Human Capacity Development and Research Cooperation for Advancing Renewable Energy in Central Asia to Be Discussed at CACCC-2026
Session 3.1: Human Capacity Development and Research Cooperation for Advancing Renewable Energy in Central Asia
On 23 April 2026 in Astana, as part of the Central Asian Climate Change Conference (CACCC-2026), Session 3.1 will focus on human capacity development and research cooperation in the renewable energy sector. The session will be held at Hilton Astana, Irtysh Hall, 1st Floor, from 09:00 to 10:45, featuring a panel discussion with introductory presentations.
The session is organized under the OSCE–CAREC initiative “Regional Working Group on Education for an Inclusive Energy Transition in Central Asia (RTEET),” within the OSCE project “Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Energy Sector in Central Asia,” the GIZ regional project PROGRESS (“Green Skills for a Green Economy in Central Asia”), and the EU–GIZ program EURECA (“EU4SustainableCentralAsia: Renewable Energy in Central Asia”).
The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Bakhtiyor Pulatov, Professor and Rector of the Central Asian University for Environmental and Climate Studies (Green University, Uzbekistan). Expected participants include representatives from international organizations, government agencies, universities, and industry associations, including Batyr Mammedov, Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Centre for Centra Asia (CAREC); Gulzhan Zharasova, Chair of the Committee on Higher and Postgraduate Education, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan; Ambassador Bakyt Djusupov, OSCE Coordinator for Economic and Environmental Activities; Emomali Mirzoev, Project Specialist at the OSCE Secretariat; Rohan Shailesh Modi, Technical Advisor for the EURECA Program; as well as representatives from technical universities and renewable energy associations across Central Asia.
The accelerated development of renewable energy in Central Asia depends not only on investment and regulation but also on the availability of skilled specialists. With global employment in the renewable energy sector rising and the share of solar and wind generation increasing, training engineers, system designers, grid integration specialists, energy storage experts, and operations and maintenance technicians is becoming particularly critical. For Central Asia, which has significant solar and wind energy potential, developing human capacity and research infrastructure is essential.
The session will focus on practical solutions to strengthen human resources and research cooperation in the renewable energy sector. Participants will discuss critical skills gaps for scaling solar and wind energy, modernization of university and vocational education programs, development of joint research and laboratory infrastructure, academic mobility, data and methodology exchange, and strengthening partnerships between universities, governments, and the private sector.
The program includes opening remarks, two keynote presentations, a panel discussion with audience Q&A, and a concluding segment focused on formalizing agreements. A key practical outcome will be the signing of memoranda of understanding between CAREC and Central Asian technical universities to reinforce regional collaboration in education and research on renewable energy.
The session directly supports the objectives of CACCC-2026, including strengthening climate resilience, promoting cross-sector cooperation, and advancing sustainable energy transition mechanisms in the region. Renewable energy development is recognized as a key tool for enhancing energy security, diversifying energy systems, and reducing climate vulnerability.
Participants will include representatives from government agencies, technical universities, vocational education institutions, renewable energy associations, and private developers, creating a platform for cross-sector dialogue and coordinated solutions for a sustainable energy future in Central Asia.
For more information:
Valeriya Orlova, RTEET Project Manager, vorlova@carececo.org