IGSD Research Fellow Dr Aijan Sharshenova published a co-authored reportLink opens in a new window on digitalisation of infrastructure and decarbonisation in Central Asia. The report provides an overview of the ongoing digitalisation and decarbonisation efforts in the region, and analyses the challenges and opportunities of taking climate action. The report is co-authored with Dr. Rahat SabyrbekovLink opens in a new window (Harvard University) and Dr. Burulcha SulaimanovaLink opens in a new window (OSCE Academy) and funded by CARECLink opens in a new window Think Tanks Network.

Dr Rosa Balfour, Director of Carnegie Europe - a part of the SHAPEDEM-EU consortium, published a report on contested democracy in Europe. The report explores how democratic contestation in the EU informs and shapes the EU's democracy support approaches in its neighbouring countries. The report is open access and is available to download at this linkLink opens in a new window.

At the invitation of John Smith Trust, Professor Elena Korosteleva and Dr Tatsiana Chulitskaya (WUB-hub) were invited to train the first cohort of the Future Leaders from Belarus in Oxford. This was a great opportunity to establish professional connections, and to offer feedback to the Action Plans of the JST Fellows. They are invited to be part of the WUB-hub conference on 28 June 2024, held in Europe House, with high-level policy, academic & practitioner stakeholders. The JST & IGSD will work together on developing a bespoke training programme for the future JST fellows at Warwick.

Professor Elena Korosteleva is featured in the Democracy Support DialoguesLink opens in a new window, a podcast that takes a closer look at the European Union's support for democratic politics in its Eastern and Southern Neighbourhoods. Professor Korosteleva discusses democratic practices and the future of democracy in the EU's Eastern Neighbourhood.

The episode is available through the following streaming services:

• SpotifyLink opens in a new window
• Amazon Music
• Apple PodcastsLink opens in a new window

IGSD Research Fellow Dr. Aijan SharshenovaLink opens in a new window has successfully applied to be a part of the School of Advanced Gender EqualityLink opens in a new window (SAGE) organised by the University of Central Asia with support from the Government of Canada-funded Regional Programme, Foundations for Health and Empowerment Education (F4HE), and Advancing Gender Equity through Civil Society (AGECS). SAGE aims to assist gender advocacy organisations, women led organisations, as well as activists, journalists, bloggers working on gender issues, strengthen their capacity in the areas of gender equality and gender advocacy, provide a platform for peer-support, knowledge sharing and learning, and pilot innovative projects through the Small Grants component. In the course of the next nine months, Aijan will learn theoretical approaches to gender equality and practical aspects of gender advocacy.