LocationsUNDP champions disaster risk reduction and climate action in Petropavlovsk
September 19, 2025
Workshop participants in Petropavlovsk.
Central Asia grapples with a pressing challenge: it faces frequent disasters that rack up $10 billion in costs each year, impacting the lives of 3 million people. With a population of 75 million, this highly diverse region is vulnerable to a range of natural and anthropogenic hazards, which are further exacerbated by climate change and environmental degradation. Urban areas, bustling with activity and densely populated, are especially at risk.
In response, a regional project was launched in 2024, implemented by UNDP and funded by the Government of Japan. The mission? To strengthen urban resilience against disaster risks and climate change throughout Central Asia. This partnership is paving the way for safer, more sustainable communities in the face of adversity.
The signing ceremony for the regional project “Enhancing Urban Resilience to Disaster Risk and Climate Change in Central Asia.”
Last week marked the conclusion of the inception workshop series in pilot cities, with UNDP convening key stakeholders to advance urban resilience in Kazakhstan. The mission culminated in a workshop in Petropavlovsk, where UNDP joined the city municipality to discuss the integration of disaster risk reduction principles into urban planning.
Petropavlovsk has been selected as the pilot city for Kazakhstan, primarily due to North Kazakhstan’s vulnerability to floods. In 2024, the region experienced its worst flooding on record, inundating approximately 1,000 homes and displacing around 5,000 residents. As if that weren’t enough, Petropavlovsk faced yet another bout of flooding this spring, highlighting the urgent need for effective measures to address this ongoing challenge. The city is also a strategic focus for UNDP Kazakhstan’s efforts to integrate climate change adaptation into national planning, strengthen food systems, and improve ecosystem services.
The mission began in Almaty with bilateral meetings involving the Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction (CESDRR), UNICEF, and the World Bank. In Astana, the delegation met with the Embassy of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Yasumasa Iijima, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Kazakhstan, emphasized Japan’s commitment to assist Central Asia in addressing urban resilience through international cooperation:
“Japan has long been cooperating with UNDP, and we highly appreciate UNDP’s continued efforts for the stability and prosperity of the region. Central Asia is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, such as earthquakes. The devastating earthquakes of Ashgabat in 1948 and Tashkent in 1966 are notable examples. We hope that Japan’s own experience in disaster risk management and urban planning can serve as a useful reference in these efforts.”
The delegation from UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub and Yasumasa Iijima, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Kazakhstan.
Further discussions were held with the Center of Urbanism and Nazarbayev University, during which the importance of evidence-based policymaking was emphasized. The round of meetings concluded with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
The mission’s centerpiece was a workshop in Petropavlovsk, which brought together regional and local UNDP teams, representatives of the city municipality, and other stakeholders. Aigerim Aitzhanova, Deputy Head of the Economic Department of the Akimat of North Kazakhstan region, delivered opening remarks alongside UNDP.
“The North Kazakhstan region is cooperating with UNDP across a wide range of areas aimed at strengthening the region’s resilience and enhancing its capacity to address climate change. We value that, with UNDP’s support, Petropavlovsk has gained an additional opportunity to reinforce its resilience to disaster risks and climate challenges. Natural hazards do not give advance warning, which is why we must be prepared, build capacity, and protect our population,”said Aigerim Aitzhanova.
Aigerim Aitzhanova, Deputy Head of the Economic Department of the Akimat of North Kazakhstan region, delivering opening remarks.
The workshop introduced the city’s risk profile and a new self-assessment toolkit for integrating disaster risk management into urban planning. Participants tested the toolkit, joined a Disaster Risk Perception Index (DRPI) exercise, and identified roles for a newly established working group. The activities enabled stakeholders to evaluate Petropavlovsk’s preparedness, identify vulnerabilities, and define priority measures. The workshop concluded with an action plan to ensure that urban resilience considerations are embedded in Petropavlovsk’s development strategy.
“The project’s objectives in integrating climate and disaster resilience principles into city urban planning are fully aligned with the development priorities of Petropavlovsk. The working group serves as a practical platform for a participatory approach, ensuring coordinated action among all stakeholders,”reflected Khusrav Sharifov, Regional Climate and Disaster Resilience Team Leader a.i. at UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub.
Khusrav Sharifov, Regional Climate and Disaster Resilience Team Leader a.i. at UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub, delivering opening remarks.
These inception workshops laid the foundation of UNDP’s regional project to enhance urban resilience to disaster risk and climate change in Central Asia, funded by Japan. With pilot activities in Petropavlovsk (Kazakhstan), Osh (Kyrgyz Republic), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), and Namangan (Uzbekistan), the project promotes national implementation and regional collaboration.
“Integrating disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation into strategic planning is essential, not as an imposition, but as a way to reinforce shared priorities. In Petropavlovsk and other pilot cities, our project supports long-term resilience by aligning with national and local goals,”stated Sardor Kodirov, Regional Project Manager at UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub.
Anchored in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Paris Agreement, the project supports Member States in addressing disaster and climate risks as part of their development visions, ensuring that communities across the region are better protected and more resilient in the face of future hazards.
