3. Interviews with the practitioner

1. An interview on trust, mistrust, data sharing and technological developments 

This interview with researcher and practitioner Bota Sharipova offers valuable lessons for water policymakers, technical experts, and civil society working on transboundary cooperation. Her work uncovers a critical paradox: while water professionals in Central Asia maintain strong personal relationships, institutional distrust continues to block formal data sharing.

By comparing the Aral Sea and Sava River basins, Sharipova reveals how informal data exchanges between individuals fail to become systematic cooperation. In the Sava basin, joint projects built trust where none existed, while in Central Asia, initial trust collapsed due to political conflicts. Her research shows that sustainable data sharing requires institutional solutions, as automated monitoring systems face political barriers in upstream-downstream disputes over data sovereignty.

Bota Sharipova emphasizes that water professionals need both technical skills and political awareness, a challenge relevant worldwide. Ultimately, her findings demonstrate that trust is not just about personal connections but must be embedded in governance systems that ensure reliability, fairness, and long-term cooperation.

4. An interview on practical examples from Central Asia on data sharing in water management

In this interview, researcher and practitioner Bota Sharipova shares insights on data and information exchange in transboundary water governance, drawing from her extensive work in Central Asia's Syr Darya River basin.  She highlights how digital tools are transforming water data accessibility across multiple levels. At local scales, mobile applications like Uzbekistan's "Tomchi" and Kazakhstan's "Hydropost KZ" empower farmers and communities with real-time water information. Nationally, automated monitoring stations are replacing manual data collection, while bilateral initiatives between Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan-Tajikistan demonstrate growing regional cooperation in transboundary data sharing. Most strikingly, Sharipova uncovers how social dynamics influence data practices - where shared cultural ties foster informal exchanges, yet limited formal use of technologies like remote sensing in negotiations.

The Central Asian experience proves that effective transboundary data governance needs balancing technical innovation with political awareness and social trust. As digital tools advance, Sharipova's work reminds us that sustainable water cooperation depends on building systems that respect both hydrological realities and human relationships. For anyone working on transboundary waters, this interview reveals why some digital initiatives succeed while others stall, and how to design data systems that connect technical and political divides. 

This module has demonstrated that digital tools and water data management extend far beyond technical considerations, as they are deeply shaped by political, institutional, and social factors. Transparency in water governance must prioritize equity, inclusion, and accountability, as unequal access to technology, legal barriers, or lack of trust can exacerbate disparities rather than resolve them.

We examined how data collection and interpretation require collaborative development of monitoring standards and assessment frameworks to ensure legitimacy. While technological innovations from open-data platforms to AI-driven modelling offer transformative potential, their effectiveness depends on strong governance structures and human oversight to prevent misuse or marginalization.

Bota Sharipova’s insights reinforced that success hinges on trust-building, regional cooperation, and context-sensitive approaches. As you move forward, we encourage you to integrate these lessons into your work, balancing technological opportunities with inclusive, accountable water governance.