Uzbekistan Joins World Bank Water Forward Initiative

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan has joined the global “Water Forward” initiative launched by the World Bank Group on the sidelines of the Spring Meetings in Washington. The platform aims to improve water security for more than 1 billion people by 2030.

The event was attended by World Bank President Ajay Banga and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, along with representatives of participating countries, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan Jamshid Kuchkarov.

The initiative is designed to support reforms in the water sector, modernize infrastructure, increase resilience to droughts and floods, and expand access to drinking water and sanitation. Within its own programs, the World Bank plans to ensure water security for 400 million people, while broader partnerships could extend the impact beyond 1 billion.

A key implementation tool will be national water compacts developed by participating governments. Uzbekistan has already prepared such a document in cooperation with the World Bank.

According to Kuchkarov, the plan includes the introduction of water-saving technologies across 4.1 million hectares of irrigated land, a 25% reduction in water losses, improved access to clean drinking water for the population, and the digitalization of water resource management.

The initiative involves major international financial institutions, including the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, and the Islamic Development Bank, all of which are actively engaged in Uzbekistan.

The platform integrates reforms, financing, and international partnerships to strengthen water systems, stimulate economic growth, and create jobs.

The World Bank estimates that around 4 billion people worldwide face water scarcity, making sustainable water infrastructure a key driver of global development.