Fostering Collaboration for Transboundary Water Governance: Insights from Stakeholder Engagement in the Naryn and Kara Darya Basins

Managing transboundary water resources presents a complex challenge, shaped by diverse interests, governance structures, and socio-economic contexts across political and geographic boundaries. The contrasting conditions between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan call for tailored, context-specific strategies rather than universal solutions. From 2023 to 2024, researchers conducted an extensive eleven-month stakeholder consultation across various sectors in both countries. This process engaged local, national, and regional partners and institutions to identify, analyze, and categorize stakeholders based on attributes such as power, interest, influence, gender, expectations, roles, sectoral backgrounds, and networks.

The study aimed to foster transboundary water collaboration and enhance decision-making in the Naryn and Kara Darya Basins, where shared water resources pose significant challenges. The findings underscore the need for a collaborative, inclusive, and participatory approach to effectively address these challenges. By emphasizing sustainable water governance and strengthening regional cooperation, the approach seeks to resolve historical frictions, build resilient partnerships, and ensure the equitable and sustainable management of shared water resources in Central Asia.