In 2024, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding from the Government of Japan, launched the $4.9 million regional project “Enhancing Urban Resilience to Disaster Risk and Climate Change in Central Asia.” The initiative supports Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in strengthening the resilience of cities to climate change and disaster risks.

The project aims to promote sustainable and resilient urban development by enhancing national and local capacities, strengthening institutional frameworks, and advancing risk-informed urban planning. It focuses on improving how cities assess, anticipate, and manage climate and disaster risks, while integrating these considerations into development strategies and policies.

A key objective is to foster regional cooperation through the exchange of knowledge, experience, and best practices across Central Asia. The project also introduces innovative approaches to urban resilience, drawing on international expertise, including lessons learned from Japan, to support more effective and forward-looking planning.

In Turkmenistan, the project supports efforts to strengthen the resilience of Ashgabat by promoting integrated approaches to climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction. It brings together stakeholders from across sectors to enhance coordination, build technical capacities, and support evidence-based decision-making in urban development.

Overall, the initiative seeks to build long-term resilience by equipping cities and institutions with the tools, knowledge, and partnerships needed to respond to current and future challenges, while contributing to sustainable urban growth across the region.