Considering the recent economic development prospects for Central Asia and facing climate change related challenges, the lack of preventive procedures at a strategic planning stage may result in accelerated levels of environmental degradation in the region and lead to irreversible harms causing regional instability. The main objective of the project, implemented in collaboration with ⁠UNECE⁠, was to strengthen national and regional capacities on implementation of the Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to the Espoo Convention as an essential tool for environmentally sustainable economic development and as a means for addressing specific environmental challenges, including climate change.