Facilitating investment in the energy-water-land nexus in Central Asia (the EBRD Agrifood NEXUS Programme)

Overview
Project Summary Document

TCRS 16580

Status Approved

Location

Regional

Business Sector

Food and Agribusiness

Notice Type

Public

PSD Disclosed

17 Jul 2023

Project Description

The ‘Regional mechanisms for the low-carbon, climate-resilient transformation of the energy-water-land Nexus in Central Asia’ consortium programme, (‘the Consortium Programme’) aims to provide the Central Asian countries of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan with ways to apply energy, water, land-use nexus approaches to modify the planning processes and adopt a whole-of-government concept to address socio-economic and environmental challenges. It places an emphasis on quantification of economic (and non-economic where relevant) benefits of the nexus approach for the region’s socio-economic development that is climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. The nexus approach aims to:

Enhance institutional and individual capacity that leads to integration of nexus considerations into policy development and project planning in Central Asia
Scale up finance for projects and businesses that generate nexus benefits and contribute to deeper regional and cross-sectoral co-operation toward climate, energy, water, and food security
Foster political dialogue at the regional level to build confidence in the benefits of co-operation on the nexus and demonstrate the opportunities for high-impact, cross-sectoral investments in support of energy, water, and land use security in the region.

The EBRD is implementing the Programme in a Consortium, which is led by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Other members of the Consortium include The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and The Scientific Information Center of the Interstate Coordination Water Commission of Central Asia (SIC-ICWC) as well as the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which is the EBRD’s implementing partner (together, the Consortium). The Consortium Programme is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and the, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection of Germany (BMUV), (together, the Donor”).

Rationale

The Bank has a long established relationship with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (“FAO”) in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) signed in 1994. To operationalise the MoU, a Framework Agreement for Operational Services (the “FA”) was signed in October 1997. Under the FA, the EBRD contracts FAO for specific technical cooperation (“TC”) assignments. The FAO has proven to be a valuable co-financing mechanism for TC and policy dialogue projects in the Agribusiness sector and under the EBRD Private Sector for Food Security Initiative.

Previous FA activities ensured:

The continuity of EBRD’s work in SEMED countries, which exhibit high food security needs;
the implementation of the EBRD’s Private Sector for Food Security Initiative, which entailed projects focused on upgrading food quality and animal welfare practices; improving the investment climate through policy dialogue and reform; and fostering inclusive and sustainable value chains;
the implementation of activities under the EBRD’s Sustainable Resource Initiative and later the Green Economy Transition (GET) approach which promoted efficiency and innovation in the use of energy, water and materials, and
The introduction of the EBRD and FAO COVID-19 response package, particularly in addressing digitalisation in the agri-food system, food safety, traceability, local food and short supply chains, as well as trade diversification issues that emerged due to the pressure and disruption caused by COVID-19 on domestic and international food supply chains

The joint work with FAO through the FA is increasingly supporting new and developing areas of the EBRD’s engagement in digital, inclusive and green initiatives, as per the priorities of the EBRD’s Strategic and Capital Framework 2021-2025. Work in these areas includes supporting private sector contribution to food security; fostering the digitalisation of agri-food systems in the EBRD’s regions; supporting inclusive value chains, particularly through strengthening local food production and assisting producer organisations, cooperatives and SMEs with links to strong value chains; promoting decarbonisation and sustainable initiatives to accelerate a green transition; and ensuring resilience and competitiveness of markets in withstanding pressure resulting from COVID-19.

TC Services

Under the EBRD Agrifood Nexus Programme, the FAO will develop a methodological approach for the new EBRD financing mechanism in relation to the energy-water-land nexus, with the aim to facilitate further engagement with the private sector in nexus-related investments by providing enhanced evidence on the benefits, risks and trade-offs involved. The Bank will also be able to call upon FAO’s assistance to coordinate its investment interventions with the activities of other International Financial Institutions (“IFIs”) and bilateral donors financing agriculture in Central Asia. By combining FAO’s technical knowledge and the EBRD’s investment capacity, the assignments undertaken under the EBRD Agrifood NEXUS Programme are well supported.

Understanding Transition

Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.

Business opportunities

For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

For business opportunities with EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com

Enquiries

Business opportunities

For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

For business opportunities with EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com

General enquiries

Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form.

TCRS 16580

Status Approved

Location

Regional

Business Sector

Food and Agribusiness

Notice Type

Public

PSD Disclosed

17 Jul 2023

Project Description

Enhance institutional and individual capacity that leads to integration of nexus considerations into policy development and project planning in Central Asia
Scale up finance for projects and businesses that generate nexus benefits and contribute to deeper regional and cross-sectoral co-operation toward climate, energy, water, and food security
Foster political dialogue at the regional level to build confidence in the benefits of co-operation on the nexus and demonstrate the opportunities for high-impact, cross-sectoral investments in support of energy, water, and land use security in the region.

Rationale

Previous FA activities ensured:

The continuity of EBRD’s work in SEMED countries, which exhibit high food security needs;
the implementation of the EBRD’s Private Sector for Food Security Initiative, which entailed projects focused on upgrading food quality and animal welfare practices; improving the investment climate through policy dialogue and reform; and fostering inclusive and sustainable value chains;
the implementation of activities under the EBRD’s Sustainable Resource Initiative and later the Green Economy Transition (GET) approach which promoted efficiency and innovation in the use of energy, water and materials, and
The introduction of the EBRD and FAO COVID-19 response package, particularly in addressing digitalisation in the agri-food system, food safety, traceability, local food and short supply chains, as well as trade diversification issues that emerged due to the pressure and disruption caused by COVID-19 on domestic and international food supply chains

TC Services

Understanding Transition

Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.

Business opportunities

For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

For business opportunities with EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com

Any competitive selections for business opportunities relating to this project will be published on the EBRD's website: Consultancy Procurement Opportunities.

General enquiries

EBRD project enquiries not related to procurement:
Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

The AIP sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders so as to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations following its entry into force on 1 January 2020. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.

Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (e.g. through the Client’s Project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).

IPAM independently reviews Project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the Mechanism is: to support dialogue between Project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or Project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.

Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate; how to submit a Request for review; or contact IPAM via email ipam@ebrd.com to get guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.

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Facilitating investment in the energy-water-land nexus in Central Asia (the EBRD Agrifood NEXUS Programme)

Project Description

Understanding Transition

Business opportunities

Enquiries

Business opportunities

General enquiries

Project Description

Understanding Transition

Business opportunities

General enquiries

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)