Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – 27 March 2026 – National coordination meeting in the framework of the Pandemic Fund project “Pandemic Preparedness and Response through a One Health Approach in Central Asia” was held at the United Nations Building in Ashgabat.
The meeting was organized jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Bank (WB) in collaboration with national stakeholders and regional partners under the One Health framework.
The event brought together representatives from the line ministries and government institutions, including international organizations, and development partners such as the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Central Asia Regional Environmental Center (CAREC). Participants reviewed progress achieved during 2024–2025 and discussed priorities for 2026, focusing on improving coordination mechanisms and addressing implementation challenges across sectors.
The meeting provided a platform to assess implementation progress across human, animal, and environmental health sectors, identify gaps and opportunities for stronger intersectoral collaboration, discuss funding status and regional updates, and define clear action points and priorities for 2026. A series of technical sessions and panel discussions facilitated dialogue among stakeholders, promoting integrated solutions to complex health threats. The outcomes will guide future efforts to strengthen Turkmenistan’s pandemic preparedness and response systems while contributing to broader regional resilience in Central Asia.
Participants of the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration under the One Health framework, recognizing that coordinated action across sectors and borders is essential to mitigating future pandemic risks.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Central Asian countries face shared vulnerabilities related to health, environmental, and socio-economic challenges that increase the risk of pandemics. The Pandemic Fund project, launched in 2024, aims to enhance pandemic preparedness and response capacities across Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Through a One Health approach—which integrates human, animal, and environmental health—the initiative focuses on strengthening disease surveillance systems, enhancing laboratory capacities, building a skilled health workforce, improving policy frameworks and governance, and promoting cross-sectoral coordination. ///nCa, 28 March 2026 (in cooperation with WHO Turkmenistan)