A Pledge for Safer Learning Environments
In the lead-up to the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, representatives from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in September gathered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to reaffirm their commitment to ensuring safe and resilient schools for children. The meeting concluded with a strong commitment from government officials to accelerate progress on the four pillars of the GADRRRES Comprehensive School Safety Framework. The Ministerial Declaration on Comprehensive School Safety in Central Asian Countries emphasized the importance of safe, inclusive, and uninterrupted education amidst increasing natural and human-made hazards. Key commitments include strengthening policies, adopting a multi-hazard approach, promoting climate and disaster education, ensuring structural safety, and fostering regional cooperation. This event marks a significant step forward in creating safer learning environments in Central Asia.
This commitment comes at a critical moment as climate change exacerbates the risk of disasters in Central Asia. The region faces hazards including earthquakes, floods, and extreme weather events, which threaten children’s safety and continuous access to education. Many schools are in disaster-prone areas with structural vulnerabilities that put them at significant risk.
Progress and Collaboration
The Central Asia Ministerial Meeting on Progress with the Implementation of the Comprehensive School Safety Framework (CSSF) was co-organized by UNICEF, UNESCO, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the Government of Japan, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), and the World Bank, in partnership with the Almaty-based Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction (CESDRR). The event brought together high-level government officials, development partners, and education experts to recognize progress in Central Asia.
The event kicked off with opening remarks from Ms. Indu John-Abraham, World Bank Operations Manager for Central Asia. Ministers of Education from the five Central Asian countries shared their visions for promoting school safety, emphasizing structural resilience and comprehensive policies. The CSSF, endorsed by over 60 countries globally, advocates for a "whole of society" and "all-hazards" approach. Youth advocates highlighted the critical role of preparing schools for a safer future, while the event underscored the need for enhanced national and sub-regional collaboration on the four pillars of the CSSF.
Participants reviewed progress in school safety, discussed necessary improvements in legislation and policies, and promoted climate and disaster risk education. They advocated for increased investments to strengthen school infrastructure and encouraged collaboration among Central Asian countries to address common challenges.
One of the most significant efforts in the region is the World Bank-financed Enhancing Resilience in Kyrgyz Republic (ERIK) project. The ERIK project focuses on school infrastructure resilience to disasters, applying a risk-based prioritization process for the first time and an integrated approach that provides additional benefits including improved energy efficiency and water and sanitation facilities. It supports systemic reforms such as updates in building regulations and the country’s first national school infrastructure plan. The aim is to strengthen the Kyrgyz Republic's capacity to respond to disasters, provide safer learning environments for children, and reduce the financial impacts of natural hazards. The valuable outcomes and lessons learned through ERIK are expected to be scaled up and replicated across Central Asia, significantly impacting the lives of children and communities.
Joint Commitment to a Safer Future
The collaborative efforts of our government partners alongside USAID Central Asia, UNDRR Europe & Central Asia, UNESCO Almaty, The Government of Japan, GADRRRES, have been instrumental in pursuing these goals.
The World Bank and GFDRR are proud to celebrate this milestone and remain committed to supporting Central Asian countries in achieving their school safety and resilience goals. Through initiatives like the ERIK project, we demonstrate how targeted investments in disaster preparedness, school infrastructure, and financial protection can significantly enhance the safety and resilience of learning environments. Our efforts ensure that schools are safe havens for education in the face of natural hazards and climate change.
Together with our partners, we can ensure a safer, more resilient future for all communities in Central Asia, with a special emphasis on the well-being and uninterrupted learning of every child.