A new step toward strengthening regional cooperation in water resources management and higher education was marked during the Regional Environmental Summit 2026 with the signing of a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and Kazakh National University of Water Management and Irrigation.
The agreement aims to strengthen collaboration in addressing regional water challenges through education, research and policy engagement, with a particular focus on advancing water diplomacy in Central Asia.
The partners will jointly develop and implement a master’s program in water diplomacy, designed to equip future professionals with the knowledge and skills required to manage transboundary water resources and support regional cooperation. The program will be based on a unified curriculum aligned with national education standards and adapted to regional priorities.
The partnership also envisions broader academic and institutional collaboration, including joint research initiatives, faculty and student exchanges, participation in international grant projects, and the organization of conferences, seminars and training programs. These efforts are expected to contribute to the development of a shared Central Asian higher education space in water-related fields.
The initiative is supported within the framework of the Blue Peace Central Asia project, implemented by IWMI in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Through this cooperation, IWMI and its partners will provide technical expertise, coordination and support to ensure academic quality, regional relevance and long-term sustainability.
This agreement builds on ongoing regional efforts, including a November 2025 Memorandum of Understanding in Uzbekistan between IWMI, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, and the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers National Research University. Together, these partnerships are laying the foundation for a coordinated regional approach to water diplomacy education and capacity development.
By strengthening links between universities, research institutions, and regional initiatives, the partnership contributes to building a new generation of water professionals capable of advancing cooperation, resilience, and sustainable water management across Central Asia.
