About IFAS
IFAS was established in 1993 by the Heads of State of Central Asia in order to overcome the environmental crisis and improve the socio-economic situation in the Aral Sea basin, recognized by the world community as one of the largest disasters of the 20th century. In 1993, the heads of states of Central Asia created the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) and approved the Regulations on IFAS.
The President
Tokaev Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, President of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea
The Council of the Heads of the IFAS Founding States on the Problems of the Aral Sea Basin is the supreme body of IFAS.
Read completelyThe area of the Aral Sea basin covers about 700,000 square kilometers and includes Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, most part of southern Kazakhstan, and the northern part of Afghanistan. It is a kingdom of high mountains, dry steppes, semi-deserts and deserts.
Read completelyThe Aral Sea in its original form was located in the Northern desert part of Central Asia, within Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and covered an area of 68 km2 with a volume of 1053 km3.
Read completelyLocated in the heart of Central Asia, the Aral Sea basin includes the basins of two major rivers: the Amu Darya and Syr Darya.
Read completelyThe use of water resources in Central Asia, mainly for drinking water and irrigation, began more than 6,000 years ago.
Read completelyIn former times, the unique isolation of the Aral Sea basin contributed to the development of such a richness and diversity of biota, which could be compared with Africa.
Read completelyNews
Astana, 18 September 2024 – The capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted a meeting of the Board of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) under chairmanship of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.Bozumbaev.
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On February 13, 2025, a team of World Bank staff visited the office of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea and discussed with the official representatives of the IFAS's founding states the possibilities for further strengthening cooperation.
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February 12, 2025, in Astana, at the International Exhibition Center "EXPO", by invitation of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of the IFAS Serik Bekmaganbetov gave a presentation on the issues of the Aral Sea and the activities of the IFAS Executive Committee to the young professionals of the water sector at the national festival "City of Working Professions".
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On January 29, 2025, the 88th meeting of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia (ICWC) was held in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan, chaired by the Tajik side. The meeting was also attended by the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS).
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Astana, 28 January 2025 – A team of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS) had a meeting with a Swiss delegation headed by the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republic of Kazakhstan Salman Bal at the office of the EC IFAS. The delegation included representatives from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
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On February 13, 2025, a team of World Bank staff visited the office of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea and discussed with the official representatives of the IFAS's founding states the possibilities for further strengthening cooperation.
Read completelyEvents
February 12, 2025, in Astana, at the International Exhibition Center "EXPO", by invitation of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of the IFAS Serik Bekmaganbetov gave a presentation on the issues of the Aral Sea and the activities of the IFAS Executive Committee to the young professionals of the water sector at the national festival "City of Working Professions".
Read completelyEvents
On January 29, 2025, the 88th meeting of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia (ICWC) was held in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan, chaired by the Tajik side. The meeting was also attended by the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS).
Read completelyEvents
Astana, 28 January 2025 – A team of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS) had a meeting with a Swiss delegation headed by the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republic of Kazakhstan Salman Bal at the office of the EC IFAS. The delegation included representatives from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
Read completelyPress releases
The IFAS Executive Committee is a permanent body of the Fund and is created by a decision of the IFAS President and is located on a rotation basis in the country presiding over the IFAS.
Read completelyPress releases
On June 23, 1990, an appeal to the peoples of Central Asia and the first Joint Statement by the leaders of the countries of Central Asia was announced in Almaty, where the environmental disaster of the Aral Sea region was first recognized as an acute problem in the region. In 1992, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N. Nazarbayev addressed the Heads of State of the Central Asian countries should join efforts to mitigate the negative impact of the drying up of the Aral Sea on the environment and the population of the region.
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From sea to desert...
Tragedy of the Aral Sea
The Aral Sea basin crisis is a very dramatic event of our time. In the recent past, the Aral Sea was a unique natural object - a brackish lake-sea with a volume of 1083 km3 and an area of 68 thousand km2, with high biological productivity and a unique world of living organisms.
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR SAVING THE ARAL SEA
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR SAVING THE ARAL SEA © 2025
Scructure of IFAS
Council of Heads of State
IFAS board
ICSD
Revision Commission