UNDP Launches Project in Ashgabat to Boost Urban Climate Resilience

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ashgabat city government and Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Construction and Architecture, has launched a new regional project aimed at strengthening urban resilience to climate change and disaster risks in Central Asia, according to UNDP.

An inception workshop for the project, funded by the Government of Japan, was held July 10–11 at the UN Building in Ashgabat. The event brought together municipal officials, national ministries, academics, design institutes and development partners to discuss ways to integrate climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction into urban planning. 

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Tomica Paovic said Central Asia faces growing threats from natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods and droughts, which pose serious risks to cities’ infrastructure and economic growth. He noted that Turkmenistan’s urban areas are especially vulnerable to earthquakes, flooding and desertification.

During the two-day workshop, participants reviewed a proposed roadmap for Ashgabat’s urban resilience and agreed to form a technical working group to guide its implementation. The regional project will run through 2027 and aims to help five Central Asian countries build more climate-smart and disaster-resilient cities.