The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the OECD and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) organised a side event on “Scaling up Finance for Nature in Central Asia” on 22 April 2026 in Astana, Kazakhstan, within the framework of the Regional Ecological Summit 2026.
The session explored how Central Asian countries and their partners can scale up finance to strengthen the resilience of human and natural systems across the region. Discussions emphasised the need to move from policy awareness to investment mobilisation.
The session also presented the Central Asia Nature Partnership (CANP), supported by Germany and managed by the EBRD. The partnership aims to support Central Asian countries and Mongolia in scaling up finance for “hard-to-invest” environmental projects such as nature positive financing and nature-based solutions.
Panellists included:
- Mr Mansur Osherbaev, Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Kazakhstan
- Dr Eva Kracht, Director General for International and European Policy, German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN)
- Mr Gianpiero Nacci, Managing Director for Climate Strategy and Delivery at EBRD
- Ms Mathilde Mesnard, Deputy Director, Environment Directorate, OECD
Vice Minister Oshurbayev highlighted the importance of regional co-operation in achieving environmental goals. He stressed:
“If we truly want to scale up finance for nature in Central Asia, we need a strong pipeline of investment-ready projects, reliable policy and institutional frameworks and partnerships capable of mobilising public, concessional and private finance around measurable environmental outcomes.”
Key messages
- Scaling up finance for nature in Central Asia requires stronger business cases, supported by data, metrics and practical investment examples that resonate with financial actors.
- Effective policy and regulatory frameworks remain critical to mobilising investment and align it with environmental objectives.
- Bridging the gap between environmental policy objectives and investment promotion policies is essential for translating climate and biodiversity strategies into bankable projects.