The first meeting of the Working Group on Institutional and Legal Strengthening and the Development of Aral Sea Basin Programme - 3 took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 10-11 December 2009. The meeting was convened by the Executive Committee of the International Fund for saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) and facilitated by the UNECE under the programme on Regional Dialogue and Cooperation on Water Resources Management in Central Asia, financed by the Government of Germany through GTZ in the framework of the Berlin Water Process.

 
The Working Group discussed existing institutional and legal frameworks for transboundary water cooperation and preliminary proposals to improve the efficiency of regional cooperation. Over 60 experts from Central Asian countries and institutions contributed to the analyses prior to the Working Group meeting. Delegations agreed on modalities for the elaboration of ASBP-3, including regular coordination with the donor community and international organisations.

UNECE-GTZ Programme helps Central Asian countries to strengthen regional institutions for transboundary water management Geneva, 10 December 2009

Institutional and Legal Strengthening of Regional Water Resources Management in Central Asia, UNECE Weekly #353, 4-8 January 2010