At a Glance
| Strategic Outcomes | SO1 Reduced GHG emission, SO2 Creation of green jobs, SO4 Improved air quality |
|---|---|
| Start Date | Q1 15 FEBRUARY 2023 |
| End Date | q4 15 DECEMBER 2024 |
| Funding Source | Earmarked |
| Actual Budget (USD) | 145,000 |
| Budget Percentage | % |
| Actual Expenditure (USD) | |
| Status | Active |
| GGGI Share (USD) | |
| Poverty and Gender Policy Markers | |
| Name of Client (Lead/Prime implementer if GGGI is part of a consortium) | |
| Participating Organization (Funding/donor) | Agence Fraçaise de Développement / French Development Agency (AFD) |
| Name of consortium members, if any | |
| Thematic Area |
|
GGGI Project Code : UZ03
Project Manager and Staff +
Project description
With funding from the French Development Agency (Agence française de développement – AFD), the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is providing technical assistance on the project “Support for the Realization of a Pilot Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)”.
Policy Prioritization: In 2023, the State Committee for Ecology and Environmental Protection (SCEEP) and the Charvak Special Economic Zone Department hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, who identified the Presidential Decrees “On measures for the rapid development of tourism in Bostonlik district by introducing a special management procedure” (2020) and “On the Establishment of the Free Tourism Zone (FTZ) Charvak” (2021) to be prioritized for this SEA. Note: In July 2023 the Tourism Committee was integrated into the institutional structure of the newly established Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change (MoEEPCC).
Primary Implementation Partners: Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, which oversees the Center for Environmental Expertise, Ugam Chatkal National Park, as well as the Bostanlik District Khokim, and Charvak SEZ Authority.
SEA Methodology
The SEA has two objectives: to appraise the performance of existing policies, plans, or programs; and to facilitate the methodical process of developing, assessing, amending, implementing, monitoring, and reviewing them. Based on the scoping study conducted, the following combination of methodologies are recommended, including: policy and institutional gap analysis based on stakeholder participation, target-setting and data gap analysis based on expert judgment, cluster analysis, contingent valuation based on a survey, SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis based on social, economic, and environmental indicators, and cost-benefit analysis based on criteria based on economic and environmental criteria.
Project context
Tourism in Uzbekistan: Tourism is one of Uzbekistan’s strategic sectors to diversify the economy, create employment, increase people’s income and well-being, and attract investments. From 1 million foreign tourists in 2016, the number of foreign tourists visiting Uzbekistan is expected to rise to 7 million by 2025. The GoUz expects an increase in annual earnings from tourism sector from $1 billion in 2018 to $2.2 billion in 2025.
Policy Drivers promoting Tourism in Bostanlik: The Cabinet of Ministers decree “On the accelerated development of tourism in the Tashkent region for 2019-2021” (2019) proposed that each district in Tashkent region would develop tourism activities. Presidential Decree “On the Establishment of the Free Tourism Zone (FTZ) Charvak” (2021) and Cabinet of Ministers Decree “On Measures to Organize the Activities of the Free Tourism Zone Charvak” (2021), provided strategic guidance on specific measures to establish a climate-resilient and sustainable FTZ in Charvak. Presidential Decree “About measures for the rapid development of tourism in Bostonlik district by introducing a special management procedure” (2020) provides further stimulus for tourism development in Bostonlik district.
Tourism Impacts on Bostanlik: Bostonlik is the largest district in the Tashkent region and hosts the largest recreation sites in Uzbekistan. The district is home to 172,800 residents, while the number of national and foreign tourists is estimated to have increased from 1.8 million in 2021 to 5 million in 2022. The scenic mountains of Ugam, Pskem, and Chatkal surround Lake Charvak, making it an attractive tourist destination in the Bostonlik district, and a significant area is managed as Ugam Chatkal National Park.
Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) in Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan is not a party to the Espoo Convention and the Protocol on SEA, however the government has developed an action plan for SEA integration into legal frameworks and for their implementation.
Overall objective
With funding from the French Development Agency (Agence française de développement – AFD), the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) is providing technical assistance on the project “Support for the Realization of a Pilot Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)”.
Green Economy Strategy Framework Policy and Financing Objectives: This Government of Uzbekistan (GoUz) and the Government of France (GoF) have signed a Green Economy Policy Loan (GEPL) agreement to support the GoUz to develop and implement a national Green Economy Strategy Framework. The project being implemented by GGGI contributes directly to supporting the completion by the GoUz of several policy matrix outcome that are requirements for disbursement of the 2nd Tranche (2023-2024) of AFD’s Green Economy Policy Loan (125m Euros).
Government SEA Action Plan Objectives: The selection of this TA policy assignment is directly aligned with the Government of Uzbekistan’s SEA action plan. This project will directly support the achievement of the following objectives:
- Support to practical application of SEAs.
- Preparation of guiding documents on SEA to facilitate application of SEAs.
This project will indirectly support the SEA action plan achievement of the following objectives:
- Finalisation and adoption of legislative framework for SEAs.
- Organization of trainings and awareness raising
- Supporting networking and information sharing
- Establishing institutional and financial arrangements for SEA.
Key challenges being addressed
Bostonlik district is home to 172,800 residents, while the number of national and foreign tourists visiting Bostonlik district is estimated to have increased from 1.8 million in 2021 to 5 million in 2022. There are concerns that the growing number of visiting tourism and associated infrastructure development will have negative environmental impacts. An SEA of the relevant tourism development plans will help avert or reduce their impacts on the environment, notably:
- Insufficient supply and excessive use of electricity by tourists/guest houses
- Insufficient waste management and collection services for non-residential/guest houses
- Insufficient regulation and tax collection for tourism in private residence
- Insufficient waste management and collection services for building construction waste
- Insufficient sanitation capacity and impact on water quality and health
- Degradation of forests, protected areas, and biodiversity due to tourism
- Landscape erosion and landslide risk due to inappropriate infrastructure development and land use change
- Air pollution due to congestion by cars
Project results and GGGI's role
The technical assistance project to be implemented by GGGI and a contractor to be procured by AFD, both in close cooperation with the Government are as follows:
a. Support the GoU in identifying a relevant strategy / investment plan, at the right stage of preparation to be the object of a SEA [Implemented by GGGI, in cooperation with the Government]
b. Mainstream capacities on SEA among all parties of the GoU involved [Implemented by GGGI, in cooperation with the Government]
c. Finance the first pilot SEA [Implemented by contractor, overseen by GGGI and the Government]
d. Support the authorities in taking stock of this first experience [Implemented jointly by GGGI and a contractor, in cooperation with the Government]
Project deliverables
The SEA Scoping Report
The SEA Scoping Report is intended to assist decision-makers, the public, and other stakeholders in understanding the likely significant impacts associated with the Master Plan for the development of the FTZ Charvak.
Environmental baseline and Stakeholder mapping
The environmental baseline outlines the key environmental indicators associated with tourism activities and their potential negative impacts. Additionally, the stakeholder mapping identifies their roles in mitigating or preventing negative impacts related to tourism.