Current challenges in Central Asian water governance and their implications for research, higher education, and science-policy interaction

Iskandar Abdullaev ^a,b*, Aliya Assubayeva ^a,m, Ihtiyor Bobojonov ^c, Nodir Djanibekov ^c, Ines Dombrowsky ^d, Abror Gafurov ^e, Ahmad Hamidov ^f,g, Elke Herrfahrdt-Pähle ^d, Barbara Janusz-Pawletta ^h,i, Rovshen Ishangulyyev ^a, Ulan Kasymov ^j, Bakhrom Mirkasimov ^k, Martin Petrick ^a,c, Katrin Strobehn ^a, Dinara Ziganshina ^l

^a Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, 35390, Germany; ^b International Water Management Institute, Multan Road, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore, Punjab 53700, Pakistan; ^c Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), Theodor-Lieser-Str. 2, Halle (Saale), 06120, Germany; ^d German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), Tulpenfeld, D-53113, Bonn; ^e GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany, Telegrafenberg C4, Potsdam, 14473, Germany; ^f Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Str. 84, Müncheberg, 15374, Germany; ^g “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers” National Research University (“TIIAME” NRU), Kary-Niyaziy 39, Tashkent, 100000, Uzbekistan; ^h International Water Management Institute, Central Asia, Osiyo 6, Tashkent, 100000, Uzbekistan; ⁱ Kazakh-German University, Pushkin st. 111, Almaty, 050011, Kazakhstan; ^j TUD Dresden University of Technology, Markt 23, Zittau, 02763, Germany; ^k Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT), 12 Istiqbol street, Tashkent, 100047, Uzbekistan; ^l Scientific Information Centre of Interstate Coordination Water Commission (SIC ICWC), Karasu-4, 11A, Tashkent, 100187 Uzbekistan;
^m Nazarbayev University, 53 Kabanbay Batyr Ave, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan

https://doi.org/10.29258/CAJWR/2025-R1.v11-1/47-58.eng

Corresponding author e-mail*: iabdullaev68@gmail.com

Aliya Assubayeva: aliya.assubayeva@zeu.uni-giessen.de; Ihtiyor Bobojonov: bobojonov@iamo.de; Nodir Djanibekov: djanibekov@iamo.de; Ines Dombrowsky: Ines.Dombrowsky@idos-research.de ; Abror Gafurov: abror.gafurov@gfz-potsdam.de; Ahmad Khamidov: ahmad.hamiov@zalf.de; Elke Herrfahrdt-Pähle: Elke.Herrfahrdt@idos-research.de; Barbara Janusz-Pawletta: b.janusz-pawletta@cgiar.org; Rovshen Ishangulyyev: rovshen.ishangulyyev@ag.uni-giessen.de; Ulan Kasymov: ulan.kasymov@tu-dresden.de; Bakhrom Mirkasimov: bmirkasimov@wiut.uz; Martin Petrick: martin.petrick@agrar.uni-giessen.de; Katrin Strobehn: katrin.strobehn@zeu.uni-giessen.de; Dinara Ziganshina: dinara.ziganshina@gmail.com

February 18, 2025

Type of paper: perspectives

Abstract

Political tensions over water management in the Central Asia region have intensified since the Soviet era, as ecological issues like the drying Aral Sea and seasonal hydropower disruptions impact downstream countries. The paper discusses the region’s water governance challenges, including climate-induced uncertainties, water resource demands, and the limited capacity of local research institutions. While Central Asia’s governments have initiated reforms, including new infrastructure and agreements, resilience in water management remains underdeveloped. The paper also explores the role of higher education institutions in fostering capacity-building for sustainable governance, emphasizing the need for local expertise and regional collaboration. The proposed establishment of a Central Asian water research platform aims to enhance science-policy integration, promote sustainable water governance, and support informed regional cooperation on transboundary water issues.

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Abdullaev, I., Assubayeva, A., Bobojonov, I., Djanibekov, N., Dombrowsky, I., Gafurov, A., Hamidov, A., Herrfahrdt-Pähle, E., Janusz-Pawletta, B., Ishangulyyev, R., Kasymov, U., Mirkasimov, B., Petrick, M., Strobehn, K., & Ziganshina, D. (2025). Current challenges in Central Asian water governance and their implications for research, higher education, and science-policy interaction. Central Asian Journal of Water Research, 11(1), 47–58. https://doi.org/10.29258/CAJWR/2025-R1.v11-1/47-58.eng

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