Since its launch in 2020, every year the regional project of GIZ ECO-ARAL holds a Steering Committee Meeting (SCM) to discuss the implemented activities of the past year and to discuss the plans for the upcoming year. The Steering Committee was established in January 2021 during the kick off meeting of the project with the aim of coordinating the activities with the political partners.
On March 10, 2023, ECO-ARAL held the SCM at Hampton by Hilton Hotel in Tashkent with 43 participants consisting of the political partners – Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan – and its departments and institutions, the Ministry of Natural Resources and its agencies, Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, IFAS Agency Uzbekistan, Aral Sea Innovation Center, local NGOs and the representatives of the international organizations operating in the Aral Sea region.
During the meeting the project team as well as the main implementing partners DLR (German Aerospace Center), ICARDA (International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dried Areas) and IWMI (International Water Management Institute) presented the results of the project and the joint activities in 2022.
With Capacity Building measures 625 people, 375 of whom women, have been reached; More than 20 studies and analyses have been conducted, 15 training programmes on Climate Change adaptation, Sustainable Liquorice Cultivation, Water Management, Ecotourism and Crop Diversification have been conducted; 12 Study, exchange and delegation trips were conducted on GIS, Artemia, Hydrogeology, Protected Areas management, beneficial insects, Biofach Trade Fair and Forestry to Germany, Vietnam and Thailand, 5 Memorandums were signed or prepared for signing in the fields of tourism, forestry, hydrogeology, protected area management and aquaculture.Moreover, the project manager Paul Schumacher noted the main goal of the project is to promote economic development of the Aral Sea region, taking into account environmental sustainability. The SCM completed with lively discussion on the further activities.
Photo©: GIZ, ECO-ARAL
