The Italy – Central Asia policy schools: A strategic manifesto for cooperation within the 5+1 format

Against the backdrop of today’s rapidly evolving global landscape, Central Asia is attracting increasing international attention and emerging as an influential and independent actor in international affairs. This shift is driven not only by changes in global energy markets or in Eurasian transit routes; it also reflects a growing recognition of the region’s agency and capacity to contribute to the stability and integration of the broader Eurasian space.

In this context, the Policy Schools, held between late May and mid-July 2026, take on particular significance. They mark a fundamental shift in implementing the 5+1 format – bringing together Italy and the five Central Asian republics (Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) – and signal a transition from traditional diplomacy to long-term investment in a shared institutional future.

This transformation is most clearly reflected in the deliberate departure from the conventional donor-recipient model of cooperation. Instead, the initiative serves as a strategic institutional instrument that demonstrates Italy’s unequivocal recognition of Central Asia’s growing importance and reflects the region’s perception of Italy as a reliable and valued partner.

By welcoming 80 participants from the public administration academies of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, Italy is investing in the human capital of the region’s next generation of leaders. Initiated and financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairsand built on the Joint Declaration signed in Astana on 30 May 2025, the program treats Italy and the Central Asian states as equal partners working to translate high-level diplomatic commitments into practical expertise and governance skills.

An equally important outcome of the initiative is the creation of a shared expert community and the promotion of bottom-up policy expertise, primarily through the development of a common professional language. The Policy Schools are a central component of the broader BRIDGE (Building Resilient Institutional Dialogue for Governance and Education) initiative, which is launched and coordinated by Ca' Foscari University of Venice.

By facilitating the direct exchange of specialized knowledge between experts and public officials, the program helps establish a common language for public governance. Whether focused on sustainable agriculture (the University of Bologna and the University of Tuscia), connectivity and infrastructure (the Sapienza University of Rome), water resources and public health (Ca' Foscari University, the Italian National Institute of Health, and Sogesid Ltd), or renewable energy (the University of Milano-Bicocca), these educational programs – the Policy Schools – are designed to create a shared conceptual, technical, and policy framework for addressing common regional and transregional challenges. In doing so, they serve as an institutional “insurance policy” for long-term geopolitical stability and sustainable development.

Through expert lectures, technical workshops, and the development of road maps, such as the Venice Road Map on water security, participants do far more than gain theoretical knowledge. They harmonize operational standards and build a transnational community of professionals committed to excellence and to adopting international best practices.

The Policy Schools’ experience, built on a distinctive modular approach and covering strategically important areas such as climate change, food security, and digital infrastructure, extends well beyond the scope of an educational initiative. It demonstrates an effective model of institutional cooperation with considerable potential for replication and adaptation by other European partners.

Experience accumulated by 2026 shows that institutional development and strengthening of governance systems are the most direct and reliable path to genuine economic integration, sustainable development, the energy transition, sustainable agriculture and water management, and the successful implementation of transregional transport corridors.

The principal lesson from this experience is that long-term partnerships are built first and foremost by investing in institutions, knowledge, and human capital. The success of the Policy Schools demonstrates that the Italy – Central Asia (5+1) format can deliver tangible strategic outcomes when supported by political commitment and intellectual capital.

This experience also shows that by prioritizing reciprocity, mutual respect, and institutional flexibility, both at the leadership level and through grassroots engagement, Italy and its Central Asian partners are not merely responding to global trends but actively shaping a more resilient, integrated, and cooperative future for the region.

In this sense, the initiative is far more than an educational program. It is a practical embodiment of a long-term strategic partnership capable of shaping both interstate relations and the architecture of cooperation between Italy and Central Asia over the coming decade.