PROJECT: WOMEN IN WATER MANAGEMENT IN CENTRAL ASIA AND AFGHANISTANReport back: Central Asia and Afghanistan 2022
Side event at OSCE 2022 Economic and Environmental Dimension Implementation Meeting
15 November 2022
Theme: Networking for Peace: Women making a difference through sustainable natural resource management and engagement in peace processes
The event brought together the OSCE Networking Platform of Women Leaders, including Peacebuilders and Mediators with participants of the Women in Water Management Network in Central Asia and Afghanistan to discuss women’s meaningful participation in natural resource management and leadership. The discussion benefited from the extensive experience in mediation of the members of the OSCE Networking Platform for Women Leaders, including Peacebuilders and Mediators and will draw from the technical knowledge on natural resources and management of the participants from the “Women in Water Management Network”. The participants to the side-event shared good practices in mediation, peacebuilding, trust building and networking but also discuss persistent challenges that women face in accessing leadership positions in decision-making in natural resources. The concluding remarks highlighted practical modalities of how the two networks can mutually support each other in strengthening women’s leadership in this field.
Second High Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action
June 2022
The first face-to-face meeting for the members of the Women in Water Management Network in Central Asia and Afghanistan took place on the side of the Second High Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action: “Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028” in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
The Second High Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028” took place in Dushanbe from 6-8 June. Network members proudly represented the Women Water Management Network in Central Asia and Afghanistan Network at the Dushanbe Water Conference as well as side events including the Youth Forum and the Women’s Forum.
Ahead of the Dushanbe Water Conference, on June 5th, the Women in Water Management Network in Central Asia and Afghanistan (WWMN) held its first ever face-to-face workshop (the Central Asia and Afghanistan Network was initiated in 2021 during the global pandemic). The workshop allowed members to take stock of the Network’s development, with a focus on challenges, opportunities and priorities moving forward. Particular attention was afforded to the Network’s contributions to the 2022 Dushanbe Water Conference and the Women Water Forum, as well as World Water Week 2022 and the Women in Water Diplomacy Global Network Forum. Members exchanged experiences and discussed the continued development of the regional Network. This included brainstorming activities regarding future priorities as well as the design of a Strategy for the Women in Water Management Network in Central Asia in Afghanistan.
On 6 June 2022, the Network members had the opportunity to meet the OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid. On the same day, OSCE, together with SIWI and CAREC, organized a High-Level Panel (HLP) on Capacity Building and Knowledge, during the Women Water Forum: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion – Water Unites Us, an official side event to the Dushanbe Water Process. The HLP was moderated by Saule Ospanova (Senior Environmental Affairs Adviser, OSCE) and included a keynote address from Tais Reznikova, (Specialist, Water Initiatives Support Programme, CAREC) as well as interventions from WWMN Members Shohida Tulieva, Tajikistan (Senior Project Officer, Basin Management and Focal Point Gender and Social Equality); Gulzhan Makhmudova, Kyrgyzstan, (National Project Coordinator/ Adviser Climate Change and Resilience in Central Asia UNDP); as well as Sogol Jafarzadeh, (former Environmental Affairs Adviser at the Office of the Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities). SIWI’s Kerry Schneider (Senior Programme Manager, Transboundary Water Cooperation) provided concluding remarks and Katie Goldie-Ryder (Programme Officer, Transboundary Water Cooperation) acted as rapporteur and summarized key takeaways.
Summary of outcomes and key messages from the session:
- Gender mainstreaming in water governance contributes to stability and security.
- A persistent gender gap exists in the water sector and in transboundary water cooperation – resources and funding needed to support women water professionals
- The Women in Water Management Network in Central Asia and Afghanistan supports a community of practice for women water professionals who are engaged in water management in the region.
- Enhance cooperation in the region through supporting capacity building and knowledge sharing activities, enhancing dialogue integration of gender aspects in water management and empowering women water professionals in the region.
- Women play a crucial role in sustainable management of water resources and should be included at all levels of decision-making.
Components of the Women Forum Session Outcomes were later integrated in the Final Declaration ‘From Dushanbe 2022 to New York 2023. The Network will continue to support women water professionals on the road to the UN 2023 Water Conference in March.
On 8 June 2022, the OSCE organized a side event, “Digital Tools and E-Learning in Transboundary Water Management”. The event was organized in partnership with Geneva Water Hub, the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency (SDC), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Central Asia Youth for Water Network (CAY4W). The session explored the potential of digital tools used in transboundary water management to contribute to regional dialogue cooperation. Specific attention was paid to the role of digitalization in early warning systems for water-related disasters as well as monitoring and measuring water use and footprints. The side-event also served to launch the e-learning course on Water Diplomacy and Integration of Water Norms in Peacebuilding, developed by the OSCE in partnership with the Geneva Water Hub. The overall objective of the e-learning course is to provide theoretical and practical tools for integrating sustainable water governance in processes linked to peacebuilding and to increase the capacities of individuals and institutions in using water as an entry point for co-operation and dialogue.
The event was moderated by Saule Ospanova (Senior Environmental Affairs Adviser, OSCE). Sogol Jafarzadeh, former Environmental Affairs Adviser at the Office of the Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, presented the report on the outcomes of the feasibility report on “The impact of digitalization in the water sector in the OSCE area”, developed in partnership with IUCN. The study focuses on the domains of monitoring and measuring water use and footprint, as well as early warning systems in water-related disasters. Cholpon Aitakhunova, representing the Central Asia Youth for Water Network (CAY4W) and the Women in Water Management in Central Asia and Afghanistan Network, launched the “Female Role Models in Water Management” podcast-series which were developed in partnership with the OSCE.
Ms. Aitakhunova’s key message was that “digitalization in transboundary water management is a way to address our challenges when we talk about the role of youth in transboundary water cooperation, where digital tools and e-learning are used by us to 1) learn and enhance our knowledge in the water sector and develop our leadership and negotiations skills, as well as 2) communicate our mission – empowerment of the next generation of water leaders for peaceful and prosperous development in Central Asia through transboundary water cooperation broader.”
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.
Cholpon Aitakhunova, Saule Ospanova and Sogol Jafarzadeh SIWI’s Kerry Schneider (Senior Programme Manager, Transboundary Water Cooperation) provided practical examples of digital tools that the Shared Waters Partnership Programme developed during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to use for network engagements.
Youth in Central Asia highlight commitment to dialogue and transboundary water cooperation
9-12 June 2022
The Second Youth Basin Dialogue on Syr Darya River was organized on the side of the Dushanbe Water Conference and provided a space for many Network members to continue to engage and grow their regional water experience and expertise.
The Central Asia Youth for Water Network (CAY4W), together with the International Secretariat for Water (ISW) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), organized the Second Youth Basin Dialogue on the Syr Darya River Basin at the Reservoir of Nurek Dam from 9-12 June. This provided a platform for three days of intensive experience exchanges and capacity development.
The goal of the event was to improve interactions between the states by emphasizing the role of youth as decision-makers, managers of land and water, environmental activists, civil servants and scientists soon. The focus on youth highlighted the need for the states to build understanding, and broaden perspectives, on transboundary water management practices and regional cooperation.
Women Water Management Network in Central Asia and Afghanistan convene a Water Diplomacy and Negotiation Simulation online learning workshop
8 April 2022
On 8 April 2022, the members of the Women Water Management Network in Central Asia and Afghanistan Network took part in an online capacity development workshop on “Water Diplomacy, regional and transboundary cooperation” and “Negotiation skills” co-organised by SIWI, CAREC and the OSCE. Participants joined from five Network countries including Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
SIWI’s Dr. Martina Klimes, Water and Peace Advisor, kicked off the session by introducing the topic of Water Diplomacy and emerging trends in the field. Dr Klimes also touched on key negotiation strategies and the importance of preparation prior to sitting down at the negotiation table. After the brief introduction, Water Diplomacy experts from the region were invited to share their experience. The experts shared key insights on how they prepare for negotiations over shared waters resources, including practical steps, as well as how they collaborate with technical experts when preparing for international meetings and when planning negotiation strategies.
The members of the Network then took part in an online negotiation simulation exercise. Each participant was given a scenario with background information, an issue to address, and a specific role to play. The simulation provided insights into how real-life negotiations work and how different stakeholders collaborate. Though the negotiation simulation was brief, the members were able to discuss, and reflect on, the exercise. Amongst other things, they considered aspects of water sharing agreements, the importance of planning and preparation – including reliable data – and the means to build trust between the parties.
Key messages from the knowledge sharing session included:
- Water Diplomacy is a journey, made better through establishing and maintaining effective two-way communication channels (Inquiring, Listening, Trust Building) between the parties.
- Parties are encouraged to look at the bigger picture and move the focus away from Positions towards Interests through considering shared benefits and mutual gains.
- Parties are encouraged to make informed decisions based on data, legal instruments, and advice from experts.
- If the negotiation reaches a stalemate, then it can be a good time to consider alternatives, such as reframing the issue, engaging a Third Party or other pathway. Be creative!
- After the negotiation simulation, Ms. Lyazzat Syrlybaeva (Central Asia Youth for Water) shared a presentation on the CAY4W Network and on the involvement of youth in regional water dialogues.
The Women Water Management Network in Central Asia and Afghanistan will organize further capacity development workshops on water diplomacy and negotiation skills for the network members. T
Celebrating Network Participation and Knowledge Sharing ahead of International Women’s Day
4 March 2022
The OSCE, together with SIWI and CAREC, co-convened a network event ahead of International Women’s Day to highlight the climate change agendas in Central Asia and around the globe through expert and network presentations. The Women Water Management Network in Central Asia and Afghanistan network meeting, on March 4th, was devoted to the topic of climate change and peer exchange between the members of the Network.
Climate change is already an emergency in Central Asia. Freshwater availability in the region, particularly in the large Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins, is projected to decrease, further exacerbated by adversely affected by population growth and increasing demand from rising living standards. At the same time, until recently, Central Asia was poorly represented in global climate change processes and agendas. The collaboration between Central Asian countries at COP26 to organise their own pavilion constituted an important first step towards regional representation.
In preparation for COP27, CAREC shared results and lessons learnt as well as provided updates about Central Asia’s regional representation in the global climate change arena. SIWI provided updates on the Water Pavilion and other opportunities to get involved with COP27. Network members Gulzhan Makhmudova, from Kyrgyzstan, introduced members of the ‘Climate Action Network Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia’ and Fooman Forough, from Afghanistan, presented the results of her study on the main barriers to women’s participation in Afghanistan’s water sector.
Invited guests, Juliane Schillinger, PhD candidate at the Department of Governance and Technology for Sustainability at the University of Twente, and Alyssa Offutt, PhD candidate at the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, also shared their research. Schillinger presented her research on the impacts of conflict on local water management in the Middle East while Offutt presented her research on the multi-scalar hydro politics of transboundary water quality.
