Project summary:

An evolving crisis, the Aral Sea disaster has a number of negative consequences, including land degradation and desertification, shortage of drinking water, malnutrition, deterioration of health conditions and the livelihoods of local population. The comprehensive needs assessment in the Aral Sea region conducted by United Nations Development Programme in 2017 has clearly identified the inter-connected human insecurities in the region brought forward by the Aral Sea disaster.

The project is in line with the thematic directions specified in the 1st Call for Proposals within the Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region in Uzbekistan (MPHSTF), which defines that proposals that address environmental, health and social insecurities are the highest priority. The project goal is to address the environmental, social and economic insecurities in the most vulnerable communities of the Aral Sea region through bringing comprehensive solutions in addressing the environmental issues, promoting access to basic services, improving the livelihoods through development of sustainable tourism and provision of access to clean drinking water.

The project will improve the wellbeing of communities affected by the negative consequences of the Aral Sea crisis in line with the government’s policy that highlights addressing the negative consequences of the Aral Sea environmental disaster as a priority issue.