Ten Central Asian Cities Expand Urban Resilience Coalition
Ten Central Asian cities join forces to prepare for disasters, with new members and a seismological memorandum signed at a Tashkent dialogue.
The story in focus
Ten Central Asian cities joined the Urban Resilience Coalition at the Second Regional Urban Resilience Dialogue in Tashkent on 19–20 October, according to UNDP. The coalition expanded from five to ten members. National seismological institutions also signed a memorandum to enhance earthquake risk cooperation.
- Five additional cities joined the Urban Resilience Coalition, bringing membership to 10.
- National seismological institutions signed a memorandum to strengthen earthquake risk cooperation.
- The dialogue brought together officials from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Coalition expansion
The Urban Resilience Coalition expanded from five to ten cities at the Second Regional Urban Resilience Dialogue in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on 19–20 October, UNDP said. New members are Bishkek and Manas in the Kyrgyz Republic, Isfara in Tajikistan, and Fergana and Kokand in Uzbekistan. They join Petropavl, Osh, Dushanbe, Ashgabat and Namangan, which launched the coalition in 2025.
Through the coalition, cities can share experiences and find practical ways to prepare for floods, earthquakes and other hazards while considering climate risks in development planning, according to UNDP.
Earthquake cooperation
National seismological institutions signed a memorandum in Tashkent to strengthen cooperation on earthquake preparedness. The framework covers sharing scientific knowledge and improving coordination to help countries better understand and prepare for earthquake risks, UNDP said.
The dialogue was organised by Uzbekistan's Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction and UNDP, with support from the Government of Japan through two regional projects.
Regional context
Officials from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan attended the dialogue. UNDP Resident Representative Akiko Fujii said urban development must be risk-informed, according to her opening speech. Japan's Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Kenji Hirata, noted that rapid urbanisation outpaces risk management capacity and climate change accelerates impacts, in remarks read on his behalf.
The dialogue supports the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UNDP said.
Which cities joined the Urban Resilience Coalition?
Bishkek and Manas in the Kyrgyz Republic, Isfara in Tajikistan, and Fergana and Kokand in Uzbekistan joined, bringing membership from five to ten cities.
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