UNFPA and Eurasian Development Bank join forces to advance sustainable regional development
ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 26 June 2026 — On the sidelines of the Annual Meeting of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the EDB today signed an agreement to strengthen their cooperation across Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The partnership will contribute to strengthening demographic resilience and advancing sustainable development by focusing on three priorities:
· modernizing digital data systems,
· building human capital through skills training for women and youth, and
· enhancing public health infrastructure.
EDB and UNFPA also agreed to work together to integrate social and demographic factors into investment strategies while developing climate-resilient solutions to protect vulnerable populations and health systems from environmental shocks.
The agreement was signed by Klaus Beck, UNFPA Deputy Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and Aleksei Skatin, Vice Chairman of the Management Board of the EDB.
“For the EDB, investment in human capital is one of the priorities of the Bank's new Strategy through 2031. Our partnership with UNFPA is an opportunity to combine UNFPA's demographic expertise with the EDB's financial instruments. Together, we can design projects that respond to real people's needs, not just economic logic”, said Aleksei Skatin, Vice Chairman of the Management Board of the EDB.
"This strategic partnership with the Eurasian Development Bank allows us to link UNFPA’s expertise in population dynamics and data with EDB’s robust financial and investment capabilities and thus providing a strong impetus for sustained, inclusive and rights-based development in the region", said Klaus Beck, UNFPA Deputy Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Additional Information:
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is a multilateral development bank investing in Eurasia. For 20 years, the Bank has worked to strengthen and expand economic ties and foster comprehensive development in its member countries. By the end of December 2025, the EDB’s cumulative portfolio comprised 326 projects with a total investment of US $19,6 billion. Its portfolio consists principally of projects with an integration effect in transport infrastructure, digital systems, green energy, agriculture, manufacturing and mechanical engineering. The Bank adheres to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ESG principles in its operations.
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, works to uphold the rights and choices of women, girls and young people across more than 150 countries and territories. It reaches millions of women, girls and young people with essential health services, protection from violence, and with vital information about their bodies and rights. It also helps governments plan for changing population needs so people can thrive today and in the future, regardless of fertility trends.
The EDB Media Centre:
+7 (717) 255 84 84, ext. 4774, 2160