The OECD has published a report on strengthening the economic, financial and technological dimensions of water efficiency in Uzbekistan, summarising a 2024-2025 National Dialogue conducted with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Water Resources and the Asia Water Council. The report finds that Uzbekistan’s investment environment for water security has improved but remains only partially conducive to large-scale investment, with limited cost recovery, fragmented regulation, institutional complexity, uneven data and weak project bankability constraining financing for water infrastructure and services. Using the OECD Scorecard for investment in water security, the assessment gives Uzbekistan a cumulative score of 8.18 out of 20, placing it at an “engaged” stage, with relatively stronger results for the general investment framework than for water policy and project sustainability. The report estimates a water-related financing gap of about USD 5 billion for 2025-2030 and says private participation through public-private partnerships remains limited in water despite a 2019 PPP Law, because many projects are small and fragmented, tariffs and collection rates are low, and governance and risk allocation need strengthening. It also highlights technology priorities including smart monitoring, groundwater management, dam safety, irrigation and drainage modernisation, and water-sector skills development. The action plan calls for clarifying and consolidating the PPP regulatory framework, improving ministry co-ordination and project oversight, mapping sector needs, strengthening procurement transparency and rules for unsolicited proposals, and reforming economic instruments to improve financial sustainability. It also recommends reducing non-revenue water, updating technical standards, strengthening groundwater and dam monitoring, expanding education and training programmes, and continuing regular cross-sector National Policy Dialogues on water.
OECD2026-07-17
OECD publishes Uzbekistan water security report, identifies investment and PPP barriers and sets reform action plan
The OECD has issued a report on water efficiency and water security in Uzbekistan, finding that investment conditions have improved but still fall short of what is needed to mobilise large-scale financing. It identifies low cost recovery, fragmented regulation, weak project bankability and limited data as key constraints, and sets out reforms on PPP governance, tariffs, service performance, technology and capacity building. The report also highlights a water-sector financing gap of about USD 5 billion for 2025-2030.