Ceremonial Launch of the “Blueing the Caspian Sea Project” at the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana

The BCSP is a four-year regional initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility, with a total budget of USD 11.7 million. It is jointly implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Bank, and executed by the Tehran Convention Secretariat and UNOPS. The project supports Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan in advancing sustainable environmental management across the Caspian Sea region.

Designed to deliver both national and regional impact, the initiative will modernize pollution monitoring systems, strengthen biodiversity conservation efforts, and enhance institutional and technical capacities. Its structure combines country-level implementation with a unified regional framework, ensuring that transboundary challenges are addressed through coordinated and science-based approaches.

The ceremonial launch brought together senior government officials and representatives of partner organizations. Speakers underscored the importance of collective action and reaffirmed their commitment to international environmental standards, regional stability, and long-term sustainability of the Caspian marine ecosystem.

Welcoming remarks were made by:

• Mr. Zhomart Aliyev – Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• Mr. Rashad Allahverdiyev – Deputy Head of the Biodiversity Protection Service under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan
• Mr. Berdy Berdiyev – Head of the Department on Coordination of International Environmental Cooperation and Projects of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan
• Ms. Gayane Minasyan – Regional Manager for Environment with the Planet Department of the World Bank
• Mr. Tim Lardner – UNOPS Europe and Central Asia Regional Director
• Mr. Mahir Aliyev – Coordinator, UNEP Regional Office for Europe
• Mr. Mateusz Benko – Tehran Convention Officer 

As the BCSP moves into its implementation phase, it is expected to play a key role in fostering collaboration among Caspian littoral states while contributing to global environmental objectives and regional resilience.