LocationsCentral Asia launches Urban Resilience Coalition at Regional Dialogue in Dushanbe
October 24, 2025
High-level representatives from Dushanbe, Petropavlovsk, Osh, Ashgabat, and Namangan signing the Joint Declaration to launch the Regional Urban Resilience Coalition in Central Asia.
In a region increasingly vulnerable to disasters and climate-induced risks, the Regional Urban Resilience Dialogue, held in Dushanbe, marked a significant milestone in advancing sustainable urban development across Central Asia. Organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction (CESDRR), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and hosted by the Government of Tajikistan, the event brought together national authorities, municipal leaders, and technical experts from all five Central Asian countries, as well as international development partners.
The Dialogue was convened under UNDP’s regional project, “Enhancing Urban Resilience to Disaster Risk and Climate Change in Central Asia,” funded by the Government of Japan. The project is implemented in pilot cities of Petropavlovsk (Kazakhstan), Osh (Kyrgyz Republic), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), and Namangan (Uzbekistan). Anchored in the Sendai Framework and the Paris Agreement, the project supports Central Asian countries in addressing disaster and climate risks as part of their development course, ensuring that local communities are more resilient in the face of hazards.
Sudipto Mukarjee, UNDP Resident Representative in Tajikistan, delivering welcome remarks.
A central outcome of the Dialogue was the launch of the Regional Urban Resilience Coalition in Central Asia. This new cooperation mechanism, formalized through a Joint Declaration by representatives of pilot cities, aims to foster inter-city collaboration, promote climate-resilient urban development, and contribute to the global Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) campaign.
Opening the event, Sudipto Mukerjee, UNDP Resident Representative in Tajikistan, called for the: “…application of a holistic urban resilience model through which we can embed climate and disaster risk considerations in every stage of planning, prioritize people-centered, gender-sensitive, and climate risk-informed strategies; and of course, focus on inclusive and sustainable development.”
The Dialogue featured high-level participation from municipal leaders of Dushanbe, Petropavlovsk, Osh, Ashgabat, and Namangan, who presented experiences and aspirations for resilient urban futures of their cities. The discussions highlighted the diversity of approaches being taken across the region, from infrastructure upgrades and risk profiling to community engagement and inclusive planning.
Keiko Furuta, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Tajikistan, delivering welcome remarks.
Representing Japan, Keiko Furuta, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Tajikistan, reflected on how Japan’s experience with disasters has informed its strong commitment to supporting Central Asia in strengthening urban resilience: “Japan has been echoing the importance of regional cooperation of the five Central Asian countries, as highlighted in the Central Asia plus Japan dialogue launched in 2004. Japan is honored to stand with Central Asia, sharing innovation and cooperation to build resilient cities prepared for the future through this project, which contributes to strengthening regional resilience and empowering local authorities across the region.”
Takafumi Sekizawa, Director for International Cooperation at the Overseas Project Division of the Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), elaborated on Japan's expertise in disaster management: “Japan has long faced natural disasters and climate-induced challenges, including intense rainfall, flooding, and earthquakes. Through decades of experience, our urban planning and development have evolved to address climate change, with a strong emphasis on disaster risk reduction and mitigation. As part of the relationship between Central Asia and Japan, we will continue to contribute to enhancing urban resilience in the cities of Central Asia by sharing our experiences and expertise.”
Throughout the Dialogue, participants explored regional and international initiatives that support urban resilience, including Japan’s master plan approach and GIZ’s efforts to promote urban development in Central Asia. UNDP, in turn, presented an integrated urban resilience approach that has been applied in the pilot cities and supports the integration of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation principles into urban development planning. It was presented alongside other initiatives such as the MCR2030 campaign, the Mayors for Economic Growth (M4EG) programme, and the GAP Fund, offering Central Asian cities a range of resources to strengthen their resilience efforts.
High-level representatives from Dushanbe, Petropavlovsk, Osh, Ashgabat, and Namangan signing the Joint Declaration to launch the Regional Urban Resilience Coalition in Central Asia.
City-level sessions provided municipalities with a platform to share technical progress and lessons learned. Representatives from pilot cities presented updates on their risk assessments and planning processes, reflecting the diversity of approaches and contexts across the region. These exchanges underscored the value of peer learning and regional solidarity in addressing complex urban challenges.
“Today’s Dialogue presents a unique opportunity to unite, share experiences, and develop collaborative solutions that will help our cities withstand current threats and adapt to future challenges. We strongly believe that regional cooperation and international partnerships are essential for building a sustainable development system,” stated Mr. Abdurahmon Abdurahmonzoda, Deputy Head of Dushanbe's Executive Body, Tajikistan.
“Our city seeks active participation in regional experience-sharing and joint sustainable development initiatives. In his Address, President Tokayev has emphasized the adoption of artificial intelligence for economic modernization. We are especially interested in Japanese and regional approaches to enhance urban sustainability,” shared Mr. Marlen Sandybekov, Deputy Akim of Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan.
“We value the regional UNDP project to enhance urban resilience to disaster risk and climate change in Central Asia, which is piloting a new risk assessment and creating a risk profile for Osh. This forms the basis for integrating climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction into Osh’s long-term plans. The Dushanbe dialogue fosters regional collaboration and knowledge sharing,” said Mr. Mirlan Israilov, Head of the Department of External Relations, Investment and Tourism of Osh City Mayor’s Office, Kyrgyz Republic.
“The Regional Urban Resilience Dialogue marks an important step in enhancing cooperation among Central Asian cities. Together, we can transform the challenges of climate change and risk reduction into opportunities for the sustainable development of our communities,” said Mr. Yazgeldi Bekmyradov, Deputy Khyakim of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
“We are pleased that Namangan, along with Osh, Dushanbe, Ashgabat, and Petropavlovsk, is joining the Coalition of Urban Resilient Cities of Central Asia. We fully support this initiative,” reflected Mr. Shukhrat Maksumov, Head of Namangan Region Ecology Department, Uzbekistan.
The second day of the Dialogue focused on technical discussions among UNDP Country Offices, national experts, and city representatives. Participants reviewed interim findings from field visits, discussed entry points for integrating resilience into urban planning, and explored the potential of AI to support data-driven decision-making.
The Regional Urban Resilience Dialogue contributes to the implementation of the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030), the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Strategy for the Development of Cooperation of Central Asian Countries in Disaster Risk Reduction for 2022–2030. It also reaffirms the commitment of Central Asian Member States and their development partners to building resilient urban futures.
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