Drops of the Future Regional Workshop on the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus concludes in Turkmenistan
Where
On 29-30 January 2025, the “Drops of the Future” Workshop made its final stop in Central Asia, in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, bringing together young professionals from across the region to collaboratively address Water-Energy-Food Nexus challenges.
The workshop was enriched by the participation of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, which introduced participants to negotiation skills in complex trade-offs scenarios – equipping them with skills and tools to navigate competing priorities while promoting sustainable development and regional co-operation.
Building on the insights of previous workshops, participants reaffirmed several principles in their Declaration:
- Intergenerational renewal of traditions must preserve and strengthen social cohesion at the local level
- Technological innovation and data analysis should be advance in alignment with the true cost and value of water, energy and food
- Diverse approaches and inclusive participation – especially women – are vital to ensuring lasting solutions.
A highlight of the workshop was a field visit to the Bagtyarlyk Fresh Water Treatment Plant and the Kumush Suw Farming Society. The field visits offered real-world perspective on addressing sustainability in different context.