BCSP at the GEF Assembly

The Eighth GEF Assembly was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 30 May to 6 June 2026, bringing together the Global Environment Facility partnership to advance action on climate, biodiversity and environmental protection.

As part of the Assembly, UNOPS, together with the World Bank, UNEP and the Tehran Convention Secretariat, co-hosted the side event “Blueing Two Seas: Innovation and Partnership for Transboundary Waters.”

The event highlighted two regionally important initiatives: the Blueing the Black Sea Regional Program and the Blueing the Caspian Sea Project. Together, the projects demonstrate how regional cooperation, technical capacity and strong partnerships can help address shared environmental challenges in transboundary water systems.

For the Caspian Sea region, the discussion provided an important opportunity to present the Blueing the Caspian Sea: Building Capacities for Pollution Monitoring and Biodiversity Planning Project, which supports Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in strengthening pollution monitoring, biodiversity planning and regional cooperation.

Financed by the Global Environment Facility, implemented by the World Bank and executed by UNOPS, the project aims to support practical, evidence-based action for a healthier and more resilient Caspian Sea.

Representing UNOPS AUMCO, Director Simonetta Siligato joined global environmental leaders on the high-level panel to discuss how cooperation across borders can be translated into concrete action on the ground.

The side event reinforced a key message: protecting shared waters requires reliable data, coordinated institutions, strong partnerships and long-term commitment. Through the Blueing the Caspian Sea Project, UNOPS will continue supporting partners in building the knowledge, systems and cooperation needed to help protect one of the region’s most unique ecosystems.