This report presents the findings of the National Dialogue on Water in Uzbekistan, conducted by the OECD, the Asia Water Council and national partners during 2024–2025. It examines how Uzbekistan can strengthen the economic, financial and technological foundations of water security in response to growing water stress, rising demand, ageing infrastructure and environmental pressures.
Using the OECD Scorecard for Financing Water Security, the report assesses the country’s enabling environment for investment and the barriers to mobilising finance at the scale required. While Uzbekistan has made significant progress in economic reform and institutional development, challenges remain, including limited cost recovery, fragmented regulatory arrangements, institutional complexity, data gaps and the weak financial performance of water infrastructure and service providers.
The report also explores the role of public-private partnerships in water supply, sanitation and irrigation and highlights how digital technologies, improved monitoring systems and innovation can enhance water efficiency and demand management. Drawing on these findings, the report proposes a multi-pillar action plan to strengthen water security through regulatory reform, improved sector governance, enhanced financial sustainability, technology adoption, capacity building and greater cross-sector policy coherence.
