Almaty, Kazakhstan, 12 June 2025 — The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) conducted a one-day Training of Trainers on interactive Nexus Approach modeling (Nexus Game) for faculty members of the Economics Department at the Kazakh-German University.
The Nexus Game is an educational simulation that models the interconnections between water, energy, and food resources (WEF Nexus). It helps develop collaborative decision-making skills in the context of climate change and resource constraints. In Central Asia, the game is promoted by CAREC with the support of international partners.
The training brought together 11 faculty members who, within the simulation, assumed the roles of ministers and prime ministers of countries located in the upstream and downstream parts of a river basin. Participants managed state processes, conducted negotiations, concluded trade agreements, and defended national interests on the international stage.
The game format clearly demonstrated the interconnections between water, energy, and food security. Taking climate challenges into account, participants made decisions on ensuring access to key resources for the population and sought a balance between economic development and sustainable natural resource management.
An interesting outcome of the simulation was reflected in the environmental performance of the countries. Usually, in the Nexus Game, the downstream country faces a higher level of pollution; however, this time it managed to maintain a lower level of waste despite having a limited budget. At the same time, the upstream country reduced its waste volume through investments in zero-waste production facilities. This outcome demonstrated that sound management decisions, effective cooperation, and a focus on sustainable development can significantly improve environmental conditions even under limited financial resources.
Additional information:
Lyudmila Kiktenko
Programme Manager, Environmental Management Programme, CAREC, lkiktenko@carececo.org