Under the ENVSEC Initiative, the OSCE has promoted joint monitoring of the Kura and Araks rivers. Scientifically verifiable data has proved to be the best way to foster regional co-operation in the sphere of water management. In order to overcome the problem of declining quality of the water resources and ground waters, joint innovative monitoring techniques and data sharing have taken place. The OSCE has assisted in improving technical infrastructure through:

• improving the monitoring techniques and establishing common sampling;
• analysis and data management techniques.

Information sharing was also promoted through the establishment of data sharing systems accessible to all the countries though the Internet. Moreover, social network building was reinforced by conducting annual international meetings to promote confidence-building measures and co-operation among the countries.

The project has been operating since 2002 with a budget of 70,000 euros.