Community of Practice

It is widely recognized that water management and energy production are interconnected and boosting economic development largely depends on understanding the dynamic between these two sectors. 

Since the 1990s in Central Asia, a few bilateral and multilateral agreements regarding joint use of water and energy have been signed. However, the fragile balance in the region’s water-energy complex and ecological system requires a careful and considered approach. Developing a long-term sustainable regional mechanism for water-energy cooperation is one of the main and important topics on the countries’ agenda.

Research from Central Asia and beyond the region reveals significant opportunities for improving cooperation on water and energy. For example, a water and energy consortium could be a mechanism for cooperation to bring together the interests of all countries in the region. There are also many successful examples of water and energy mechanisms in the world, which can be used to inspire the creation of sustainable cooperation mechanisms relevant to Central Asia.

WEFE Nexus lecture 22 will focus on this topic including examinations of current obstacles to better water/energy cooperation in Central Asia, examples of success water/energy cooperation from around the world, and possible paths forward for to expand cooperation around water/energy in Central Asia.

Lecturers: 

• Zaki S. Shubber, expert in international water law and conflict resolution
• Ekaterina Strikeleva, Chief of the Party, USAID Central Asia’s Regional Water and Vulnerable Environment Activity.

We invite you to join us online for a fascinating talk with a Q&A session to follow.