A workshop "Lessons Learned in Developing Sustainable Water User Associations and Forming Water User Associations Federations in Central Asia and the Caucasus" was held in Bishkek on October 1–5, 2007. The workshop brought together 40 participants from eight Europe & Central Asia countries. 
The goal of the event was to draw on the experiences of the five Central Asia and three Caucasus countries that have on-going or planned World Bank-funded irrigation projects, and to discuss lessons learned on the development and sustainability of Water User Associations.

The participants discussed second generation concerns, including the need for specific Water User Associations laws as well as overall water laws and steps for implementing plans to organize Water User Associations Federations to gradually take over O&M responsibilities for primary, secondary and inter-farm delivery canals. Institutional relationships between State Departments of Water Resources, WUAs and WUA Federations were also a major area of discussion.