Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
Kazakhstan has positioned itself as a regional leader by embedding transboundary cooperation into its national disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategy-an innovative step in a region like Central Asia, where natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes and extreme weather frequently transcend national borders.
A major milestone in Kazakhstan’s approach was the establishment of the Centre for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction (CESDRR) in Almaty in 2016, in partnership with Kyrgyzstan and with support from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). CESDRR operates as a regional coordination platform, enhancing disaster preparedness and response across Central Asia through joint training, information exchange, and shared risk assessments.
Kazakhstan’s national DRR strategy -developed after 2016 as part of broader DRR reforms extending through to 2030- is aligned with the Sendai Framework and explicitly prioritizes regional and international cooperation. It identifies shared hazards, particularly in seismically active zones and transboundary river basins such as the Syr Darya and Irtysh, as requiring coordinated risk management.
One practical application of this strategy is the development of joint early warning systems for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) along the Tien Shan mountains. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan jointly manage hydrological monitoring responsibilities in these areas, enabling harmonized alerts to reach communities in both countries more quickly-reducing risk to life and property.
Kazakhstan also participates in cross-border emergency simulations facilitated by CESDRR. These exercises, led nationally by the Ministry for Emergency Situations, strengthen readiness and operational coordination for regional hazards, including earthquakes and large-scale wildfires.
In addition, Kazakhstan’s transboundary water governance efforts-particularly with Uzbekistan-have helped integrate DRR considerations into river basin management. Shared hydrometeorological data and coordinated flood prevention strategies mitigate the risk of downstream disasters during heavy rainfall or snowmelt periods.
International partnerships, such as with the European Union, have further supported Kazakhstan’s risk governance through regional projects focused on institutional capacity-building and early warning systems. These complement national efforts by enhancing data-sharing protocols and strengthening technical capacity.
Kazakhstan’s DRR strategy stands out for formalizing transboundary cooperation within national planning frameworks. This approach moves beyond ad hoc collaboration by institutionalizing cross-border risk reduction-a model cited in UNDRR reports as a good practice for other regions facing shared hazards. Through coordinated monitoring, planning and emergency response, Kazakhstan demonstrates how national strategies can actively contribute to regional resilience.
Key impacts
- Mutually reinforcing structures: The creation of CESDRR contributed to the formulation of Kazakhstan’s national DRR strategy, which later formalized and institutionalized CESDRR’s role within the national risk governance framework.
- Expanded early warning systems: Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan’s implementation of joint GLOF warning systems has improved emergency response capabilities and reduced glacier-related disaster risks in high-altitude transboundary areas.
- Strengthened regional readiness: Regular cross-border emergency simulations have enhanced the preparedness and interoperability of emergency services across Central Asia.
- Shared data and knowledge: Regional cooperation has led to the standardization of risk assessments and more effective hydrometeorological data exchange-especially valuable for flood forecasting and drought planning.
- Integrated water governance: Kazakhstan’s transboundary water collaboration has reduced flood risks downstream and improved joint river basin management strategies.
- Policy recognition and leadership: UNDRR regional reviews have highlighted Kazakhstan’s institutionalized transboundary DRR approach as a best practice in Central Asia.
Lessons learned for replication and adaptation
- Integrate cooperation into national strategy: Embedding transboundary mechanisms into national DRR strategies, rather than relying on ad hoc or project-based agreements, ensures long-term sustainability beyond political cycles.
- Harmonize early warning protocols: Joint investment in monitoring technology must be underpinned by shared operational procedures and trust-based information sharing.
- Leverage regional mechanisms: Kazakhstan’s engagement with CESDRR illustrates how pooling regional expertise and resources can reinforce national DRR efforts.
- Ensure community-level preparedness: Effective cross-border DRR requires that awareness and response capacity extend to at-risk communities on both sides of a border.
- Align DRR and climate risk planning: Kazakhstan’s integration of climate-related hazards into its DRR planning offers a replicable model for countries managing complex, overlapping risks.