In cooperation with the Kazakh-German University (DKU), the Green Vision Central Asia (GVCA) project of Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) initiated a hybrid workshop between the 6th to the 11th of November 2022 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. With the title “Fostering social cohesion and peace through climate adaptation with a focus on Water Governance in Central Asia”, a diverse two-part program was held, in which more than 30 experts and scientists provided inputs to the around 40 participants from Central Asia and Afghanistan. The program was twofold: The first part of the program was geared towards bringing together peacebuilding and climate change adaptation practitioners. The goal was to facilitate knowledge exchange and identify joint challenges as well as entry points for increased exchange and collaboration. The second part was dedicated to civil servants from four Central Asian states from the fields of climate adaptation and water resource management. The idea was to facilitate a direct knowledge transfer and feed results from part I of the workshop directly into part II.
Through various participatory formats, participants had the opportunity to discuss regional challenges related to climate change and the impacts of water management on social cohesion. Overall, there was a focus on environmental peacebuilding as it pertains to: 1) conflict-sensitive climate adaptation, 2) climate-sensitive conflict transformation and 3) transboundary water governance and cooperation. There was room for lively exchange of ideas, challenges encountered in previous projects and best practice examples. A highlight was the workshop contribution organized by Nora Rathje and Narine Karapetyan from the Berghof Foundation and Stefanie Wesch from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. Here room and guidance were provided for participants to exchange experiences with respect to challenges and opportunities regarding climate adaptation for stability and the environment as a factor in conflict transformation.
The key organizing team of this workshop were independent consultant Nadira Mukhamejan and GVCA project coordinator Stefanie Wesch. Both designed the concept and drafted the program in collaboration. GVCA project manager Dr. Iulii Didovets and Stefanie Wesch facilitated inputs and participatory formats on-site, supported by Larissa Kogutenko from the Kazakh-German University and DKU Vice Rector of International Cooperation and Public Relations Barbara Janusz-Pawletta.
