Groundwater Projects to Be Launched in Central Asia 

These countries are threatened by natural hazards, such as floods, landslides and intermittent water shortages, resulting from global warming and extreme conditions. Changes in rainfall, longer dry periods and increased evaporation as the temperatures rise all affect the quantity and quality of groundwater. Population growth and urbanisation as well as increased exposure to pollution and salinisation stress groundwaters. Recently, there have been armed conflicts between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan due to disputes over water.

GTK is involved in two Central Asian water projects together with all five Central Asian countries. The beneficiaries of the projects include ministries and plants related to water issues in these countries as well as groundwater partners and organisations operating in these regions.

GTK participates in

• EU-funded GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH) project on water, energy and climate change in Central Asia as a partner. GTK’s tasks focus on training and capacity building in matters related to groundwater monitoring. The agreement between GTK and GIZ was signed in June, and the project will be launched in September. The project will be implemented between 2025 and 2028.
• Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) and coordinated by CoWater. GTK’s tasks are related to groundwater monitoring and modelling in this project as well. The agreement between GTK and CoWater was signed in July, and the project is expected to be launched in November.

Further information

The GIZ project

Mirjam Orvomaa, Senior Specialist (Project Manager)
Tel. +358 29 503 0115
mirjam.orvomaa@gtk.fi

Jaana Lohva, Senior Specialist
Tel. +358 29 503 2309
jaana.lohva@gtk.fi

For the SDC project

Jussi Ahonen, Head of Account Management (Project Manager)
Tel. +358 29 503 2146
jussi.ahonen@gtk.fi