BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 19. EBRD and GCF are
launching a new programme to strengthen the resilience of water
systems in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in response to growing climate
pressures on water resources and services.
This was reported by the press service of the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
"The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and
the Green Climate Fund (GCF) are launching a new programme to
strengthen the resilience of water systems in the Kyrgyz Republic
and Tajikistan in response to growing climate pressures on water
resources and services," the statement said.
The Resilient Water Systems programme, which combines 100
million euro of loans from the EBRD and 5 million euro of other
donor co-financing grants, leveraging 55 million euro of grants
from the GCF, was approved at the 45th meeting of the GCF Board in
Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
It will support investments in climate-resilient water supply,
wastewater and irrigation infrastructure, alongside sector reforms,
utility strengthening and long-term adaptation planning, benefiting
hundreds of thousands of people by way of more reliable, resilient
and sustainable water services.
Water systems across Central Asia are coming under increasing
strain as a result of rising temperatures, changing precipitation
patterns, more frequent droughts and floods, and growing
uncertainty as regards future water availability. Many existing
systems were not designed for these conditions and require new
approaches to planning and investment.
The programme combines climate risk assessment, utility-level
adaptation pathways, institutional strengthening, and targeted
infrastructure investment. It supports a pipeline of
climate-resilient investments in several cities and vulnerable
communities, while strengthening the enabling environment for
long-term adaptation and water security.
Gianpiero Nacci, EBRD Managing Director for Climate Strategy and
Delivery, said: "Climate change is changing how water systems
operate and how they fail. Building resilience requires more than
rehabilitating infrastructure. It requires understanding climate
risks, strengthening institutions, and investing in systems that
can continue to perform under increasingly uncertain
conditions.
This programme demonstrates how climate resilience can be
integrated into water sector planning and investment, helping
communities, utilities and governments to prepare for future
challenges."
Thomas Eriksson, GCF Regional Director for Eastern Europe,
Central Asia, and the Middle East, said: "This is a major regional
investment by the Green Climate Fund in long-term water security
and climate resilience, helping the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan
to move from reactive repairs to deeper, system-level adaptation.
The programme will support policy reform, institutional
strengthening, and climate-resilient infrastructure, reflecting the
GCF’s commitment to strengthening country ownership of climate
action and being a partner of choice for developing countries."
This programme reflects Central Asian countries’ growing demand
for regional approaches to water resilience, as highlighted at the
Samarkand Climate Forum last year and the Regional Ecological
Summit 2026 in Astana, Kazakhstan, earlier this year.
The EBRD and the GCF have been working together for more than a
decade to support the transition to green economies in 16 countries
on three continents. Their partnership focuses on climate change
mitigation and adaptation, spanning renewable energy, green city
initiatives, industrial decarbonisation, and water-related
infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the programme is expected to accelerate climate
adaptation efforts in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan by improving the
resilience of critical water infrastructure and strengthening the
capacity of local utilities to respond to climate-related risks. It
is also expected to lay the groundwork for additional investment in
sustainable water management across the region.
In an exclusive interview with Trend, the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD) approved its new Strategic and Capital Framework
(SCF) for 2026–2030, outlining key priorities for the Bank’s
activities in Central Asia and other regions.
According to Huseyin Ozhan, EBRD Managing Director for Central
Asia and Mongolia, the framework is focused on three main areas:
accelerating the green transition, strengthening economic
governance, and developing human capital while promoting equal
opportunities.
He noted that these priorities serve as the main guidelines for
the EBRD’s operations in Central Asia. The Bank also develops
individual country strategies for each state in the region in close
cooperation with national authorities, with a focus on
strengthening private sector competitiveness, creating jobs,
improving skills, promoting inclusion, and supporting digital
transformation.
