Page 941 – The Times Of Central Asia

01 Dec 2023

Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Features, Kyrgyzstan Home

World Bank Announces New Country Partnership Framework for Kyrgyzstan

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

In a press release on its website, on October 31^st the World Bank announced a new five-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for the Kyrgyz Republic that defines the strategic focus of the World Bank’s engagement with the country around job creation, natural resource management, and improving human capital outcomes. The CPF lays out a selective and flexible program for World Bank assistance.

“The World Bank has been a trusted partner of the Kyrgyz Republic for the last 30 years”, said Kyrgyz Republic’s Minister of Finance, Almaz Baketaev. “The new Country Partnership Framework responds to the Kyrgyz Republic’s National Development Strategy to 2040 and the National Development Program for 2022-2026. The new partnership strategy will reinforce the efforts of the Cabinet of Ministers to modernize the economy, promote inclusive growth, and build a more prosperous future for all”.

“The World Bank is proud to support the Kyrgyz Republic’s ambitious and well-articulated reform agenda”, said Tatiana Proskuryakova, the World Bank’s Regional Director for Central Asia. “Under our new Country Partnership Framework, we will support the country’s economic transformation with policy advice, technical assistance, and planned project financing of around $500 million. New investments will focus on the key priority sectors of energy, water, and agriculture to create a better and more sustainable future for the citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic”.

The new CPF is centered around three core pillars aimed at delivering tangible development outcomes: increasing private sector-led job creation; improving access to sustainably managed natural resources, and enhancing human capital and economic empowerment of vulnerable population groups. The CPF also includes a strong focus on key global challenges including strengthening climate resilience and reducing emissions; closing the gender gap; supporting jobs and economic transformation; strengthening institutions; and reducing fragility risk.

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors also approved $5 million for the technical assistance of Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant Project. This assistance aims to support the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic in updating the Feasibility Study of the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant (HPP) Project, enhancing its environmental and social sustainability, and strengthening its financial and commercial frameworks.

Kambarata-1 HPP is expected to be among the most cost-effective projects for expanding clean energy resources across the Kyrgyz Republic and Central Asia. It has the potential to address the country’s energy security challenges, generating significant revenues from energy exports whilst also improving downstream HPP operations and water management.

“The Kambarata-1 HPP is a critically important project that has the potential to bring huge benefits in clean energy generation, regional cooperation, water security, and environmental safeguards across Central Asia”, said World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia, Tatiana Proskuryakova. “The World Bank’s technical assistance will help the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic use the country’s abundant hydropower potential for the benefit of the people and region, while strengthening the governance and financial sustainability of the energy sector”.

“Kambarata-1 is a transformative greenfield regional hydropower project that will power the clean energy future of the Kyrgyz Republic and Central Asia”, added World Bank Country Manager for the Kyrgyz Republic, Naveed Hassan Naqvi. “This technical assistance will help to develop the project in a sustainable and profitable way, thereby enabling the mobilization of the necessary financing surrounding it”.

01 Dec 2023

Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Justice

Uzbek Citizen Imprisoned for Enlisting with Russian Forces in Ukraine

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

According to RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service, the first Uzbek national has been sentenced to prison for joining Russian forces in the conflict in Ukraine’s Donetsk region between 2014 and 2015.

Relatives of Ildar Khairulin informed RFE/RL on October 30th that the 38-year-old received a five-year prison sentence last week after a court found him guilty of serving as a mercenary. Khairulin’s family refuted any claims of his presence in Ukraine, asserting that all accusations against him were based on erroneous information provided by the Kyiv-based NGO, Myrotvorets (Peacemaker). The NGO aims to inform local law enforcement about alleged crimes committed against Ukraine by foreign citizens.

01 Dec 2023

Kyrgyzstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan

WFP and Switzerland to Strengthen Rural Communities’ Resilience to Extreme Weather

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

As outlined in a release on its website, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in the Kyrgyz Republic, with financial support from the Government of Switzerland, is launching the Weather Index-Based Insurance Pilot Project, an initiative aiming to strengthen the resilience of rural communities to extreme weather-related risks and shocks.

The project, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and other line ministries, will integrate climate and disaster risk financing into national social protection systems.

Developed in collaboration with international experts and piloted in three districts of the mountainous Naryn province – Jumgal, Ak-Talaa and Naryn – the insurance project aims to assist local governments in protecting livestock farmers from extreme weather events, such as low fodder availability in pastures and the high price of fodder during extreme winters and drought. Based on the pilot results, it will be expanded to other priority regions.

“The Kyrgyz Republic, with its beautiful landscapes and natural wonders, is unfortunately no stranger to the impacts of extreme climate and the accompanying risks. The vulnerability of this region calls for immediate action, and it is inspiring to see the proactive measures being taken to mitigate risks associated with the changing climate and enhance the resilience of local communities,” says Kojiro Nakai, WFP Kyrgyz Republic Representative and Country Director. “The Government of Switzerland’s funding this vital project demonstrates our joint commitment towards creating a sustainable and resilient future for the country.”

Under the 2023 pilot, the project will be rolled out during the extreme summer period. The pilot will insure local governments against drought for a maximum sum of around US$ 1.2 million, with an estimated premium amounting to US$ 200,000. The insurance coverage is expected to benefit 4,500 smallholders from vulnerable communities.

This initiative marks a significant step forward in building climate resilience within the Kyrgyz Republic. By leveraging international expertise and collaboration, WFP and its partners are actively engaged towards reducing vulnerability and exposure to shocks, by strengthening the adaptive capacities of rural communities.

01 Dec 2023

Central Asia, Environment, Turkmenistan Life & Culture, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Life & Culture, Turkmenistan Environment

Central Asia Particularly Vulnerable to Climate Risks, Primarily Due to Water Scarcity, Says EDB

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

By 2050, the available resources in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya basins – the region’s two largest sources of water – situated in southern Kazakhstan and along Uzbekistan’s southern border with Turkmenistan – could decrease by 10% to 15%. Water shortages inevitably impact the region’s agricultural sector, which relies on water as a critical factor in food production, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has stated in a news release.

The reduction in wheat yields in seven oblasts of Kazakhstan could result in direct economic losses exceeding U$1.2 billion by 2030. These concerns were highlighted by Conrad Albrecht, Managing Director and Head of the Directorate of Sustainability at the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) during the recent Seventh North and Central Asia Multistakeholder Forum on the Implementation of the SDGs in Almaty.

“Kazakhstan, being the only Eurasian nation to have implemented a carbon pricing system, faces the additional challenge of a potential carbon tax amounting to U$250 million. Most economies in the region rely heavily on carbon-intensive industries, necessitating a transition towards more sustainable production methods”, Albrecht said. He also pointed out that the region’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions significantly exceed its contribution to the global economy in terms of both GDP and population. However, countries such as Armenia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have a share of global CO2 emissions lower than their share of the world’s population, indicating that the region’s economies are critically carbon intensive.

“All countries in the Eurasian region are taking climate change extremely seriously, acknowledge their direct contribution to the global agenda and are ready to make ambitious commitments to decarbonization”, Albrecht stressed. “Nevertheless, Central Asian countries still require substantial support from multilateral development banks, and while climate finance to the region is increasing, it remains significantly smaller compared to other low- and middle-income countries”.

01 Dec 2023

Kyrgyzstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Home

Blogger and Activists Placed in Pretrial Detention Following Protest over Drinking Water

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

As reported by RFE/RL on July 18^th, the Sokuluk district court in northern Kyrgyzstan has ordered the detention of prominent blogger Ertai Iskakov along with activists Bakyt Balbaev and Baktybek Bekbolotov until September 15. Their detention relates to a recent demonstration held by two villages urging the restoration of drinking water supplies.

The charges against the men include hooliganism and the unlawful obstruction of a highway. Lawyers representing the men informed said that their clients pleaded not guilty.

Iskakov, a well-known blogger recognized for addressing social issues in his content.

Several villages in close proximity to Bishkek, the capital, have encountered prolonged shortages in drinking water supplies.

01 Dec 2023

Promoting Sustainable Development in Central Asia: Key Highlights from the Eurasian Development Bank’s Roundtable

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

According to a press release issued by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), on November 16th, 2023, Almaty, Kazakhstan, served as the venue for a critical roundtable hosted by the EDB, titled “Promoting Sustainable Development in Central Asia”. This gathering saw the participation of representatives from a wide range of international organizations and multilateral development banks. Attendees included the likes of the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, FAO, UNIDO, UNEP, ESCAP, UNDP, the World Health Organisation, the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, and CICA. The agenda was packed with discussions revolving around irrigation, water challenges, environmental and social standards of international financial institutions, and case studies that showcased collaborations in project implementation12.

The EDB’s latest report, “Efficient Irrigation and Water Conservation in Central Asia”, was introduced during the roundtable’s first session. Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board, underscored the essential interrelationship between water, food, and energy in Central Asia. He declared the development of the region’s water and energy resources as a strategic priority for the EDB. He also expressed concerns over an impending water deficit in Central Asia within the next five years, urging for collective action supported by multilateral development banks3.

Tatiana Proskuryakova, the Regional Director for Central Asia at the World Bank, also spoke at the event. She emphasized the importance of sustainable development in Central Asia to international organizations and multilateral financial institutions. She revealed that the World Bank has allocated approximately a quarter of its $12 billion investment portfolio in Central Asia to water, energy, and environmental sectors. This proportion is expected to rise to almost half in the near future4.

Following this, Evgeny Vinokurov, EDB Chief Economist, presented the study “Efficient Irrigation and Water Conservation in Central Asia”. He proposed a ten-step solution to address the prevalent issues. The steps include establishing an International Water and Energy Consortium; fostering collaboration among multilateral banks; creating a regional cluster to produce irrigation equipment; consolidating efforts to strengthen cooperation with Afghanistan; using PPP instruments; instituting proper water accounting; gradually integrating investment charges into the tariff structure; improving land conditions; implementing digital technology, and leveraging state-of-the-art irrigation technology and laser levelling.