ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

As part of ongoing efforts to build the capacity of young professionals in the areas of preventive diplomacy and sustainable natural resource governance, the UNRCCA in partnership with the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), conducted a practical session on water cooperation for members and alumni of the Preventive Diplomacy Academy (PDA) in Ashgabat.

Held at the UNRCCA premises and initiated by the British Embassy in Turkmenistan, the event featured an interactive simulation exercise facilitated by Dr. Undala Alam, FCDO Regional Climate Adviser for Central Asia. The training aimed to enhance participants’ understanding of cooperative approaches to transboundary water management and the broader political, economic, and environmental dimensions of water diplomacy.

A core component of the session was a dynamic simulation exercise, during which participants assumed roles as upstream and downstream riparian states negotiating water use along a shared river basin. The exercise reflected real-world scenarios, requiring participants to balance competing priorities such as hydropower production, agricultural irrigation, and environmental sustainability.

The simulation provided an opportunity for PDA participants to engage in practical negotiations, gain insights into the complexities of regional cooperation, and apply a “basket of benefits” approach to shared water management—an increasingly relevant issue in the context of climate change and environmental degradation in Central Asia.

Through its youth-focused platform, the Preventive Diplomacy Academy, UNRCCA continues to support regional dialogue, strengthen youth engagement, and promote peaceful cooperation on shared challenges facing the region.