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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In his remarks, Mr. Orazbay expressed gratitude to the European Union for its support through the Central Asia Water and Energy Program (CAWEP-4) and noted the valuable partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the French Development Agency (AFD). He highlighted the importance of coordinating efforts among international partners and emphasized the work of the EC IFAS on establishing a cooperation mechanism for the implementation of joint projects.
Read completelyEvents
On 17 November 2025, in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan, a Conference dedicated to international water cooperation and the improvement of Uzbekistan’s water legislation was held under the auspices of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
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On 13 November 2025, in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan, representatives of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), S. Bekmaganbetov and N. Sheraliev, took part—at the invitation of the Swiss side and within the framework of the Blue Peace Central Asia (BPCA) initiative—in the Regional Seminar “Water Challenges in Central Asia” and in the first meeting of the BPCA Regional Advisory Committee.
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On 11 November 2025, in Belém, Federative Republic of Brazil, the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS), Askhat Orazbay, participated—at the invitation of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and Sogesid S.p.A.—in the side event “Continuing Work on the Aral Sea: Joint Management for Environmental Restoration”, organized at the Italy Pavilion as part of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30).
Read completelyEvents
In his remarks, Mr. Orazbay expressed gratitude to the European Union for its support through the Central Asia Water and Energy Program (CAWEP-4) and noted the valuable partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the French Development Agency (AFD). He highlighted the importance of coordinating efforts among international partners and emphasized the work of the EC IFAS on establishing a cooperation mechanism for the implementation of joint projects.
Read completelyEvents
On 17 November 2025, in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan, a Conference dedicated to international water cooperation and the improvement of Uzbekistan’s water legislation was held under the auspices of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Read completelyEvents
On 13 November 2025, in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan, representatives of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS), S. Bekmaganbetov and N. Sheraliev, took part—at the invitation of the Swiss side and within the framework of the Blue Peace Central Asia (BPCA) initiative—in the Regional Seminar “Water Challenges in Central Asia” and in the first meeting of the BPCA Regional Advisory Committee.
Read completelyEvents
On 11 November 2025, in Belém, Federative Republic of Brazil, the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS), Askhat Orazbay, participated—at the invitation of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and Sogesid S.p.A.—in the side event “Continuing Work on the Aral Sea: Joint Management for Environmental Restoration”, organized at the Italy Pavilion as part of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30).
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.
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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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Scructure of IFAS
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