ALMATY – Kazakhstan signed an agreement on Aug. 4 to develop a nationwide flood and drought early warning system, signaling a broader shift from responding to water emergencies toward anticipating them. The project, developed jointly by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation’s Information and Analytical Center and Agip Karachaganak, will integrate data on the country’s water infrastructure into a unified forecasting system.
Third meeting of the Development Partners Coordination Council under the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation brought together experts and diplomats on Aug. 4 to review process of the undergoing work. Photo credit: Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.
The agreement was signed during the third meeting of the Development Partners Coordination Council under the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, which brought together government agencies, international organizations, financial institutions, development partners, diplomats and private-sector representatives to review progress on Kazakhstan’s Water Partnership Initiative 2024–2030.
The early warning system is expected to combine hydrological data with information on water infrastructure to improve monitoring of flood and drought risks nationwide. Rather than focusing solely on responding to emergencies after they occur, the initiative aims to strengthen preparedness by providing authorities with better forecasting and decision-making tools.
The project reflects a broader evolution in Kazakhstan’s water policy as the country faces increasing pressure from climate variability, recurring droughts and floods, growing demand for water resources and the need to modernize aging infrastructure.
Alongside the forecasting initiative, the ministry signed additional agreements to establish AquaLab, a national center for water innovation, STEM education and environmental awareness. The Water Resources Information and Analytical Center signed cooperation agreements with the Caravan of Knowledge Corporate Foundation, while a separate trilateral agreement involving the Association of Environmental Organizations of Kazakhstan and the Central Asia and Caucasus representative office of The Coca-Cola Company will finance and implement the project.
According to Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, water conservation has become a new model for managing Kazakhstan’s water resources rather than a standalone policy direction.
Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Nurzhan Nurzhigitov. Photo credit: Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.
“Water conservation is no longer a separate area of work but a new model of water resources management,” he said.
According to him, infrastructure solutions must be accompanied by modern management technologies. Digital tools should create a unified information space, while the introduction of new technologies must be supported by specialist training and the development of a culture of responsible water use.
The initiatives were presented within the framework of the Development Partners Coordination Council, established jointly by the ministry and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan in September 2024. The platform now brings together more than 40 international partners working on water-sector development.
UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan Katarzyna Wawiernia said the council has evolved beyond a forum for discussion into a mechanism that translates cooperation into concrete projects.
“The real value of this work is measured not by the number of meetings but by the joint solutions that are already being transformed into investment projects and improvements in public policy,” she said.
Taken together, the agreements suggest Kazakhstan’s water reforms are entering a new phase. While investment in reservoirs, canals and irrigation systems remains essential, policymakers are increasingly pairing physical infrastructure with digital technologies, forecasting capabilities and research. By integrating data, innovation and international partnerships into a single strategy, Kazakhstan is seeking to build a water management system that is better equipped to anticipate future risks.
