Executive Committee of the International Fund
for saving the Aral Sea

Meeting of the Working Group on improving the organizational structure and legal framework of IFAS

On 5-6 April 2023, the tenth meeting of the Working Group on improving the organizational structure and legal framework of IFAS was held. The meeting was held in Vientiane of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic as part of a study tour to the Mekong River Basin Commission with the financial support of the World Bank.

The meeting was chaired by the Chairman of the Executive Committee of IFAS, Mr. Sulton Rahimzoda. Members of the Working Group from IFAS member-states, representatives of the Executive Committee of IFAS and its structural divisions, as well as representatives of the World Bank, took part in the meeting.

On the first day of the meeting, the Chairman of the Executive Committee of IFAS, Mr. Sulton Rahimzoda, made a presentation on the results of the UN 2023 Water Conference, which was held from 22 to 24 March in New York. Special emphasis was placed on the successful holding of the high-level side event by the Executive Committee of IFAS on ” Central Asia: Commitments for Water Action Agenda ” on 23 March within the framework of the Conference.

In continuation, the members of the Working Group presented reports on participation in the study tour to the MRC, the International Conference of the 4th MRC Summit, and visited the Nam Ngum dam. The members of the Working Group also discussed options for more active interaction between IFAS and its institutions with stakeholders.

On the second day of the meeting, presentations by country delegations on the arguments “for” and “against” the creation of two or four commissions were heard, and the next steps towards the Summit of Heads of States, including the Conference dedicated to the 30th anniversary of IFAS and the organization of 11th meeting of the Working Group.

As a result of the meeting, the members agreed on the Outcome Document of the tenth meeting of the Working Group on improving the organizational structure and legal framework of IFAS.