According to the Joint Declaration of the Astana Summit, the project establishes a network of Schools of Policy (SoP) bringing together civil servants, technical experts, and selected representatives of the private sector from Central Asia and Italy. The initiative enhances advanced training and higher education as strategic tools to strengthen institutional dialogue, promote shared governance approaches, and foster sustainable development partnerships in priority sectors. Consistent with the intergovernmental agenda, the project addresses shared priorities such as the water–health nexus, connectivity, sustainable agriculture, and the energy transition, while simultaneously strengthening the technical and managerial skills required to design and implement effective policies. The training is structured into three sequential and complementary modules. Common Online Training Module is an introductory course is planned for all participants, aimed at providing a shared analytical framework on Italy–Central Asia relations, sustainable development challenges, policymaking, and international cooperation instruments.
Two week online training seminar is being held for Central Asian civil servants from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in the framework of BRIDGE project. The seminar is being led by Italian experts in the following areas:
- Water–Health Nexus
- Connectivity and Infrastructure
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Renewable Energy and Green Transition
The BRIDGE project (Building Resilient Institutional Dialogue for Governance and Education), an initiative dedicated to advanced training and the strengthening of institutional capacities, designed to consolidate long-term cooperation between Italy and the countries of Central Asia within the framework of the Italy–Central Asia 5+1 format. The project, coordinated by Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.
Participants in the online training module explore modern approaches to sustainable management and sustainable development, exchange best practices, and joint project development. Consolidation activities are included to transform acquired knowledge and skills into concrete project proposals and public policy initiatives. Through thematic workshops, participants engage in structured peer-to-peer professional exchanges, comparative assessments, and joint design processes aligned with national and regional priorities.
By integrating training, policy dialogue, and project development, BRIDGE strengthens the operational dimension of Italy–Central Asia cooperation. The project contributes to the creation of lasting professional networks, the enhancement of institutional capacities, and the definition of solid and feasible cooperation initiatives, promoting resilient governance, sustainable development, and a long-term partnership between Italy and Central Asia.
The project was developed on the basis of numerous exchanges held in Central Asia during recent missions, taking into account the suggestions made with regard to the draft action plan currently under discussion; aims to strengthen the technical, institutional, and managerial capacities of public officials and economic operators, as well as to create a transnational community of public policy experts capable of operating in multi-level and multi-stakeholder governance contexts; promotes the development of policy tools and project proposals that are replicable and adaptable to different contexts, contributing to the expansion of Italy–Central Asia Knowledge Networks by involving academia, public institutions, international organizations, and the private sector; uses advanced training as a tool to build greater mutual trust and aims to foster the sharing of certain development pathways.