Thu Sep 12 04:51:46 UTC 2024: ## Japan and UNDP Launch $4.9 Million Project to Boost Central Asia’s Urban Resilience to Climate Change
**Astana, Kazakhstan – September 11, 2024** – The Government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have joined forces to launch a new $4.9 million project aimed at strengthening urban resilience to climate change in Central Asia. The project, officially titled “Enhancing Urban Resilience to Disaster Risk and Climate Change in Central Asia,” was signed in a ceremony held in Astana.
The initiative will encompass five Central Asian nations – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It aims to enhance urban resilience by leveraging regional collaboration mechanisms and national transformation strategies, ultimately fostering sustainable and resilient futures across the region.
Central Asia is recognized as one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to climate change, facing significant impacts from rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation. These challenges, combined with rapid urbanization, pose a substantial threat to urban populations.
“Central Asia’s vulnerability to climate change requires immediate action,” stated Katarzyna Wawiernia, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan. “This initiative will utilize collaborative mechanisms and transformational strategies to tackle escalating natural hazards and strengthen urban resilience throughout the region.”
The project will draw upon successful practices from Japan and introduce innovative urban planning approaches, incorporating new methods for climate and disaster risk assessment. It will also focus on bolstering regional cooperation through established platforms and strengthening the institutionalization of knowledge and capacity building efforts to ensure the sustainability of the interventions beyond the project’s lifecycle.
“Building resilient cities is essential for the future of Central Asia,” said Steliana Nedera, Manager, UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub. “This project will leverage a holistic urban resilience approach to integrate climate and disaster risk reduction into urban planning and development, ensuring that our cities are better prepared for future challenges.”
This project will be implemented as a part of regional cooperation efforts under the framework of the Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue. The UNDP is dedicated to advancing urban resilience in Central Asia, aiming to create cities that can thrive despite the challenges of climate change. This initiative is committed to a people-centered, gender-sensitive, and climate risk-informed approach, striving to break down silos in urban planning and build resilient urban communities better prepared for the impacts of climate change.
First Piper 