Dr. Aijan SharshenovaLink opens in a new window, SHAPEDEM-EULink opens in a new window Research Fellow, participated in a roundtable discussion on the future of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Central Asia. The event was hosted by Hollings CenterLink opens in a new window, a US-based think tank, and Bourse and Bazaar FoundationLink opens in a new window, a UK-based think tank, in Istanbul on November 16-17, 2024. The event brought together Central Asian and Middle Eastern political analysts, energy experts and economists to brainstorm interregional cooperation in the run-up to the GCC-C5 Summit in Samarkand next year.

Dr. Aijan SharshenovaLink opens in a new window, SHAPEDEM-EULink opens in a new window Research Fellow, chaired a session on smart cities, inclusion and quality of urban life at the Digital ForumLink opens in a new window organised by the University of Central AsiaLink opens in a new window in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, on November 14th, 2024.

Dr Aijan SharshenovaLink opens in a new window, a research fellow at the SHAPEDEM-EULink opens in a new window project team, presented her co-authored research project on the prospects of introducing carbon pricing as a climate change mitigation mechanism in the Kyrgyz Republic, a developing landlocked nation in Central Asia. Dr. Sharshenova partnered with environmental economist and Harvard University Fellow Dr. Rahat SabyrbekovLink opens in a new window to develop this policy-relevant study. The 8th CAREC Think Tank Development Forum "The climate challenge: Thinking beyond borders for collective action" brought together researchers, international financial institutions and national policy makers to discuss practical solutions to climate change in Asia.

Research Fellow Dr. Aijan SharshenovaLink opens in a new window (SHAPEDEM-EU ProjectLink opens in a new window) completed a 13 week-long gender equality training course at the University of Central Asia. The School for the Advancement of Gender EqualityLink opens in a new window provided an extensive theoretical and practical training on gender equality and advocacy for women-led organisations, civil society activists, journalists and bloggers. Dr. Sharshenova was awarded qualification of a specialist in gender equality advocacy.