This report takes stock of gender equality in ECA, with a particular focus on women’s access to economic opportunities and jobs, alongside the urgent challenge of VAWG. It highlights the World Bank Group–supported initiatives across the region, illustrating both the range of solutions being...

Digital skills are becoming increasingly more important in the labor market as demand for them is increasing in all sectors. This paper explores the determinants of digital skill acquisition and estimates the impact of digital skills on wages in developing countries by using the latest round of...

Central Asia has emerged as a key region where the convergence of geopolitics and development cooperation is most visible. Major powers are redefining their approaches: Japan combines official development assistance (ODA) with commercial partnerships to advance connectivity and reform; the EU is...

This study is a novel attempt to analyze the patterns and trends of urbanization in medium to large cities in Central Asia. It encompasses a broad range of parameters, and employs an evidence-based approach to outlining strategic directions and actions for fostering green and resilient urban...

This research aims to identify the dynamics of eco-innovations in Kazakhstan's small and medium-sized business sectors, as well as to assess the practical signifcance of these innovations for both ecology and society as a whole. To achieve this objective, a combination of methods was employed,...

In parallel with global developments, inflation in the Central Asia and Caucasus (CCA) has exhibited large swings in recent years. This paper investigates inflation dynamics in the CCA and its main drivers and derives conclusions that can inform policymaking. The analysis is based on three...

Central Asian economies, particularly Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, are pursuing increasingly ambitious goals for renewable energy. Apart from China - an established player in the market - it has increasingly been Gulf countries that have been implementing respective projects, particularly Saudi...

Economic growth and development are key to societal well-being, yet emerging economies in Central Asia and the Caucasus face challenges such as labor market inefficiencies, uneven capital distribution, and weak institutions. This study examines the impact of education, institutional quality,...

In contrast to most Central, Eastern and Southeastern European (CESEE) economies, Central Asia (CA) - comprising Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - has witnessed quite robust demographic as well as economic growth in the period from 2019 to 2024. This period was...

Literature links food insecurity to adverse welfare outcomes, including the educational performance of children. This paper investigates whether food insecurity, exacerbated by recent food inflation, has hindered schoolchildren's recovery from learning loss following coronavirus disease-related...

This paper explores how the health-related component of human capital affects economic performance in all five Central Asian countries. In particular, it analyzes the impact of life expectancy on overall GDP and output per worker, which characterizes labor productivity. The time frame includes...

In their pursuit of energy transitions, Central Asian emerging economies face limitations in technology and financing, which they address through international cooperation. Research about the engagement of the European Union (EU) and Japan, both relatively new non-regional actors in the Central...

Background: Gold mining is a critical part of the industry of Central Asia, contributing significantly to regional economic growth. However, gold production management faces numerous challenges, including adopting innovative technologies such as AI, using improved logistical equipment, resolving...

As countries rapidly urbanize, settlements are expanding into hazardous flood zones. This analysis considers spatial urbanization patterns and the evolution of flood exposure between 1985 and 2020 in 55 countries in the Europe and Central Asia region. The evidence in this report suggests that...

Growth is projected to rise in the Middle East and North Africa in 2025 and 2026, but at a slower pace than anticipated in the October 2024 REO. Across the region, rising trade tensions and policy uncertainty are adding to the impact of conflicts and extended oil production cuts to weaken growth...

Climate education and youth entrepreneurship are pathways for young people to become agents of change in their communities in response to the environmental challenges of today, particularly climate change. This report provides recommendations on developing climate education and youth...

This study investigates the transformation of livestock value chains in peri-urban areas of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, focusing on the dynamics of livestock production, land use, and downstream supply chains. Drawing on unique farm-level data and qualitative research, we...

Extreme heat is becoming one of the most lethal and underestimated threats to cities in Europe and Central Asia, exacerbating health risks, undermining productivity, and pushing infrastructure to its limits. This report presents new analysis showing that without urgent adaptation, heat-related...

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is very effective at preventing HIV infection when taken as prescribed. It is an important element of the 'combination prevention' necessary to reach the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 [3]. Since 2016, PrEP has...

This edition of the Macro Poverty Outlooks periodical contains country-by-country forecasts and overviews for GDP, fiscal, debt and poverty indicators for the developing countries of Europe and Central Asia. Macroeconomic indicators such as population, gross domestic product and gross domestic...

This report aims to enhance the understanding of the priorities, needs, and solutions for improving air quality (AQ) in Central Asia (CA) through local action and regional collaboration. It focuses on key components of holistic air quality management (AQM): evidence-based analytics to identify...

The failure of newly independent Central Asian countries to diversify exports after the Soviet Union's collapse is attributed to high trade costs, either because these countries are landlocked or due to border delays and regulatory obstacles. This paper estimates the impact of the high costs of...

This study examines the effects of at-the-border and behind-the-border measures on the intraregional perishable goods trade in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation region by combining trade facilitation indicators at the bilateral product level with an extensive dataset of nontariff...

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, mobility restrictions had a significant impact on trade times and costs at the borders, particularly in landlocked developing countries. This paper examines the effect of COVID-19 mobility measures on the time required for cargo to clear...

This paper identifies existing labour market challenges associated with ageing in Europe and Central Asia. It presents a general overview and provides ideas to stimulate social dialogue. In 2024, there were 28 persons aged 65 years and above per 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years and this ratio is...

Business dynamism and economic growth in Europe and Central Asia have weakened since the late 2000s, with productivity growth driven largely by resource reallocation between firms and sectors rather than innovation. To move up the value chain, countries need to facilitate technology adoption,...

This policy brief examines the strategic importance of the South Caucasus and its pivotal role in the European Union's evolving engagement with Central Asia. The regional landscape, however, remains highly volatile. Russia's aggression in Ukraine has had direct and indirect repercussions for the...

This study investigates factors influencing household cooling choices in Central Asia, focusing on air-conditioning and fans/sunscreen films. Using data from the 2023 "Household Access to Energy in the Fergana Valley" survey in the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the analysis...

Low-carbon energy transition, which includes the replacement of fossil fuels with low-carbon energy infrastructure, the removal of subsidies, and other measures, requires households to be able to pay for low-carbon energy services. Economic shocks such as the coronavirus disease pandemic and...

This study investigates whether information and communication technology (ICT) constitutes a sustained driver of economic growth in four Central Asian economies-Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan-over the period 2000-2022. Using an extended endogenous growth framework, this study...