Welcome to the First WE-ACT Newsletter!
Leading the Way in Transboundary Water Management
Dear Valued Partners and Stakeholders,
Welcome to a fresh perspective on global water management. As industry leaders and dedicated professionals, we understand the critical role of effective transboundary water resource management. We're thrilled to unveil the WE-ACT project, our ambitious step forward in this domain.
Supported by the European Commission and driven by a consortium of experts from Europe and Central Asia, the WE-ACT project represents the cutting edge in water resource management. We're not merely responding to challenges; we're leading the charge. By harnessing the latest digital tools, we're refining the way water resources are allocated and utilized across borders. Dive into this newsletter to discover our strategic goals, innovative approaches, and our commitment to setting new benchmarks in water management. Together, we are forging a brighter, more sustainable water future.
WE-ACT AT A GLANCE
The WE-ACT project is changing the game in transboundary water allocation and management by introducing a revolutionary Decision Support System (DSS) that optimizes shared benefits and enhances resilience in the face of a rapidly changing climate. With a €5.2 million budget co-funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme, the project prompts a paradigm shift towards climate-sensitive water allocation systems and financing mechanisms. WE-ACT aims to establish a new standard for sustainable water allocation, particularly in a transboundary context where competition for shared resources is increasing, by showcasing its innovative one-stop shop Decision Support System (DSS). The project started on 1 January 2023 and will run for four years.?
NOTE FROM THE COORDINATOR
WE-ACT will ensure equitable water distribution between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan based on scientific knowledge, social needs and environmental challenges. Solutions to current and future water conflicts will be developed, contributing to peaceful cooperation between the Central Asian states in this politically sensitive region.
— Prof. Markus Disse, Technical University of Munich (TUM)
INSIGHTS FROM TRAININGS, SEMINARS, AND STUDY-VISITS
In April 2023, the Portolan Association, under the WE-ACT project, visited Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to enhance hydrometeorological monitoring, with IWMI facilitating the initiative.
In summer 2023, UNIFR undertook fieldwork in Kyrgyzstan's Naryn River catchment, installing modern hydro-meteorological equipment and collaborating with a Global Environment Facility summer school project on climate resilience.
On September 16th, WE-ACT partners embarked on a field trip to study the intricacies of water management, focusing on irrigation canals and stations. This hands-on experience offered them insights into the systems sustaining the landscape, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application in Central Asia.
In September 2023, IWMI Central Asia collaborated with Naryn City stakeholders for the WE-ACT project. Led by Mr. Oyture Anarbekov, they aimed to establish a transparent water-sharing system and identify key Naryn River participants. The initiative seeks solutions for regional challenges and a fair future for its inhabitants.
On June 15, 2023, IWMI in Uzbekistan hosted a seminar discussing water resource distribution in the Syr Darya basin amid climate change, emphasizing the EU-funded WE-ACT project. The event marked the International Fund for Saving Oryol's 30th anniversary and facilitated discussions on water management challenges in Central Asia.
Under the We-Act project, IWMI organized a workshop in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, on efficient water allocation in the Syrdarya River Basin, covering stakeholder engagement and transboundary cooperation.
EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS
We-ACT Project Advances Water Resource Management in Central Asia – General Assembly and Stakeholder Consultation Workshops in Bishkek and Osh, Kyrgyzstan.
From September 11th to 15th, the WE-ACT project, supported by the European Union, hosted pivotal events in Kyrgyzstan focusing on Central Asia's pressing water challenges. Stakeholder workshops in both Bishkek and Osh fostered discussions on water resource management under the changing climate and efficient water allocation in the Syrdarya River Basin. The General Assembly further reviewed the project's progress, emphasizing data management, stakeholder insights, and long-term strategies post-WE-ACT.
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CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS
Jingshui Huang, Max Linsen, Joost van der Hammen, Heiko Paeth, Timo Schaffhauser, Rick J. Hogeboom, Markus Berger, Markus Disse, Johannes Hunink, Oyture Anarbekov, Azamat Osmonov, Ivan Rocabado, Bruno Capon, Evert Wielsma, Praveen Kumar Rai, Lucas Alcamo, Gautamee Baviskar, Meadow Poplawsky, Brecht D'Haeyer, Zafar Gafurov, Ryskul Usubaliev.
Coping with Uncertainty in Water management under Climate Change: The WE-ACT Solution.
AGU Fall Meeting 2023, Water Efficient Allocation in a Central Asian Transboundary River Basin, Moscone Center, San Francisco, 13 December 2023.
FRESH FROM THE PRESS
The WE-ACT Project: Saving the Syr Darya and Aral Sea Basin Maja Fi?i? of InoSens discussed the challenges around the Aral Sea with H2O Global News.
The interview highlights the Syr Darya's significance, one of the most altered river systems globally, and the WE-ACT project's efforts to combat its issues.
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
WE-ACT proudly leans on the insights of our esteemed Advisory Board, experts in policy, capacity enhancement, and local water management. Explore their unique contributions below. For collaboration opportunities with WE-ACT, reach out to us.
OUR PARTNERS
The Technical University of Munich leads the WE-ACT project, assembling partners from both European and non-EU nations. Our consortium combines industry, policy, research, academia, and more. With strong local partnerships, our results are set to influence water management in Central Asia and offer insights for the EU.
In light of the looming climate crisis, we recognize the pressing need for innovative, flexible solutions to future-proof water allocation and management. We are focused on knowledge-based approach for managing water resources in transboundary glacier- and snow-fed river basins in Central Asia, where competition between hydropower and irrigation demands is intense. Our mission is to deliver a climate-sensitive decision support system, equipped with forward-looking, climate risk-informed tools that facilitate inclusive and efficient water allocation planning and management processes.
— Dr. Jingshui Huang, Project coordinator, Technical University of Munich (TUM)
Thanks for reading. Until the next newsletter,
Sincerely,
Editors: Communications & Dissemination Lead InoSens doo Novi Sad Maja Fisic / Milica Velimirovic [email protected]
Coordinator: Project Coordinator Technical University of Munich Dr Jingshui Huang [email protected]
InoSens - on behalf of the WE-ACT project consortium