Empowering the Aral Sea Region: A Localized Leap Towards Sustainable Development Goals

This occasion brought together key stakeholders, including government representatives, local development organizations, academia, civil society, and international partners, to shed light on the intersection of sustainable development and SDG localization, emphasizing the vulnerabilities faced by regions like the Aral Sea.

SDG localization refers to the process of implementing the SDGs at the national and local levels by aligning them with local needs as it fosters ownership and action, ensures policy coherence, enhances data and monitoring systems, and encourages stakeholder engagement.

The event also featured a presentation of the findings from the Aral Sea Trust Fund's 2023 Needs Assessment for the Aral Sea, outlining its vital linkages to the SDGs as identified through a comprehensive study conducted earlier this year.

Consuelo Vidal, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan highlighted in her address that “At this midway point of the 2030 Agenda, it's clear that we need urgent action to tackle our current challenges. Without a significant increase in commitment, cooperation, and transformative measures, we risk falling short of achieving the SDGs, including crucial goals like poverty reduction, inequality reduction, and environmental protection.”

Sarvar Khamidov, Deputy Minister, the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan said “Collaborative efforts within the Aral Sea Trust Fund helped to improve the healthcare system in five regions, improve basic infrastructure, digitalize rural communities, support youth and women by creating jobs and increasing their incomes. Our further vision for the Fund is the Aral Sea region shall become a zone for implementing efficient climate change innovations, which will benefit present and future generations.”

Rustam Saparbayev, Deputy Chairman of Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan concluded the event and pointed that: "I believe it is important to regularly organize such events to raise awareness of current issues and solutions. The Government at all levels is committed to actively supporting our development partners by providing the resources and capacity to make informed decisions. I want to assure you that our government can be expected to continuously support all initiatives aimed at improving the lives of the population."

In response to the social, economic, and environmental issues associated with the Aral Sea crisis, in 2018 the United Nations together with the Government of Uzbekistan with support from the Government of Norway, the European Union, Governments of Finland, the Republic of Korea, Germany, and the Alwaleed Philanthropies established the Aral Sea Trust Fund.

Through the various Joint Programmes of eight participating UN organizations, such as FAO, UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNOPS, UNODC, and UNESCO the UN delivered jointly the interventions that focus among others on water management, sustainable agriculture, healthcare, and environmental restoration that benefitted 274,000 people including youth, women, and the elderly.