EFSD Holds First Event in Uzbekistan, Bringing Together Central Asian Experts on Sustainable Infrastructure Standards

TASHKENT. On November 10–11, 2026, the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development (EFSD), with the participation of the New Development Bank (NDB), held regional training on “Environmental and Social Risk Management in Infrastructure Projects” in Tashkent. It was the Fund’s first event in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

“The training brought together over 30 environmental and social specialists from project implementation units, experts, officials from key ministries of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Uzbekistan, and development partners. Our shared goal is to ensure sustainable development in our countries by preventing adverse impacts of projects on the environment and society,” said Olga Sosnina, Director of the Department of Monitoring, Policies, and Standards at EFSD.

The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of specialists involved in the preparation and implementation of infrastructure projects financed by international financial institutions. The program combined the environmental and social standards of multilateral development banks with practical tools for risk assessment, monitoring, and mitigation.

Over two days, participants reviewed approaches to assessing project impacts on the environment and local communities, biodiversity conservation, and the management of involuntary resettlement risks. Particular attention was given to the relationship between national requirements and the standards of international financial institutions.

The practical sessions covered monitoring of water and air quality, noise and vibration levels, and the safe handling of asbestos-containing materials. Experts examined the environmental and social risks of water supply, wastewater, and irrigation projects, including water quality, wastewater discharge, and impacts on aquatic ecosystems.

In group exercises, participants prepared environmental management plans for specific construction sites and conducted post-construction environmental audits. The sessions drew on practical case studies and discussion of issues that arise during project implementation.

The training was delivered by international consultants of EFSD and NDB specializing in environmental and social standards and occupational health and safety. Participants received certificates upon completion.

The training supports the exchange of experience and the dissemination of practices that enable environmental and social risks to be identified in a timely manner and addressed at every stage of infrastructure project implementation.

About EFSD
The Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development (EFSD) is a regional financing arrangement with resources of USD 9.8 billion, established in 2009 by the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, and the Republic of Tajikistan. Its key mandate is to help safeguard the economic and financial stability of its member states and to support their sustainable development. EFSD is an integral part of the global financial safety net and its regional component for Eurasia.

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