Final Day of the 15th Central Asian Leadership Programme (CALP): Closing Session and Reflections

Publication date: 19 September 2025

Almaty, Kazakhstan – The fifth and final day of the 15th Central Asian Leadership Programme (CALP) began with a field session at the Main Botanical Garden of Almaty, where an excursion was organized for the participants.

The participants explored the Garden’s plant collection and learned about its role in preserving biodiversity and the ecosystems of Almaty. The excursion not only provided an opportunity to see unique flora but also to discuss pressing issues of environmental protection and climate change adaptation in a practical context.

In the afternoon, a formal closing ceremony was held at the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC). Closing remarks were delivered by Dr. Batyr Mamedov, Executive Director of CAREC, Nuraddin Murshudlu, Senior Economic and Environmental Officer, OSCE Programme Office in Astana, and Roman Karazhanov, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). Their speeches highlighted the crucial role of young leaders in advancing the regional climate agenda and fostering cross-border cooperation.

The day concluded with the awarding of certificates to participants of the anniversary 15th CALP, reaffirming its role as a leading regional platform for developing leadership skills and promoting a sustainable climate agenda in Central Asia.

Participant feedback:

Khadzhana Ulanbekova, Specialist, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic: «The programme was organized at a very high level. I particularly enjoyed the second day with MediaNet representatives — it offered many practical exercises and valuable skills».
Sabina Yelubai, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan: «The organization was impressive in its preparation. We gained essential knowledge on ecology and communication, improved our public speaking skills, and built important professional connections».
Orazgul Isgenderova, Assistant, CAREC Project Office in Turkmenistan: «CALP became a platform for exchanging ideas and practical experience with colleagues from across the region. Most importantly, it gave me the feeling of being part of one team of young leaders in Central Asia».
Asylzhon Muminov, Programme Manager, Center for Support of Civic Initiatives, Uzbekistan: «I really appreciated the speakers and the interactive format. The session by Abzal Bekturgan from Factcheck.kz was especially memorable, along with the opportunity to expand my professional network».

The 15th CALP is organized by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) with the financial support of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) within the framework of the Blue Peace project, as well as in partnership with the Kazakh-German University (DKU).