HSE University Centre for Water Resources Research Holds Its First Water Workshop on Central Asian Water Security
The inaugural HSE Water Workshop, titled “Water Security in Central Asia: Institutional Constraints and Opportunities for Regional Cooperation. The Case of Kazakhstan”, provided a platform for discussing water-related challenges as a key factor of sustainable development in the region and as an important area of interdisciplinary research.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Zhanar Tulindinova, a PhD candidate at the Department of Regional Studies of L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. In her presentation, she analysed water security in Central Asia as a complex political and economic challenge shaped by the interaction of transboundary water governance, climate change, demographic dynamics and institutional development.
Expert comments on the presentation were provided by specialists from Kazakhstan. Aigerim Ospanova, Head of the Department of Regional Studies at L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, emphasised the importance of water issues in the context of international relations and shared the department’s experience in conducting water-related research. Aizhan Skakova, environmental specialist, PhD in Geography, expert in water resources management, Deputy of the Mazhilis of the VII convocation and member of the Expert Council under the Security Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan on environmental security, presented an overview of current water security projects in Kazakhstan. Albina Priniyazova, PhD in International Relations, highlighted Kazakhstan’s potential in the field of water diplomacy and commented on the key conclusions of the presentation.
Professor Alexander Martusevich, OECD consultant, also contributed expert comments. He outlined both existing constraints and opportunities for the development of regional cooperation aimed at enhancing water security in Central Asia and shared relevant analytical materials with the participants. Igor Makarov, Director of the Institute for Economics of Natural Resources and Climate Change at HSE University, also provided comments on the presentation.
The workshop was moderated by Anastasia Likhacheva, Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at HSE University and Director of the Centre for Water Resources Research. She stressed the importance of water-related issues for the institute’s research and expert agenda and noted that the Water Workshop will become a regular platform for professional dialogue.
A recording of the workshop is available via the link.