Almaty seminar advances regional master's programme in water diplomacy

On July 20-21, representatives of partner universities from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan gathered in Almaty, both in person and online,for a two-day regional seminar to jointly advance the development of the Master's Programme in Water Diplomacy under the Blue Peace Central Asia (BPCA) initiative.



The seminar brought together academic experts and university representatives responsible for designing the programme to review its overall structure, refine draft course modules, and strengthen the academic framework that will prepare future water professionals for the region's increasingly complex transboundary water challenges.

Throughout the seminar, participants worked collaboratively to align the proposed curriculum with national higher education requirements while ensuring a common regional approach. Discussions focused on reviewing the draft modules, defining the competencies of future graduates, identifying opportunities to strengthen the programme’s interdisciplinary nature, and agreeing on a roadmap for the next stages of development.



The Master's Programme is being developed to equip a new generation of water professionals and diplomats with the knowledge and practical skills needed to address shared water challenges through cooperation, science, and dialogue. By combining expertise in water governance, hydro-diplomacy, international water law, climate resilience, and integrated water resources management, the programme aims to strengthen regional capacity for sustainable management of transboundary water resources.



The seminar also highlighted the value of regional academic collaboration. By working together, partner universities are creating a shared educational platform that promotes knowledge exchange, harmonized learning standards, and long-term cooperation across Central Asia.

As one of the flagship capacity development initiatives under Blue Peace Central Asia, the Master's Programme reflects the project's commitment to strengthening institutional capacities and investing in the next generation of water leaders. Once launched, it will provide students across the region with an interdisciplinary education that bridges science, policy, and diplomacy, helping transform common water challenges into opportunities for regional cooperation.



Blue Peace Central Asia is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in partnership with the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC).

The BPCA team extends its sincere appreciation to all university representatives, academic experts, and partners whose knowledge, commitment, and collaboration continue to drive this important regional initiative forward.