Expanding Cooperation among Central Asian Countries within the Framework of the Sustainable Development Goals

In today’s world, implementing the UN 2030 Agenda and achieving the 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is no longer the task of a single country. Increasingly, experts agree that success depends on coordination, resilient partnerships, and regional cooperation. For the countries of Central Asia — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan — this approach is especially important. They face similar challenges: land degradation, water scarcity, climate risks, digital inequality, and youth employment. These problems cannot be solved individually — only joint actions can ensure lasting results and create synergy.

Regional platforms and the exchange of best practices have become key tools for joint advancement. The idea of establishing and developing a Regional SDG Center is gaining traction — a platform where countries cooperate rather than compete, sharing resources and experience. One such initiative is the newly established Regional Center for SDGs for Central Asia and Afghanistan, located in Almaty. This joint initiative of the UN and the Government of Kazakhstan opens new opportunities for knowledge-sharing, coordination, and investment in sustainable development. The Center provides technical assistance, data collection and analysis, experience exchange, and international advocacy. It effectively acts as a bridge between states, businesses, and global institutions, symbolizing Central Asia’s readiness to act together.

Each country in the region is moving forward. According to the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Sustainable Development Report 2025, Uzbekistan ranks 62nd out of 167 countries with a Sustainable Development Index score of 73.1 — one of the highest in the region. The country is actively introducing new approaches in digitalization, education, social protection, and environmental policy. Kazakhstan ranks 70th (71.52 points) and continues to strengthen its position through the development of national strategies and modernisation of its planning system. Kyrgyzstan ranks 47th (74.5 points), showing strong results in social areas. Tajikistan ranks 88th (68.3 points), facing key challenges in ecology and energy. Turkmenistan publishes less data but is also implementing programs for efficient water use and green energy development.

At the same time, the region faces serious environmental challenges. According to the UN ESCAP Asia-Pacific SDG Progress Report 2025, Central Asia is lagging behind on several goals related to natural resources: land degradation and lack of clean water remain systemic problems. ESCAP notes regression in a number of environmental indicators, including land degradation, requiring accelerated progress toward SDGs 6 and 15. According to UNESCO and the Atlantic Council, water stress affects over 80 million people in the region. Most of the river flow originates outside the consumer countries: roughly 86% is formed in the upstream areas (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan), while the Amu Darya and Syr Darya basins supply up to 90% of the region’s river water. This creates interdependence — Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan supply the headwaters, while Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan depend on this flow for irrigation and industry. Due to outdated canals and drainage systems, water losses during irrigation reach 30–40%, and in some areas up to 50%. Climate change and recent droughts have worsened the situation, increasing pressure on agriculture and food security.

However, water issues can become not a source of conflict, but a driver of cooperation. Existing mechanisms such as the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination, SPECA regional projects, and the ESCAP Water-Energy-Climate Data Initiative are already in place. The creation of a common regional water platform and the introduction of digital analytical tools will help countries jointly plan and manage shared resources. In this regard, the Almaty SDG Regional Center can play a key role by ensuring data exchange, developing GIS systems, and promoting innovations in water and land management.

Beyond water issues, digitalization is of great significance. Central Asia remains one of the youngest regions in the world: the median age is around 26–27, and about one-third of the population is under 15. Overall, more than half of the population is under 30. This human potential can be channeled into innovation, distance learning, telemedicine, and smart cities. Joint ICT initiatives and startup hubs in Tashkent, Astana, Bishkek, and Dushanbe could strengthen the economy and improve resilience to external shocks. The transition to green technologies and renewable energy is also gaining attention. Central Asia is actively investing in solar and wind power plants, promoting energy efficiency and circular economy projects — all closely tied to the region’s water and climate resilience.

The private sector is also increasingly engaging in the sustainable development agenda. In 2025, UN Global Compact Central Asia Network was launched in Kazakhstan, bringing together over 140 companies. This demonstrates the growing interest of the private sector in responsible investment and ESG principles. Public-private initiatives in ecology, digitalization, and green energy are expanding. A key part of this transformation is the social dimension — youth and women’s participation. Leadership schools, mentoring programs, grant competitions, and regional forums on digital skills, entrepreneurship, and climate solutions are active across the region. These initiatives are shaping a new generation of professionals capable of advancing sustainable development in practice, not just in theory.

Nevertheless, serious challenges remain. Differences in statistics and institutional frameworks hinder the establishment of a unified monitoring system. Financing remains limited, and climate risks are intensifying. Geopolitical differences persist as countries often have to balance between domestic priorities and collective action needs. Yet the main difficulty lies not in the lack of resources, but in the lack of coordination and trust.

Still, the prospects to 2030 are optimistic. If Central Asian countries continue to strengthen cooperation, modernise their infrastructure, and introduce innovation, the region could become a model of sustainable development for others. In the coming years, a common SDG data platform — including water and climate modules — may be created. Water losses could be reduced by one-third, and the number of joint projects in the green economy and digitalisation is expected to increase. Greater youth and women’s participation in governance will ensure social stability, while collaboration with business will strengthen financial sustainability.

Central Asia has the potential to transform from a zone of climate risk into a region of opportunities. Expanding cooperation under the SDGs not only aligns with the global agenda but also reflects the strategic interests of the countries themselves: economic growth, social stability, and environmental security. The establishment of the Regional SDG Center in Almaty is a significant milestone on this path. Suppose the region can unite its efforts and realise its cooperative potential. In that case, it can demonstrate how, even under challenging climatic conditions, it is possible to build a sustainable future — by its own means, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.

Sources:

• Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), Sustainable Development Report 2025

• UN ESCAP, Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2025

• UNESCO, World Water Development Report 2023

• UNECE/SPECA, Regional Water-Energy-Environment Nexus Reports 2023–2025

• Atlantic Council, Water Insecurity in Central Asia, 2025

• UN Global Compact, Central Asia Network Launch Press Release, 2025