Adapting Public Administration to Water Challenges in Central Asia: The Case of the Kyrgyz Republic

Climate change, increasing water scarcity, and transboundary competition are placing growing pressure on water governance in Central Asia. This study examines how institutional characteristics of public administration influence water resource management and adaptive capacity, using the Kyrgyz Republic as a case study. The research applies a qualitative case-study design based on the analysis of regulatory legal acts, national strategies, international reports, and academic studies related to water governance, climate adaptation, and transboundary cooperation. The findings indicate that the principal institutional constraints include fragmented administrative responsibilities, weak intersectoral and transboundary coordination, insufficient monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and limited integration of digital tools into decision-making. Existing governance arrangements therefore remain predominantly reactive and are poorly equipped for long-term adaptation under conditions of climatic, geopolitical, and geoeconomic uncertainty. The study demonstrates that the effectiveness of water policy depends not only on the physical availability of water resources but also on the capacity of public institutions to coordinate actors, integrate data, and support long-term planning. The article proposes a transition toward adaptive water governance through stronger institutional coordination, integrated monitoring and evaluation systems, expanded digital infrastructure, and more stable mechanisms of regional cooperation.