UNDP, Dushanbe Officials Discuss Urban Resilience and Cooperation

Dushanbe’s new development programme, digitalisation, and voluntary local reporting were at the centre of the talks.

August 20, 2025

Two men shake hands in an official setting, with flags in the background. — Sudipto Mukerjee, UNDP Tajikistan Resident Representative, handshakes with Abdurahmon Abdurahmonzoda, Deputy Mayor of Dushanbe.

UNDP Tajikistan/ Nigora Fazliddin

UNDP and the Dushanbe City Executive Body have opened talks on strengthening cooperation in urban planning, construction, and digital governance.

UNDP Resident Representative Sudipto Mukerjee met with Abdurahmon Abdurahmonzoda, Deputy Mayor of the city executive body, in what was their first official discussion.

Parties discussed the new project, Enhancing Urban Resilience to Disaster Risk and Climate Change in Central Asia, funded by Japan, and explored ways to collaborate effectively in its implementation in Dushanbe. The programme will run from 2024 to 2027 across five Central Asian capitals and aims to strengthen resilience against climate change, disaster risks, and other urban challenges.

Three men in suits sit at a table with flags, bottles of water, and floral decorations. — Abdurahmon Abdurahmonzoda, Deputy Mayor of Dushanbe (in the middle).

UNDP Tajikistan/ Nigora Fazliddin

Abdurahmonzoda underlined the need to accelerate the preparation of Dushanbe’s new development programme for 2026–2030, noting the importance of integrating resilience and sustainability. The talks also touched on voluntary local and national reviews as the good examples of the collaboration between UNDP and the Mayor’s office over the last two years, reporting on the progress in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

As part of the city’s Voluntary Local Review and its commitment to a greener city, the Deputy Mayor highlighted Dushanbe’s transport modernisation drive, noting that by the end of 2025, all taxis will switch to green vehicles, while the fleet of electric buses will expand from 60 to 90 within a year. Mr. Mukerjee also mentioned an opportunity for a potential engagement with the Mayor’s office and UN ESCAP on the issues of the safe city roads.

The discussion also focused on digital governance, with both sides exploring ways to strengthen e-governance platforms, improve public service delivery, and enhance transparency and citizen engagement through technology.

Four individuals engaged in a meeting, seated at a conference table. — Sudipto Mukerjee during the meeting.

UNDP Tajikistan/ Nigora Fazliddin

Abdurahmonzoda invited UNDP to upcoming international events in the capital – a tourism forum in September and the Dushanbe International Investment Forum in October – and reiterated the city’s readiness to work with UNDP “in all spheres of development.”

UNDP, for its part, confirmed its commitment to supporting the city authorities in advancing sustainable urban development, promoting greener urban solutions, strengthening e-governance, and enhancing Dushanbe’s resilience and long-term growth.

Media inquiries: Nigora Fazliddin, Communications Analyst, UNDP Tajikistan – nigorai.fazliddin@undp.org