“Rehabilitation of Degraded Lands in the Lower Aral Sea Basin” Project: Feasibility Study, Environmental and Social Safeguards and Support to Project Implementation

The project originated from a request of the Government of Uzbekistan (GoU) to the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the European Investment Bank to finance agricultural land desalination, rehabilitation and afforestation projects in or near the dry seabed of the Aral Sea. The project is also referred to as the “Inclusive and Green Recovery in Aral Sea” project in the programming of the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade (MIFT) for the period 2021–2025.

The main objective of the project is to improve the living conditions of the people of Karakalpakstan and contribute to the socio-economic and environmental revitalization of the territory. More specifically, the project aims to sustainably restore degraded lands while promoting agricultural and pastoral livelihoods, improving the health of the population, supporting adaptation to climate change, and contributing to biodiversity conservation in Karakalpakstan.

Under the assignment, DEEX provided services including preparation of the Inception Report, preparation of the Environmental and Social Management Framework, implementation of a Baseline Socio-economic Survey, preparation of the Resettlement Policy Framework, and organization of public consultations, community and stakeholder participation, and focus group meetings.