Tajikistan to Gain Access to Emergency Financing Under New World Bank Project

The World Bank Group has approved a Contingent Emergency Response Project (CERP) for Tajikistan, providing the country with a financial instrument designed to enable the rapid reallocation of resources in the event of crises and emergencies. According to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Finance, the mechanism allows up to 10% of undisbursed funds from the World Bank’s current investment portfolio to be redirected annually to emergency needs. This gives the government additional flexibility in managing already allocated resources. The mechanism can be activated following an official declaration of a state of emergency. However, preparations for its use are carried out in advance. Experts note that CERP eliminates the need to seek new funding sources by enabling the rapid redeployment of existing funds. These resources can be used to procure food, water, and medical supplies, provide emergency services with necessary protective equipment, and support the agricultural sector. Assistance to households affected by crises is also provided. The mechanism forms part of the broader Rapid Response Option (RRO) framework, which allows governments to swiftly reallocate funds from ongoing projects to respond to emergencies. Tajikistan has already formally adopted this instrument. The Ministry of Finance also noted that CERP will operate in conjunction with the existing Tajikistan Preparedness and Resilience to Disasters Project. According to officials, the combined use of these instruments is expected to strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to potential risks.

Mosques in Uzbekistan Begin Broadcasting Emergency Alerts in New Warning System

Uzbekistan has introduced a new system for warning citizens about emergencies using mosque loudspeakers, significantly expanding the reach of early warning messages across the country. The initiative was reported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Emergency Situations. According to a UNDP report, the project provides a technical solution aimed at strengthening Uzbekistan’s multi-hazard early warning system. As part of the pilot phase, special alert broadcasting devices have been installed in 272 mosques across seven regions: Fergana, Jizzakh, Kashkadarya, Namangan, Samarkand, Syrdarya and Tashkent. These devices enable authorities to transmit emergency messages through mosque loudspeakers. UNDP noted that mosques were selected because of their established role in local communities, and their wide geographic distribution. Most are equipped with powerful external loudspeakers capable of covering distances of between 500 and 2,000 meters. Since announcements are broadcast outdoors, residents within range can receive alerts regardless of whether they are inside the mosque. Project estimates cited by UNDP suggest that the system could reach around 6.5 million people, including vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. Another advantage highlighted in the report is its potential reliability during disruptions to mobile networks or electricity supply, when conventional communication channels may be unavailable. UNDP also stated that the initiative forms part of broader efforts to modernise Uzbekistan’s early warning capabilities in response to growing climate-related risks. Alongside mosque-based alerts, 28 large outdoor screens have been installed along major highways in densely populated areas to provide emergency information. The wider project, funded by the Green Climate Fund and implemented jointly by UNDP, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and Uzhydromet, focuses on improving preparedness for hazards such as floods, landslides, avalanches, mudflows and drought, particularly in Uzbekistan’s eastern mountainous regions.