Emerging Scholars in Water Diplomacy: Empowering the Next Generation of Cooperative Governance

Second-year Master’s student Fatima Khamzayeva conducted a research-based workshop titled “Water Diplomacy Simulation Lab: Cooperative Governance for Sustainable Futures” as part of her dissertation practice under the supervision of Gulnara Baikushikova at the UN Resource Centre of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

Held on November 27, the interactive session engaged students in a fast-paced diplomatic simulation, where participants represented fictional river-basin states negotiating fair access to shared freshwater resources. The workshop demonstrated the practical relevance of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) in transboundary water governance.

Through negotiation rounds, strategic discussions, and consensus-building activities, students strengthened their practical skills in diplomacy, conflict resolution, and multilateral cooperation. The session concluded with the drafting of a joint agreement and a group photo.