Representatives of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the City of Osh, the Government of Japan, the Centre for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), technical institutions, academia, civil society and development partners gathered in Osh on 10 July to launch a new regional initiative aimed at strengthening disaster risk reduction and urban resilience across Central Asia, according to UNDP Kyrgyzstan.
The technical national consultation marked the start of the regional project in Osh and provided a platform to align priorities, strengthen partnerships, and identify practical actions that will help cities better anticipate, prepare for and respond to disasters.
Central Asia is among the world’s most disaster-prone regions, facing frequent earthquakes, floods, mudflows, landslides, and increasing climate-related hazards. Rapid urbanization is further increasing exposure to disaster risks, making resilient urban planning and risk-informed investments more important than ever.
As one of Kyrgyzstan’s largest cities, Osh has an important role to play in demonstrating how local governments can integrate disaster risk reduction into development planning while serving as a model for municipalities across the region.
The regional project, funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Centre for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction, supports practical measures to strengthen resilience, including improving earthquake preparedness, enhancing earthquake alert systems, strengthening institutional and technical capacities, supporting risk-informed planning, promoting innovative pilot solutions and fostering regional cooperation and knowledge exchange. The project also promotes an inclusive and gender-responsive approach to disaster risk reduction.
“Through this project, we aim to support practical and forward-looking solutions that strengthen resilience at multiple levels. This includes enhancing earthquake preparedness, improving earthquake alert systems, strengthening institutional capacities, and piloting innovative approaches that can be scaled up across the region,” said Patrick Haverman, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic. “At its core, this initiative is about delivering tangible results. It is about strengthening institutions, improving preparedness, advancing innovation, and ensuring that resilience becomes an integral part of development planning and decision-making. It is equally about placing local knowledge, local priorities, and local leadership at the centre of our collective efforts.”
The Government of Japan reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to supporting disaster resilience in Central Asia and sharing its extensive expertise in disaster risk reduction. “Japan is pleased to support this new regional UNDP project aimed at strengthening disaster risk reduction systems across Central Asia. The initiative will enhance regional coordination, strengthen earthquake alert systems, reinforce the institutions responsible for disaster risk management, and promote knowledge exchange among the five Central Asian countries through the Centre for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction,” said Ryuichi Hirano, Ambassador of Japan to the Kyrgyz Republic. “Building on our successful cooperation with the City of Osh, this project will further strengthen the city’s earthquake preparedness and help ensure that its future development is safer, more resilient and better prepared for future disasters. We also hope that the experience and good practices developed in Osh will be shared across Central Asia, strengthening regional cooperation and inspiring other cities.”
