OSCE supports third annual Water Forum in Kazakhstan

ALMATY, Kazakhstan 28 November 2016 - The third annual OSCE-supported Water Forum took place today in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The forum focused on the current status of higher education in the water governance sphere and on improving academic programmes based on the experience of developed countries. Some 60 representatives of the government, business, civil society, academia and international organizations took part in the debate.

The event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in close co-operation with the Foreign Affairs, Education and Agriculture Ministries, the German-Kazakh University, the UNESCO and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. “For the third consecutive year, the OSCE Programme Office in Astana is supporting the Water Forum. The event offers good policy advice and a dialogue platform for the government, industry, research and scientific communities by discussing knowledge-based water governance principles at the national level,” said Ambassador György Szabó, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana.

Akmaral Oraziman, Representative of Kazakhstan’s National Commission for UNESCO said: "This event is a significant communication tool for relevant parties and in the future may serve as an important platform for dialogue, effective communication, co-operation and partnership in the field of water management at the local and national level. I hope that it will encourage young experts to strengthen efforts in the field of international water co-operation.”

The activity falls in line with Kazakhstan’s strategy on green economy and is part of the Office’s long-term efforts to support sustainable water resources management in the host country and to promote public-private partnerships in addressing related issues.