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Promoting Resource Effciency in Agri-food Production and Processing in Central Asia (REAP)

Overview of REAP Project

While agriculture plays a major role in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, food insecurity and a strong dependence on food imports increases vulnerability to climate change and geopolitics. In Uzbekistan, the share of small businesses (Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises - MSMEs) in gross agricultural production is 98.1%. In Tajikistan more than 60% of the population lives in the rural areas. A key condition for improving economic growth and investment involves improving the business environment in agri-food processing by introducing more efficient production techniques. In this context, the project promotes Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) practices in the agri-food production and processing industries along the entire supply chain in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The action will support the process of clusterisation and thus seek to enhance the competitiveness of local businesses.

  • Target fast, cost-efficient SCP measures, showcasing the business case of such measures and creating a win-win mind-set in MSMEs
  • Build MSME capacity in dealing innovatively with challenges in natural resource shortages by conducting trainings at the meso- & macro-levels together with industry associations for embedding strategies
  • Support the development of clusters, bringing stakeholders together and creating ecosystems for SCP and supply-chain integration.
Support for participating SMEs
  • Capacity building
  • Direct on-site consultation
  • Guidance to implement resource efficiency measures
Activities for relevant stakeholders
  • Stakeholder roundtables
  • Policy roundtables
  • Financial sector engagement to create support framework for SCP
  • Introduction and improvement of SCP measures and technologies in 400 MSMEs in agri-food production and processing;
  • Increased efficiency by 20% on energy, 10% resources (including water) and 15% waste generation within participating companies;
  • 10% of participating companies supported in applying for funding for bankable projects;
  • Capacity building of 40 local experts on SCP practices for replication;
  • Capacity building of 20consultants and experts from financial institutions on suitable financial instruments for SCP solutions;
  • Capacity building of 20 national or regional policy makers, advisors and government bodies and institutions on SCP policy mechanisms;
  • Improved clusterisation and ecosystem development for SCP involving all stakeholders.

Our Contribution to SDGs

MSMEs in the agri-food processing industries.  Wide range of MSMEs, such as those engaged in fruit or vegetable canning, beverage production, dry fruit processing, confectionary, dairy products as well as those engaged in horticulture, fruit and vegetable producing, are invited to join the project.

The Switch Asia Programme was launched by the European Union in 2007 to promote Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in Asia.  SCP aims to improve environmental performance through the life cycle of products by both better production technologies and informed consumer choices.  This can reduce the use of resources as well as generation of wastes and emissions of GHG.

More information is available at https://www.switch-asia.eu/

Latest News

Making REAP even more sustainable – developing for the future

One major goal of REAP-Project is the sustainability of the actitivies. After the project is complete, same, similar, complementary and/or additional services shall be offered to more companies in the agri food production & processing field as well as to

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