The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan, together with the Government of Turkmenistan, officially completed the project “Strengthening the National Capacity of Turkmenistan to Assess Seismic Risks, Prevent and Response to Potential Earthquakes,” which became a key stage in the development of a disaster risk reduction system in the country.

The project ran from 2018 to 2025 and played a key role in strengthening Turkmenistan’s resilience to seismic hazards, particularly in the capital, and laid a solid foundation for emergency preparedness throughout the country.

The final meeting of the project council was held on July 28 at the UN building in Ashgabat.

“This project is a landmark achievement in our long-standing cooperation with the Government of Turkmenistan,” said Ms. Narine Sahakyan, UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan. “It has not only helped the country build advanced tools and institutional capacity to manage seismic risk, but also strengthened our shared commitment to protecting lives, infrastructure, and future development from natural disasters.The legacy of this initiative will continue to protect communities and infrastructure across Turkmenistan, strengthening the country’s preparedness and resilience to future disasters. We are proud to continue to support Turkmenistan on its path to a safer and more resilient future.”

Funded primarily by the Government of Turkmenistan with additional support from UNDP, the project achieved significant results in three key areas:

• Seismic risk assessment in Ashgabat: For the first time in Turkmenistan, two GIS-based digital platforms, ASTERHAZ and ASTERRISK, were developed to assess seismic hazards and risks. A detailed seismic risk assessment was conducted, including seismic hazard mapping, active tectonic fault analysis, and microzoning. In the pilot area, more than 40 buildings and over 10 educational institutions were instrumentally surveyed for seismic vulnerability.
• Institutional capacity building: The Institute of Seismology and Atmospheric Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan received modern scientific equipment and software worth over 650,000 USD. More than 100 experts received specialized training. Educational materials, including a trilingual Terminology Dictionary and a Seismic Risk Assessment Manual, were developed and distributed.
• Disaster preparedness and legislation: National guidelines on earthquake preparedness and seismic vulnerability reduction have been prepared for key ministries. A centralized seismic data processing center has been established, and recommendations for improving seismic monitoring systems have been developed. A new draft law “On Ensuring Seismic Safety” has been prepared to strengthen the national legislative framework for disaster risk reduction.

The success of the project was made possible by the active support of the Government of Turkmenistan, including the Institute of Seismology and Atmospheric Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan and other key government agencies - the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, the Ministry of Construction and Architecture, as well as the Research Institute of Earthquake Engineering of Turkmenistan. Regional cooperation with seismological institutes of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) played an important role in achieving the results.

“UNDP is committed to continuing its strategic partnership with the Government of Turkmenistan,” Ms. Saakyan said. “Building on the achievements of this project, we stand ready to support the next phase – expanding knowledge, strengthening institutional systems and ensuring that no one is left behind on the path to a safer, more resilient and emergency-ready Turkmenistan.”

The completion of this project is not the end of the work, but an important step towards further strengthening seismic resilience across the country. A concept for the second phase of the project has been developed, which will expand seismic risk assessment to other high-risk areas, including Arkadag, Balkanabat, Turkmenbashi and the Avaza National Tourist Zone. The integration of educational programs and public awareness of seismic risks into Turkmenistan’s development agenda will continue, according to a UNDP press release.