On 9 October 2026, Dr. Saida Safaeva, Head of the Center for Sustainable Development, and Odilbek Manabov, Leading Research Fellow at the Center, participated in the roundtable discussion “Green Central Asia: Dialogue Between Science and Policy”, held in Tashkent by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS).

The two-day policy dialogue brought together researchers, experts, and policymakers from across Central Asia and Germany to discuss ways to strengthen the connection between scientific research and policymaking. Particular attention was paid to translating scientific knowledge and the outcomes of development projects into evidence-based policies and practical solutions to regional challenges.

During the discussions, Dr. Saida Safaeva shared insights from the first year of the joint Master’s Programme in Water Diplomacy, implemented by UWED and the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers (TIIAME). Her contribution highlighted the programme’s initial results, key lessons learned during its pilot year, and the planned steps for its further development, including opportunities to strengthen interdisciplinary education and build regional capacities in water diplomacy. She also addressed emerging trends in water diplomacy across Central Asia, highlighting the evolving regional approaches to transboundary water governance and ongoing efforts by Central Asian countries to strengthen cooperation, improve water resource management, and address shared water-related challenges.

The roundtable provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and explore how closer cooperation between academic institutions and policymakers can contribute to more informed and sustainable water governance in Central Asia.