Funding - The Times Of Central Asia

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U.S. Offers $1,000 Incentive for Voluntary Self-Deportation

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has launched a new program offering financial and travel assistance to undocumented immigrants who voluntarily leave the United States. Announced on May 5, the initiative provides a $1,000 stipend and covers airfare for eligible individuals who arrange their departure through the CBP Home mobile app. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described the program as a "historic opportunity" that is safer, more orderly, and more cost-effective than traditional deportation methods. According to DHS estimates, the average cost of arresting, detaining, and deporting an individual is approximately $17,121. The self-deportation program is projected to reduce these costs by about 70%. Participants are required to submit an "Intent to Depart" via the CBP Home app, formerly known as CBP One. Upon confirmation of their return to their home country through the app, they will receive the stipend. DHS noted that individuals who engage with the program and demonstrate progress toward departure will be deprioritized for detention and removal. The first reported participant, a Honduran national, utilized the program to return from Chicago to Honduras. Additional departures are scheduled in the coming weeks. The Embassy of Kazakhstan in the United States has advised its citizens residing illegally in the U.S. to consider this program to avoid legal consequences and potentially preserve the option for future legal entry. This initiative aligns with President Donald Trump's broader immigration policy, which emphasizes strict enforcement and cost-efficiency. Since taking office in January, the administration has deported approximately 152,000 individuals. Critics argue that the program may mislead participants regarding the possibility of future legal re-entry, as no specific pathways have been outlined. Immigration advocates caution that individuals considering this option should consult legal counsel to understand the potential implications for their immigration status.

Environmental Initiative Environment World Bank Funding Natural Disasters RESILAND CA+ natural disaster prevention

Kyrgyzstan Launches $52 Million Environmental Initiative to Combat Natural Disasters

Kyrgyzstan has officially launched RESILAND CA+, a $52 million environmental initiative aimed at restoring degraded landscapes, reducing natural disaster risks, and strengthening regional cooperation in sustainable land management. Funded primarily by the World Bank, the project targets key ecological threats across several regions, including Osh, Jalal-Abad, Naryn, and Issyk-Kul, with a particular focus on the Kara-Darya River Basin, an area highly vulnerable to mudflows. According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations, RESILAND CA+ seeks to mitigate the impact of mudflows, restore forests and soils, and build climate resilience across borders. Kyrgyzstan has recorded more than 900 mudflows over the past 12 years, posing a constant threat to lives and livelihoods, particularly in mountainous and riverine communities. “This project opens a new chapter in combating land degradation and climate threats in Kyrgyzstan,” said Boobek Azhikeev, Minister of Emergency Situations. “We are not just restoring landscapes, we are protecting the future of our communities”. The RESILAND CA+ program is financed through a combination of grants and credits from international development partners: $45 million in credit from the International Development Association (IDA) $5 million grant from the PROGREEN global partnership $2.4 million grant from the Korea-World Bank Partnership Facility (KWPF) Tatiana Proskuryakova, the World Bank’s Regional Director for Central Asia, stressed the broader impact of the initiative: “RESILAND CA+ is not just about the environment, it’s an investment in people’s safety, in the economy, and in international partnerships. Restoring nature helps us prevent future disasters”. Set to run through 2029, the program is part of a larger Central Asian strategy to manage transboundary landscapes and natural resources collaboratively.

European Investment Bank (EIB) EU-Central Asia Summit Funding Memorandum

European Investment Bank Commits €365 Million to Environmental Projects in Central Asia

At the first EU-Central Asia Summit, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on April 4, European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris signed four memorandums of understanding with partners in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The agreements will direct €365 million in funding and are expected to unlock up to €1 billion in investment for sustainable transport, water management, and climate resilience initiatives across the region. The EIB is the long-term lending institution of the European Union. These agreements support the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which aims to boost private sector development, improve transport and logistics infrastructure, and strengthen water management and environmental sustainability throughout Central Asia. In Kyrgyzstan, the EIB will provide €50 million through the Kyrgyzstan State Development Bank to support infrastructure investments via the National Promotional Bank. Tajikistan will receive €100 million to develop sustainable transport infrastructure along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. In Uzbekistan, €175 million will be allocated to the Uzbekistan Water Implementation Center for water management and environmental sustainability projects, particularly under the Aral Sea Project, in collaboration with the French Development Agency (AFD). Additionally, Uzbekistan’s JSCB Microcredit bank will receive €40 million to bolster private sector development and to enable local financing for projects that contribute to sustainable transport and logistics connectivity. During the summit, Kakouris also signed a Host Country Agreement with Uzbekistan, establishing an EIB Regional Representation in the country to enhance the Bank’s presence in Central Asia. The EIB further announced the launch of negotiations for a framework agreement with Turkmenistan, signaling plans to begin operations there. “These agreements underscore the European Union and Central Asia’s shared commitment to deepening mutually beneficial cooperation,” said Kakouris. “As the EU’s bank, the EIB will continue playing a pivotal role in strengthening economic ties, promoting sustainability and private sector development, and enhancing infrastructure across the region. The memorandums of understanding pave the way for future financing in the transport and water sectors. Moreover, the Host Country Agreement with Uzbekistan and the launch of negotiations with Turkmenistan mark important milestones for the EU’s growing engagement in Central Asia.”

forest restoration Funding World Bank Environment

Uzbekistan Launches $153 Million Forest Restoration Project with World Bank Support

Uzbekistan, in collaboration with the World Bank, has launched a major initiative to restore forests and rehabilitate degraded lands across the country. The Uzbekistan Resilient Landscapes Restoration Project (RESILAND) was officially announced during the Samarkand Climate Forum on April 5. The World Bank will provide $153 million in funding, consisting of a combination of low-interest loans and grants. This initiative forms part of a broader regional strategy aimed at combating land degradation and enhancing climate resilience throughout Central Asia. RESILAND will initially target six provinces: Samarkand, Surkhandarya, Syrdarya, Jizzakh, Namangan, and Kashkadarya. Its objectives include forest restoration, improved land management, and the creation of new jobs through afforestation and nature-based business ventures. Uzbekistan’s Minister of Ecology, Aziz Abdukhakimov, emphasized that the project will play a critical role in helping the country achieve its goal of expanding forested areas to 6.1 million hectares by 2030. “The project will also support food systems, infrastructure, and nature tourism,” he said. Currently, only 10.6% of Uzbekistan’s territory is forested. In recent years, the government has intensified efforts to increase forest cover, particularly on the desiccated seabed of the Aral Sea. Tatiana Proskuryakova, World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia, welcomed the initiative, noting, “The World Bank values the opportunity to support the government of Uzbekistan in its efforts to restore degraded lands.” As part of the project, Uzbekistan plans to rehabilitate forests on 176,000 hectares, improve pasture conditions, combat soil erosion in mountainous regions, and develop agroforestry and industrial forest sectors. An additional 5,000 hectares will be allocated for the cultivation of medicinal plants. RESILAND will also provide support for small and medium-sized enterprises, offer training for local farmers, and promote eco-tourism in protected areas. The initiative includes plans to improve the infrastructure of the Forestry Agency and to launch Uzbekistan’s first National Forest Inventory. A new partnership between the Forestry Agency and the Green University near Tashkent will further use grant funding to advance forestry education and research. The project is part of the wider RESILAND CA+ program, which encompasses similar initiatives in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

USAGM RFE/RL Funding U.S. Mass Media Radio Free Europe

Future of Radio Free Europe Uncertain as U.S. Agency Weighs Support

The agreement between Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) may be renewed, following recent developments that could secure the broadcaster’s future. On March 26, USAGM officials indicated that the agency would continue disbursing funds allocated by Congress for fiscal year 2025. This follows a ruling by Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, who granted RFE/RL’s request for a temporary restraining order against the termination of its federal grant. At stake is $77 million in funding designated for RFE/RL, which operates under a grant to a nonprofit organization. The court order was issued to prevent the broadcaster’s potential shutdown, which Judge Lamberth described as unlawful under current terms. “This is an encouraging sign for the media corporation's operations,” said RFE/RL President Steven Capus. “RFE/RL's operations will be able to continue as Congress intended. We await official confirmation from USAGM that grant funding will be promptly resumed.” In parallel, ten European Union countries issued a joint statement backing a Czech-led initiative to support RFE/RL. The statement expressed readiness to cover the broadcaster’s operating costs should U.S. funding not be reinstated. Despite the apparent reprieve, USAGM abruptly cut off satellite broadcasts of Radio Liberty on April 3. The move affected Russian-language programming of the “Present Time” TV channel, which targets audiences in Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe. The Times of Central Asia spoke with Asem Tokayeva, a veteran journalist formerly based in RFE/RL’s Central Asia bureau. In the interview, Tokayeva shed light on internal challenges within the organization and the broader implications for freedom of the press in the region.

Kazakhstan Sport Foreign Athletes Funding

Kazakhstan Senate Approves Ban on Budget Funding for Foreign Athletes

The Senate, Kazakhstan’s upper house of parliament, has passed amendments to the Law on Physical Culture and Sports that ban the use of state funds to finance foreign athletes, commonly known as "legionnaires." The bill is now awaiting President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s signature to become law. Ending State Support and Introducing Salary Caps Kazakhstan’s efforts to reduce foreign dominance in national sports date back to 2020. Initial measures included capping the number of foreign players allowed on the field in football and hockey, as well as restricting their funding through state budgets. However, according to Vice-Minister of Tourism and Sports Serik Zharasbayev, these regulations, embedded in competition rules and government resolutions, have not been consistently enforced at the regional level. The new legislation aims to enshrine these restrictions in law. “Regarding the financing of legionnaires: the bill prescribes a prohibition on funding these individuals from the state budget and quasi-governmental sector. However, funding from extra-budgetary sources, such as sponsorships, remains permissible,” Zharasbayev explained. The law will also empower the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to set financial limits for clubs in football, hockey, and other team sports. “This legislation will allow us to define how much each club is eligible to receive from the budget and to cap salaries of football and hockey players accordingly,” the Vice-Minister said. He added that the savings would be redirected to support grassroots youth sports, although he could not specify the projected amount. Budget Caps for Sports Clubs While specific funding limits have yet to be determined, Zharasbayev noted that the combined annual allocation from national and regional budgets is about 400 billion KZT (approximately $797 million). Currently, football and hockey clubs may receive up to 1.2 billion KZT (around $2.4 million) annually, while other sports, such as basketball and volleyball, are capped at 450 million KZT ($897,000). “For the 14 clubs in the Kazakhstan Premier League, a cumulative 30 billion KZT was allocated in 2024. It’s within this sum that we aim to identify potential savings,” Zharasbayev said. He reported that 325 foreign players competed in Kazakhstan’s three professional football divisions last year. Some have since obtained Kazakhstani citizenship, making them eligible for state funding. The new law, however, will apply only to future contracts. “Existing contracts will remain in effect until their expiration, as the law is not retroactive. Still, we have advised clubs not to sign new contracts with foreign players starting in 2025,” Zharasbayev stated. He also emphasized the need to regulate domestic athletes’ salaries, citing “unreasonably high payments” as a growing concern. A separate legal act is in development to address the issue. Scandals Within the Football Federation The legislation comes amid ongoing investigations into financial misconduct under the previous leadership of the Kazakhstan Football Federation. The Prosecutor General’s Office reported violations amounting to 3 billion KZT (nearly $6 million), including unjustified bonuses, misused funds for infrastructure, questionable player transactions, and embezzlement related to athlete meals. Specifically, over 300 million KZT ($597,000) in unwarranted bonuses were issued, and more than...