Investing in Gender Equality in the Water - Climate - Peace Nexus in Central Asia: A Pathway to Sustainable Development

Central Asia is one of the most water-stressed regions in the world, with rising climate risks accelerating competition over increasingly scarce resources. Regional temperatures are rising twice as fast as the global average, glaciers are retreating, and droughts are intensifying - placing immense strain on the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins, which are vital for agriculture, energy, and livelihoods. These dynamics not only undermine sustainable development but also heighten the risk of violent conflict as states and communities compete for water access. 

Women and girls, who play central roles in household resource management and agriculture, are disproportionately affected by water scarcity, climate shocks, and conflict. Their workloads increase as access to clean water and arable land declines, while patriarchal norms and limited access to resources and decision-making exclude them from water governance and peacebuilding processes. 

Despite their critical expertise, women remain underrepresented in climate negotiations and water diplomacy, leaving their perspectives absent from key policy and infrastructure decisions. 

This note highlights the intersection of climate, water, and peace in Central Asia, with a focus on their gendered dimensions. It outlines how water scarcity exacerbates inequalities, drives instability, and impacts women’s livelihoods, health, and security. The brief also presents concrete programmatic entry points for donors and partners to strengthen gender-responsive action, ranging from investments in data and research to training and capacity-building, gender-responsive budgeting, and shifting restrictive social norms. Empowering women as active agents of resilience is critical to advancing Sustainable Development Goals 5, 6, and 13, and to building sustainable peace in Central Asia. 

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