Almaty, Kazakhstan – On September 13, 2024, an interactive Nexus game was held on the sidelines of the 14th Central Asian Leadership Program (CALP), which demonstrated the interdependence of the water, energy, and food sectors. The 14th CALP is organized by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) for active youth from Central Asian countries.
For the convenience of the participants, the game was held in two groups under the guidance of facilitators Zamira Zholdaskyzy, Coordinator for the Development of the Community of Practice and the Academic Community, and Botagoz Smagulova, PR specialist of the Environmental Management Program. In each group, the participants were divided into teams – countries located upstream and downstream of the main river.
During the simulation, participants in the roles of ministers and prime ministers sought to provide their people with resources, while taking into account the problem of climate change, which led to droughts or floods.
It should be noted that during this game, the participants initiated negotiations between the countries for the first time. Thus, the prime ministers of four countries located upstream and downstream of the river sat down at the negotiating table and exchanged experiences.
As a result of the game, the participants made several conclusions:
· All decisions and actions in one sector affect other sectors. Thus, the actions of one ministry affect the work of other ministries.
· The problems of one country affect its neighbors. Therefore, countries need to act in a coordinated manner.
· There are no unsolvable problems, there is always a way out of a difficult situation through negotiations and diplomacy.
· When providing your people with resources, it is necessary to take into account the preservation of ecosystems. If ecosystems are not preserved, this can lead to large financial losses in the future.
Thus, the participants of the 14th CALP were able to put their knowledge and skills into practice and make vital decisions to ensure the well-being of their countries. In addition, the players honed their diplomatic skills when negotiating with neighboring countries.
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 EU project “Nexus Dialogue in Central Asia” implemented by CAREC. The game represents a facilitated process of playing 5 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 U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Additional information: Ludmila Kiktenko, Environmental Management Program Manager, CAREC, lkiktenko@carececo.org
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