Blue Peace Central Asia (BPCA) has selected participants for two regional youth initiatives aimed at supporting young researchers and innovators working on water-related challenges across Central Asia and Afghanistan.
Following competitive selection processes, six young researchers have been selected under the Young Researchers Competition on Water in Central Asia and Afghanistan, while five young innovators, representing each Central Asian country, have been selected to participate in the Regional Youth Water Solutions Incubator.
Together, the two initiatives will provide participants with targeted mentoring, capacity development, and financial support to further develop their research and practical solutions.
Six researchers selected for the Young Researchers Competition
The competition supports applied research addressing priority water-related challenges in the region, including water governance, irrigation efficiency, ecosystem services, water diplomacy and digital approaches to water management.
The selected researchers are:
• Afghanistan — Mohammad Tahir Mamundzai
Rainfall and Surface Water Dynamics in the Kunar River Basin
• Kazakhstan — Rustam Rakhmetov
How Water Governance Shapes Water Use Efficiency in Irrigation: Comparative
Evidence from the Isfara Basin, Orto-Tokoy–Kosonsay System, and the Lower Syr Darya
• Kyrgyz Republic — Maral Sagynalieva
Biodiversity Ecosystem Services for Sustainable Water Management in the Orto-Tokoy–Kosonsay Reservoir System
• Tajikistan — Safarbekov Osim
Water Governance and Stakeholder Cooperation in the Isfara River Basin: Lessons for Regional Water Diplomacy in Central Asia
•Turkmenistan — Läle Garyagdyýewa
The New Era of the Uzboy and Aral Ecosystem
• Uzbekistan — Abdikairоv Bekmurat
Integrated Geospatial Water Information System for Sustainable Water Management in the Isfara River Basin
Each selected researcher will receive a
USD 3,000 research grant to support the further development of their research and preparation of an article for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.
Five innovators selected for the Regional Youth Water Solutions Incubator
The Regional Youth Water Solutions Incubator brings together one selected innovator from each Central Asian country to further develop and test practical solutions to water-related challenges.
The selected innovators are:
• Iskandar Samandarov — Uzbekistan
• Odinahmad Davronov — Tajikistan
• Oman Abyshev — Kyrgyzstan
• Uzujkenal Toylyyeva — Turkmenistan
• Aiman Aliyeva — Kazakhstan
Over the course of the Incubator, participants will receive tailored mentoring, take part in a regional Bootcamp, and further develop and test their proposed solutions.
Based on the quality of the final project proposals and pitching, participants will be eligible for
Innovation Support Packages of up to USD 2,500 to support the implementation of their ideas.
Their projects address four areas: water quality; water and climate change; water and energy; and water data and digital solutions.
Supporting the next generation
Together, the two initiatives aim to strengthen the knowledge, research capacity and practical skills of young water professionals, support the development of high-quality research and innovative solutions, and contribute to addressing key water-related challenges in the region.
Congratulations to all selected researchers and innovators, and thank you to everyone who applied.
