Central Asian water experts sharpen governance knowledge during specialized IHE Delft training

In order to educate future water managers with the necessary competencies and skills to tackle challenges from climate change in Central Asia, the university teachers learned about legal and institutional aspects of water governance, and discussed in how far global discussions and concepts on (good) water governance are relevant and applicable to the Central Asian context. The course also provided space to discuss and develop elements of water governance curricula and improve skills in English language to better understand and discuss international scientific literature.

A visit to the Maeslantkering storm surge barrier and the Kinderdijk windmills gave participants practical insights into Dutch water management practices.

Course participant Abdulkhakim Salokhiddinov, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation at Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers and UNESCO Chair on Water Diplomacy, said water governance is key for Uzbekistan. The country has limited and unevenly distributed water resources and largely depends on water from neighbouring countries. This makes water efficiency and productivity, as well as management, at local and basin level key to sustainable development, both Uzbekistan and the Central Asian region. “Water governance is very important to make sure the water is used efficiently and in a more sustainable way,” he said.

Another participant, Bauyrzhan Baglay, Teaching Assistant at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, underlined the need to develop capacity to understand the kind of water challenges that need to be tackled. “One of the main aspects of water governance is trust and engagement. Especially for this region, the building of trust is very important,” he said.

Participants said they will use the new knowledge and tools gained during the course in their respective countries’ higher water education. The goal is to strengthen water governance and contribute to sustainable development in the region.

Nazgul Abalova, Professor and Chair, Faculty of International Relations and Law, Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic (DA MFA KR) spoke on the main purpose of the project being to strengthen higher education in the water sector for climate resilience and water security in Central Asia. In particular, she cited the importance of issues such as gender and legal frameworks at national and international level being integrated into the curriculum on water governance and water diplomacy, provided by the institutions of Central Asian countries. “The specific objective for this project is updating existing or the development of a new curriculum for the Central Asian Universities, to facilitate the training of a new generation of water governance experts and, of course, water diplomats,” Abalova said. 

The course was developed and delivered in the framework of the project “Strengthening Higher Education in the Water Sector for Climate Resilience and Security in Central Asia” with support from the European Union’s Erasmus plus programme