Tashkent, Uzbekistan – December 10–11, 2024. USAID’s Regional Water and Vulnerable Environment (WAVE) Activity, in collaboration with the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), conducted a training-of-trainers session on the interactive Nexus simulation game. The training took place at the “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers” National Research University (TIIAME NRU).
10 instructors representing 4 institutions in Uzbekistan were trained on how to facilitate the game and to integrate the WEFE (water-energy-food-ecosystems) Nexus approach into their educational programs. The Nexus game is aimed at strengthening the technical capacity of students through gamification of different WEFE Nexus scenarios. The participants represent hypothetical upstream and downstream countries and decide how to balance the water needs of the population, industry and agriculture while also taking into account climate change challenges.
The first day of the training was dedicated to educating instructors from leading universities in Uzbekistan. The instructors were introduced to the Nexus game rules, technical requirements, and various scenarios. They engaged in practical sessions, analyzing complex situations and developing strategies on how to address them. Focused on successfully managing water, energy, and food resources for the upstream and downstream countries, the participants simulated intergovernmental negotiations, how to reach bilateral agreements, and how to make mutually beneficial actions.
On the second day, instructors independently facilitated the Nexus simulation, reinforcing their newly acquired skills and knowledge. This active learning approach allowed the instructors to practice their roles as moderators and assess the effectiveness of the Nexus approach in the educational process. WAVE staff were on hand to answer questions and provide guidance to the instructors in this hand-on learning experience.
To ensure that the instructors implement the training, TIIAME NRU was presented with a complementary Nexus simulation game set in Uzbek language for the first time. This gift will ensure future integration in academic activities in Uzbek.
Brief reference
The Nexus Simulation was developed by the Centre for Systems Solutions in collaboration with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and the “Sustainable Energy for All” Initiative. The history of its implementation in the Central Asian region began in 2018 within the framework of the European Union project “Nexus Dialogue in Central Asia” implemented by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC). The game represents a facilitated process of playing five different scenarios for developing the territories upstream and downstream while addressing water needs of population, industry and agriculture and taking into account climate change challenges. Currently, the Nexus Game is actively promoted by CAREC in universities, academies, basin organizations, and media in Central Asia with funding from the USAID.
Additional information: Ludmila Kiktenko, Environmental Management Program Manager, CAREC, lkiktenko@carececo.org
#NexusCentralAsia #CAREC #EU #environment #NexusGame #USAID #USAIDWAVE