Research Article // A review of the water-energy-food nexus in Central Asia’s transboundary basins: trends, gaps and applications assessments
By Bamgboye et al. This study reviews WEF nexus research in Central Asia’s transboundary basins, identifying dominant trends, methodological gaps, and the need for more balanced, multi-scale, and stakeholder-inclusive approaches to improve integrated resource governance.
Abstract
Transboundary water management challenges complicate resource governance in Central Asia (CA). Addressing these issues requires integrated approaches to manage shared water, energy and food resources. The WEF nexus framework explores the links between these resources but remains an emerging process in CA, where poor water management has caused the desiccation of the region. This review of 58 WEF nexus publications shows that research focuses mainly on water and multinational scales, with limited attention to smaller scales. Stakeholders are often excluded, and methods remain quantitative despite scarce data. Thus, highlighting the need for balanced methodological approaches, integration of smaller-scale analyses and enhanced stakeholder participation
Published
06 November 2025
In
International Journal of Water Resources Development