Women in Water Diplomacy Network teams up with Columbia University at New York Water Week, just prior to the UN Water Conference
Article abstracted from Koch, Elizabeth and Ekta Patel, et al. 2023. Women in Water Diplomacy Network After Action Report: The Water Diplomacy Symposium and Network Engagement in the 2023 UN Water Conference.
Publication in full available in full here.
In the days leading up to the UN Water Conference, the Women in Water Diplomacy Network partnered with Columbia University’s Harriman Institute to host a public event as part of the New York Water Week. The event, entitled ‘Path Forward for Women, Water, Peace and Security – Elevating Central Asian Voices from across the Women in Water Diplomacy Network’ put explicit focus on elevating young professional voices from across Central Asia. The evening event attracted the participation of about 40 participants in person, with additional participants joining via the livestream.
About the Network
The Women in Water Diplomacy and Water Management promotes promotes women water professionals’ participation in decision-making in the water sector and gender mainstreaming in water governance, inthe Nile region and Central Asia and Afghanistan.
The Women in Water Diplomacy network in the NileWomen in Water Management in Central Asia and AfghanistanA Path Forward for Women, Water, Peace, and Security
During the event, Justin Burke, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs, Harriman Institute at Columbia University welcomed participants and introduced the session. Xanani Baloyi, Process Support Team member for the Women in Water Diplomacy Network at the Stockholm International Water Institute introduced the Women in Water Diplomacy Network walking the assembled students, alumni, and interested public through the inception and development of the Network from the Nile Basin, to Central Asia-Afghanistan and elsewhere. Dr Saule Ospanova, Senior Environmental Affairs Advisor at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) provided additional reflection and motivation for the development of the Network. An interactive panel of Network Members followed facilitated by Valeriya Orlova from the Central Asia Regional Environmental Center (CAREC), with panelists including Aziza Sharofova Khamza kizi, Chief Expert, Center Ecological Expertise of the State Committee of Uzbekistan, Shohida Tulieva, National Coordinator for Gender and Social Equality, Water Resources Management, Tajikistan, Cholpon Aitakhunova, Co-lead, Central Asia Youth for Water, Kyrgyzstan, Lyazzat Syrlybayeva, Co-Lead of the Central Asia Youth for Water Network, Kazakhstan, and Meerim Seidakmatova, Integrated Water Resources Management MA student, Kazakh-German University, Kyrgyzstan. Following the panel discussion, session participants were invited by Justin Burke to raise questions and share experience in an informal and engaging dialogue. The full recording of this event can be accessed at: A Path Forward for Women, Water, Peace and Security – Columbia University Event.
