 2.6 million hectares and saving 11 billion cubic meters of water each year. By 2030, the annual water savings are projected to increase to 15 billion cubic meters.
Norgul Abduraimova, UzA
