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Project To Support Women and Youth Launched in Turkmenistan

A new project developed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in cooperation with the British Embassy has been launched in Turkmenistan to support the country's economic diversification and empowerment of women and youth. The project aims to stimulate sustainable economic growth and increase Turkmenistan's global competitiveness by developing a creative and innovative economy. Narine Sahakyan, UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan, emphasized the importance of unlocking the creative sector's potential to achieve economic prosperity. She said stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation will open new economic diversification and growth opportunities. British Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Stephen Conlon also spoke about the importance of the creative economy, noting the UK's experience in this area. Conlon stated that the creative sector contributes to economic growth, strengthens national identity, and supports local communities, especially in rural areas. Within the project framework, the UNDP plans to launch recommendations for the development of the creative economy and support for entrepreneurship and innovation. One of the key events will be a forum on the creative economy, which will bring together representatives of the government, international organizations, and businesses. The forum will be a platform within which to share experiences and discuss legislative measures to support the creative sector. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is actively cooperating with Turkmenistan on various projects aimed at sustainable development. One of the key projects deals with managing the consequences of the Aral Sea crisis. Together with the Government of Turkmenistan, the UNDP is implementing a project aimed at preserving ecosystems in the Aral Sea basin, improving the use of land and water resources, and increasing the sustainability of local communities. Another important project is Digital Transformation, which aims to help Turkmenistan implement advanced inter-agency data exchange systems to improve the efficiency of public services.

Nature Reserve Nature UNDP Balkhash WWF Turan Tiger

Restoring Roars: The Historic Return of Amur Tigers to Kazakhstan’s Wilderness

This past weekend, two Amur tigers were brought to the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve in southern Kazakhstan from the Landgoed Hoenderdaell Zoo in the Netherlands. The tigers, one male and one female, will live in a specially-built enclosure in the reserve for breeding and the release of their offspring into the wild. Their offspring are expected to become the first wild tigers to reappear on Kazakhstan's territory in more than 70 years. In 2025, another three or four tigers are planned to arrive in Kazakhstan from Russia. In 2010, Kazakhstan's government announced plans to reintroduce Amur tigers to the country. Seven years later, a tiger reintroduction program was developed, and the southern shore of Lake Balkhash in the delta of the Ili River was chosen as the most suitable place to restore the population in Kazakhstan. The program is being implemented by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources in Kazakhstan, with the support of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). According to the ministry, the Ile-Balkhash Reserve can accommodate a population of up to 100 tigers. The tigers that were once indigenous to Kazakhstan were known as Turan tigers. The Turan tiger was an extinct population once found in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and northern Iran. Biologists suggest that Turan tigers and Amur tigers, native to Russia's Far East, are not distinct subspecies but belong to the same group of big cats. The Ile-Balkhash Reserve was created to restore the ecosystem of the southern Balkhash region, and work is underway to restore the tiger's natural food base. Ile-Balkhash is a critical natural area of the Ile River Delta with the adjacent shore of Lake Balkhash. It is the only preserved river delta in Central Asia, while the others (the deltas of the Syr Darya, Amu Darya, and Chu Rivers) have degraded due to desertification. Improving the tiger's natural food supply and the reserve's remoteness will help avoid conflict between the tiger and humans in the area. Historically, the Turan tigers' habitats in Kazakhstan were reed beds and floodplain forests along the banks of the Ili and Syr Darya rivers. Based on historical records of tiger hunts and the frequency of human encounters with them, the population density of the Turan tiger was considerably higher than that of the Amur tiger, and more comparable to the density of tigers in India. In what is now Kazakhstan, the extermination of tigers, including through military shootings, began in 1891. The destruction of their habitat and primary food sources — such as Tugai red deer, goitered gazelles, saigas, kulans, roe deer, and wild boars — ultimately led to their extinction by 1948. This is not the first project to reintroduce endangered species to Kazakhstan. In June 2024, eight Przewalski’s horses were reintroduced to the Altyn Dala Nature Reserve in the Kostanay region of Kazakhstan. The horses were transported from Prague Zoo. The Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources have said that 40 wild horses will be...

health security International Relations WHO DHS UNDP Healthcare

WHO and UNDP to Upgrade Kazakhstan’s Virological Labs

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Healthcare, the World Health Organization (WHO) Office in Kazakhstan, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have announced a strategic partnership to upgrade the country's critical health infrastructure, supported by a three-year grant from the Pandemic Fund. As reported by UNDP in Kazakhstan, the collaboration will better prepare Kazakhstan for potential pandemics by enhancing its management of response to infectious diseases. Key components of the initiative include renovating and modernizing Almaty's virological laboratory and the construction of another in Turkestan. Both facilities will incorporate SMART (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology) as well as “green” technologies to ensure sustainability and environmental responsibility. The project also includes the renovation of the National Scientific Center of Especially Dangerous Infections in Almaty to improve the infrastructure, functionality, and safety standards of its virological and bacteriological laboratories, and the modernization of sanitary and quarantine checkpoints across Kazakhstan. Russia earlier reported on the alleged existence of US laboratories developing biological weapons in Kazakhstan. Issued by the Kremlin-controlled media in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the report's claims have been staunchly denied by Zauresh Zhumadilova, Director General of the National Scientific Center of Especially Dangerous Infections under the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan. According to Zhumadilova, all laboratories in Kazakhstan belong to the government and are controlled by the country’s Ministry of Health. In June, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Kanat Iskakov, also commented on rumors concerning the alleged existence of foreign biological laboratories in Kazakhstan and reiterated, “The [Kazakh] Ministry of Foreign Affairs and authorized bodies have several times stated that there are no biological laboratories run by the USA or any other country, in Kazakhstan." He added that the research center in Almaty, fully funded by the state, is run by local specialists. Reuters has reported that artificial intelligence (AI) was behind the fake news, originated in China, about the existence of U.S. laboratories allegedly developing biological weapons in Kazakhstan. Referencing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 2024 Homeland Threat Assessment, the agency stated that a Chinese government-controlled news site using a generative AI platform, had promoted a previously circulated false claim that the United States was running a lab in Kazakhstan to create biological weapons for use against China. According to DHS, China and other adversaries are developing AI technologies that could undermine U.S. cyber defenses, including generative AI programs that support malware attacks. In response, Reuters reports that the Biden administration is poised to launch a new front to safeguard the U.S. from AI technologies developed by China and Russia, and comments on the potential employment of AI by U.S. adversaries to wage aggressive cyberattacks or even create potent biological weapons.

UNICEF Climate Change Adaptation Strategy FAO Aral Sea Karakalpakstan UNDP UN Healthcare

UN Launches Projects to Improve Health and Environment in the Aral Sea Region

The UN has launched two new projects to address environmental and health issues in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan. These projects are “Enhancing Climate-Resilient and Safe Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Health Services for the Most Affected Communities in Four Districts of Karakalpakstan,” and the joint project between its development programme (UNDP) and its food and agriculture organization (FAO), "Building Knowledge and Skills of Local Partners and Communities to Address Environmental Insecurities through Innovative Air, Land, and Water Management Solutions in the Aral Sea Region.” “The launch of these projects marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to address the Aral Sea Region's profound environmental and health challenges," said Sabine Machl, the UN's Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan. "By fostering resilience through innovative solutions in water management, health services, and community empowerment, we are laying the groundwork for a sustainable future in Karakalpakstan.” The project between the UNDP and FAO aims to increase the knowledge and skills needed by local partners and communities to solve environmental security problems. It also aims to develop practical solutions for managing air, land and water, enabling communities to adapt to and mitigate climate change. In addition, within the project's framework, special attention will be paid to introducing new approaches to water treatment, forest restoration, and soil stabilization in the region. These activities have the potential to directly benefit over 376,000 residents of the three northern districts of Moynaq, Kungrad, and Takhtakupir in Karakalpakstan, particularly women in at-risk communities. The indirect impact will extend to 200,000 more people and build on the results of the previous projects. On 16 August, the UN programme “Laying the Foundations for People-Centered, Climate-Resilient Primary Health Care and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Practices at Healthcare Facilities and Schools” was officially completed. During his visit to Karakalpakstan on August 19, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the establishment of the Aral Sea Region International Innovation Center to improve the ecosystem and create new varieties and seeds in a saline, water-less environment. $80 million will be allocated to mitigate the consequences of climate change in the Aral Sea region. The Times of Central Asia has published several articles about the problems arising from the drying up the Aral Sea and the work being done to combat this.

Irrigation UNDP Economy Social Education Agriculture

Solar-Powered Irrigation System Launched Outside Tashkent

A new drip irrigation system that runs on solar power has been introduced in the Akkurgan district outside Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent. The irrigation system is being funded by the European Union, and is part of a project between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Uzbek Ministry of Agriculture. Increasing water scarcity is a serious challenge in rural Uzbekistan. Many families rely on their backyard gardens to grow vegetables, and better irrigation will help rural communities to become more economically sustainable. The system includes a water pump that extracts water from a vertical well at a depth of 180 meters, supported by solar panels. The system irrigates 0.8 hectares of land, benefiting 10 households and saving nearly 60% of water compared to traditional irrigation methods. The excess electricity generated by the solar panels is sold to the State Electricity System, and the revenue is used to manage and operate the irrigation well and the drip irrigation network. Mr. Wim Riepma, Head of Cooperation of the European Union's Delegation to Uzbekistan, commented: "This solar-powered drip irrigation system not only addresses water scarcity but also paves the way for more sustainable agriculture in Uzbekistan. Most importantly, it directly benefits local families by increasing their access to electricity and water for irrigation, thus enhancing food security and incomes."

Education Security Strategy Social UNDP Sustainable Development

Over 200 UNDP Projects Implemented in Kazakhstan

During a meeting between Kazakhstan's Vice Prime Minister, Nurlan Baibazarov and Katarzhina Vaviernia, permanent representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Kazakhstan, discussions focused on UNDP projects aimed to promote the economic development of UN member states. To date, over 200 projects worth over $200 million have been implemented in the country with support from the government of Kazakhstan, public organizations, the business sector, UN agencies, and other partners. Broad ranging, the initiatives include the development of small and medium businesses, green energy, agriculture, and ecotourism. Nurlan Baibazarov noted that Kazakhstan is ready to present the third Voluntary National Review on implementing the Sustainable Development Goals at the High-Level Political Forum in New York in 2025 and stated: "Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is a national priority for Kazakhstan. We pay great attention to discussing the implementation of the goals at different platforms to find optimal solutions for our state's sustainable development. The voluntary review will objectively reflect the country's main achievements, challenges, and emerging problems." In addition, it was noted that Kazakhstan is interested in strengthening cooperation with UNDP, and in particular, the successful implementation of the UNDP Country Program for 2021-2025.