Navoi Scaling Solar Independent Power Producer Project

2021 - 2023

The proposed project will be the country’s first competitively selected private investment in power generation, first grid-scale renewable energy project, and first World Bank guarantee operation in Uzbekistan, with strong demonstration effects in Central Asia and beyond. The proposed Navoi Scaling Solar IPP Project supports the Government's policy objectives and reforms in the energy sector. These include expanding generation capacity through renewables, improving security of supply from domestic energy resources and promoting private sector participation to strengthen the energy sector sustainability, which is crucial for economic recovery and growth and job creation. Support under this WBG initiative is expected to accelerate the Uzbekistan energy sector development and improve its efficiency by deploying new business and financing schemes in the form of PPPs/IPPs. The Navoi Scaling Solar IPP will also support the Government’s commitments on climate change and its Nationally Determined Contribution implementation, particularly through the development of renewable energy and avoidance of GHG emissions. The proposed project’s implementation and success will further accelerate the deployment of new renewable generation capacities, and hence the clean energy transition to stimulate economic recovery and development of appropriate infrastructure, when the COVID-19 crisis eases. The proposed project will involve the first-time deployment of an IFC financing in the energy sector and the IBRD’s risk mitigation product in Uzbekistan. The project will directly contribute to the Maximizing Finance for Development (MFD) /Cascade Approach goals and bring additional climate co-benefits from the development of scalable clean energy investment program.

Atyrau Refinery Sustainability Loan

2021 -

The project is to improve resource efficiency and reduce emissions by upgrading process water treatment facilities resulting in increased water reuse and resolve long-standing environmental issues by remediating 860 ha evaporation ponds adjacent to the city of Atyrau. The project implementation will result in (i) an improvement of water efficiency, (ii) the minimisation of adverse ecological impacts by remediating the evaporation ponds, and (iii) a reduction of GHG emissions and volatile organic compounds.

Kazakhstan Resilient Landscapes Restoration Project

2021 - 2025

The Kazakhstan Resilient Landscapes Restoration Project is a child project of the GEF-financed Sustainable Forest Management Impact Program on Dryland Sustainable Landscapes. Project-financed activities will be grouped into the following three components: Component 1: Piloting community – centered approach on dryland agroforestry and landscape restoration (US$2.46 million) Component 1 will finance grants (cash-for-work), technical assistance, goods and services, works, training and operational costs to conduct several key activities related to actual landscape restoration: (a) piloting of community-centered afforestation around Kyzylorda city using successful planting technologies of Saxaul and other drought-resistant trees; and (b) piloting of the farmer-centered approach in establishment of 3 agroforestry demonstration plots in Kyzylorda oblast (5 ha each) of fast-growing fruit tree plantations for combining forestry with fruit production and/or horticulture; and 6 plots in degraded pasturelands in Zhambyl oblast (20 ha each but affecting 1,300 ha of surrounding pastures) for combining forestry with livestock production. Sample agro-forestry practices based on existing recommendations will include plantation of fodder trees and pasture improvement. Various agro-forestry practices will be evaluated separately based on cost-benefit calculations and beneficiaries’ feedback and will be suggested for scale-up in other donor financed projects and/or government subsidized programs as well as farms’ self-financed investments. The project will also cover establishment of nursery and technical equipment necessary to conduct those operations. When possible, if stumps or seeds are present in the soil, also Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) will be added in the menu of options for restoration. Actions under (a) will be implemented by local forestry enterprises while hiring local community members to carry out the planting, plantations on pastureland will be carried out by the farmers supported by forestry organizations reporting to the local government, involving: (i) knowledge dissemination to farmers, farmers’ associations, and the national and local administration about the model and its benefits; (ii) developing markets and rewarding farmers for start-up time; (iii) conducting suitability assessments to identify the areas suitable for agroforestry, for FMNR, and the tree species to be used, and the conditions under which agroforestry or FMNR should be implemented; and (iv) providing local incentives to participating farmers, for example subsidized inputs. Component 2: Capacity building of the Forestry and Wildlife Committee (FWC) for integrated landscape management (US$1.38 million) This component will address FWC key bottlenecks to raise their afforestation capacity and support the evolving institutional needs of the forestry sector to become a sustainable and productive sector by financing critical capacity building activities including inter alia technical studies, consultations and surveys. Preparatory works including mapping, survey, and design will be made on Dry Aral Seabed, which should allow continued long-term afforestation of degraded area. The project will also support establishment of a depository of forest species’ seeds (gene bank), which is needed for scientific and research purposes, and facilitate inventory of unaccounted forest, which should clarify magnitude of land degradation problem in Kazakhstan. To further strengthen forest management capacity the project will support preparation of the forest management plans on selected areas of newly accounted forest in southern and south-western part of Kazakhstan in close proximity to the project area. Just in time technical assistance will be provided to the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources to advance related policies and legislation depending on policy priorities at the project implementation period. The project will also work with the existing LDN workstreams and help establish additional ones as needed to support the development of an LDN strategy and targets for Kazakhstan. This component will also ensure regional cooperation, exchange of experience and dissemination of best practices within the GEF Drylands Impact Program and with neighboring countries. Component 3: Project coordination and monitoring (US$0.50 million) Component 3 will finance technical assistance, goods, training and the operating costs of a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) within the FWC, which will coordinate the implementation of the project by managing and monitoring and evaluating the implementation of project work plans; ensure collaboration among stakeholders at national and local levels; report on progress and financial management performance to the World Bank; ensure timely external auditing of project accounts and the appropriateness of procurement and financial management tasks; and ensure adherence to and implementation of environmental and social measures as appropriate. The PIU will also be responsible to produce communication materials for any program-level meetings and knowledge exchange visits and mobilize the participation of Kazakh representatives in such events. Component 3 will also cover the operating costs of a Project Advisory Committee.

Ust-Kamenogorsk Solid Waste Management

2021 -

The project aims at the modernisation of the solid waste management (SWM) system in the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk (the City) to finance (i) the construction of an EU standards compliant sanitary landfill and (ii) the construction of a biological solid waste treatment facility at the new landfill site.

Urban Water Management: German Expertise for Kazakh Cities (TERESA)

2021 - 2024

The vulnerability to floods and the increasing need for potable water affect the urban areas of Kazakhstan in particular. Tackling both problems at once requires integrated water management that combines surface water management (stormwater catchment, flood protection) with groundwater management (recharge measures, recovery for different uses). TERESA will develop nature-based solutions for urban catchments in Kazakhstan by combining the advantages of sustainable urban drainage solutions and managed aquifer recharge systems.

Green Central Asia: Transboundary dialogue on climate, environment and security in Central Asia and Afghanistan

2021 - 2024

The Green Central Asia Regional Programme aims at improving access to information and risk analyses in order to enable participating countries to assess the impact of climate change more accurately and to take preventive measures. At the same time, dialogue fora and workshops are meant to increase states´ resilience and decision-makers’ ability to adequately address security hazards resulting from climate change at national and regional level. It promotes conflict prevention and trans-boundary cooperation. Support is also provided to develop the capacity of partner institutions in the field of environmental management.

Hydro4u- Sustainable small-scale hydropower in Central Asia

2021 - 2026

Hydro4U is a project funded under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. Under the coordination of Technical University of Munich, 13 partners from 8 countries are collaborating to boost sustainable small-scale hydropower in Central Asia. Eco-friendly hydropower solutions will be implemented in two demonstration plants in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Regional programme on integrative and climate sensitive land use in Central Asia II (ILUCA II)

2021 - 2026

Follow-up phase of Regional programme for sustainable and climate sensitive land use for economic development in Central Asia

Promoting women’s economic empowerment in the energy sector in Central Asia

2021 - 2028

The OSCE project on promoting women’s economic empowerment in the energy sector aims to address this imbalance and help OSCE participating States in Central Asia advance both their energy sustainability and gender-equality goals, tapping into the job creation potential of the energy transition.

Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin Additional Financing (CAMP4ASB AF)

2021 - 2025

Scaling up the Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin (CAMP4ASB) by providing support to adaptation activities in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Providing grants to the most vulnerable communities for climate resilient measures in priority areas, including to the poorest populations residing in risk-prone areas, and marginalized groups such as women.

Orientation of infrastructure investments towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda in Central and Southeast Asia (SIPA)

2021 - 2026

The project supports partner countries in prioritizing infrastructure projects that are compatible with long-term, low-emission and resilient development goals.

Strengthening the World Biodiversity Council IPBES by capacity building in the EECCA region

2021 - 2024

The Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) provides assessments on the global status of biodiversity and presents options for its conservation and sustainable use. The project strengthened the uptake of IPBES findings into decisions in environmental and conservation policy in the partner countries.

Consolidating Institutional Capacities for National Surface Water Quality Monitoring in the Kyrgyz Republic (KGZ III)

2021 - 2024

The project will focus on enhancing information basis, information management, and use of information, which together form the basis for effective integrated water resources management (IWRM). Regular monitoring of carefully selected water quality parameters, access to reliable and well managed data, and frequent assessments of the status of waters in major water bodies are all important services that the mandated governmental entities MNRETS and Kyrgyzhydromet should be able to provide both at national and sub-national levels (in oblasts and river basins) to various stakeholders and the people.

Research for development IV: Digitally supported biodiversity-based agricultural land use in Central Asia

2021 - 2023

Development of a concept for biodiversity-based crop production in Central Asia using the example of Kyrgyzstan

Cryospheric Observation and Modelling for improved Adaptation in Central Asia (CROMO-ADAPT)

2021 - 2025

Climate change in Central Asia mountain regions will have significant impacts on water availability and occurrence of natural hazards. This project strengthens the glacier, snow and permafrost monitoring systems and capacities in Central Asia, develops user-oriented climate information services, and supports the planning of adaptation measures to increase resilience to climate change. The project builds on Swiss expertise in monitoring and adaptation in alpine water and disaster risk management.