On February 27, 2018 the 24th Session of Chu-Talas Water Commission (CTWC) considered the draft Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for Chu and Talas River Basins, developed by a specially nominated CTWC Secretariat Working Group on adaptation to climate change and long-term development programmes. The CTWC, by its decision, has welcomed the output of the Working Group and accepted the SAP document for convening the internal approval procedures of the Governments of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Follow-up will be submission of the document to the consideration of the Kyrgyz-Kazakh Intergovernmental Council led by the Vice-Prime Ministers of the two countries.

The Chu-Talas SAP is based on the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) approved by CTWC on November 30, 2016. The Chu-Talas SAP builds Vision, Goals, Objectives and Measures and adresses the following transboundary issues: lack of water resources for economics and ecosystems, impact of water quality to people and ecosystems, degraded state of ecosystems, impact of the climate change and the needs for adaptation, needs for improved bilateral cooperation and strengthening its institutional basis, needs for improved monitoring of water resources and data share.

The Chu-Talas TDA-SAP Process development was supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) financed, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) implemented medium-sized project, "Enabling Transboundary Cooperation and Integrated Water Resources Management in Chu and Talas River Basins" medium sized project, executed by UNDP Kyrgyzstan under coordination of UNDP's Istanbul Regional Hub and in cooperation with UNDP Kazakhstan and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The project expeccts the an opportunity, prior to its completion by the mid-year 2018, to support approval and signature of the SAP document at highest possible level between the two Governments.

Resident Representative of UNDP Kyrgyzstan Mr. Ozonnia Ojielo has welcomed efforts of two Governments and their joint Commission toward development and launching the SAP and expressed strong commitment of the UNDP and the whole UN Community to support implementation of the SAP for Chu and Talas River Basins.

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