The Regional Project is designed to address the urgent need for increased investment in prevention and resilience, solidarity, and a renewed social contract, as highlighted in the UNDP 2022 Special Report on Human Security[1]. It adopts a people – centered, context-specific, and prevention-oriented approach to build community resilience, empower youth, and prevent violent extremism while strengthening social cohesion in Central Asia. The project's second phase includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, ensuring that all five Central Asian countries benefit from the interventions and that regional synergies and lesson learning are maximized. The project will be implemented in support of the Joint Plan of Action of the Central Asian countries and by building on the “Central Asia plus Japan” dialogue. It is also in line with the Secretary-General’s Plan of Action for the prevention of violent extremism (PVE) and UNDP’s global and regional PVE programming and UNSCR 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security. 

The country component project activities will be held in Gokdepe etrap of Ahal velayat, Koneurgench etrap of Dashoguz velayat, Bayramaly city of Mary velayat, Buzmeyin etrap of Ashgabat city, Sayat etrap of Lebap velayat, and Balkanabat city of Balkan velayat.

In addition, within the regional component of the project, it is expected that regional prevention networks will be expanded by organizing high level meetings among regional and global PVE practitioners and stakeholders, online and offline youth exchanges and online regional training events. Thus, the Project prioritizes flexibility and adaptability to respond to changing PVE trends while promoting local ownership and leadership. The project will develop clear exit strategies to ensure the sustainability and scalability of the activities beyond the project lifecycle.

[1]https://hdr.undp.org/content/2022-special-report-human-security