INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP COP4WASH CENTRAL ASIA

As part of the Blue Peace Central Asia project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), from June 02 to June 06, 2024, an international seminar for members of the Community of Practice and Researchers in Central Asia (COP4WASH) was held in offline format in the city of Fergana, Uzbekistan, aimed at research and cooperation in the field of water supply, sanitation and hygiene. The seminar was attended by 40 representatives of universities, and international and regional NGOs from Central Asian countries and Switzerland.

The Secretariat of the Blue Peace CA project - The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia - organised the seminar.

Goals of the seminar

? Exchange and progress of the COP4WASH project activities.

? Discussion of the results and experience in the development of university laboratories, and implementation of research work on the project.

? Provide training on specific topics and research methods.

? Development of a work plan for future activities of the COP4WASH research community.

On the first day of the workshop, the Community's thematic coordinator, Dr. Marina Peter from the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of North-West Switzerland, FHNW, presented a brief introduction to the project's COP4WASH work and previous workshops/training of trainers. On the part of the Blue Peace CA project, Irina Yugay, a specialist in the program for supporting water initiatives, and the academic coordinator of the project, spoke, who noted the significant role of non-governmental organizations in the development of the Community and ensuring the connection between education, science and practice.

After the introduction round, Dr. M. Peter gave a lecture on the topic “The relationship between water quality and human health.” In the second part of the day, representatives of universities made reports on the progress of water quality laboratories at universities. The day ended with a discussion of plans for the development of laboratories and ensuring their sustainability.

The second day of the seminar began with the presentation “Analysis and management of experimental data”; issues of collecting and interpreting data when monitoring local wastewater treatment plants and how to use them to optimize wastewater treatment processes were discussed. All community members then shared information and input on COP4WASH, progress in implementing training modules and research, and developed a list of needs for further research work.

Ashanti Bleich, Regional Program Specialist for Water Infrastructure and Climate Change at SDC, gave an overview presentation on the next phase of the Blue Peace Central Asia 2.0 project and the role of COP4WASH.

“Blue Peace Central Asia promotes water cooperation in the region to address growing competing interests in water, promotes an understanding of the region as interdependent, and supports common solutions on water for the benefit of all,” noted A. Bleich in her speech.

The third and fourth days of the seminar were devoted to field trips to rural and urban drinking water supply and sanitation facilities. The participants got acquainted with the drinking water supply systems built by the public organization "Tarakkiet", and also visited the Fergana Vodokanal water treatment and wastewater treatment systems.

The last day of the seminar was devoted to the use of wastewater in agriculture. The following topics were discussed:

? Use of wastewater in agriculture: overview of Kazakhstan.

? Use of faecal sludge in agriculture.

? Industrial wastewater treatment/industrial water treatment systems, reuse for irrigation needs.

Dr. Peter also emphasized the importance of health safety planning and reviewed various aspects of agricultural irrigation, including wastewater treatment and disinfection, as well as other additional measures. It was also noted that further progress in this area requires data on wastewater and faecal sludge reuse, as well as regional risk assessments.

The presentation from Tatyana Schellenberg, a researcher at WESCA Worda, presented India's experience in developing wastewater treatment standards and adaptive policies in the field of wastewater reuse.

The interactive part of the seminar discussed further actions of universities to become more actively involved in the work of the Community, as a result of which a strategic plan for the community was developed, defining the roles and responsibilities of each member.

The seminar ended with the presentation of certificates.

The organizers prepared an excursion for the seminar participants to the production of ceramic products and silk materials. This allowed participants to become more familiar with the region's traditional crafts and appreciate local craftsmen's skills.

From the Mining-metallurgical institute of Tajikistan , Hojiev Saidmukbil, head of the Department of Scientific and Natural Disciplines, and Dalerjon Hojiboev , head of the Department of Ecology, participated, are actively involved in the activities and implementation of the COP4WASH CA project.

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Hojiboev Dalerjon

Head of Ecology department

Mining-metallurgical institute of Tajikistan

June 09,? 2024