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Uzbekistan - National Strategy for Black Carbon Reduction and Air Quality Improvement

by CCAC - 8 July, 2025

Overview

This project responds to a request made by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan to develop and implement a national strategy for black carbon reduction and air quality improvement. The transport sector in Uzbekistan is one of the major contributors to black carbon and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) emissions, largely due to outdated vehicle technologies, inefficient fuel use, and unregulated industrial pollution. These emissions significantly impact both public health and the climate.

This project aims to support the government’s efforts by establishing a robust national framework for black carbon reduction. It will focus on strengthening air quality monitoring systems, integrating black carbon mitigation measures into national environmental policies, and deploying advanced emission control technologies for diesel vehicles and industrial sources. The project will also provide policy recommendations and develop an MRV system to support effective emissions tracking and enforcement.

The project will support the Government of Uzbekistan at drafting a National Strategy on Air Protection until 2035, as well as aligns with the Strategy for Transition to a Green Economy (2019-2030), and Uzbekistan’s national climate target to reduce GHG emissions per unit of GDP by 35% from 2010 levels by 2030.

Who to involve

Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Uzbekistan
State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Ministry of Internal Affairs and State Department of Road Safety of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Agency for Technical Regulation under the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade
Regional environmental authorities and local communities
Local NGOs
Industrial Associations
Researchers

Expected results

Outcome 1: The Government of Uzbekistan adopts a national strategy for black carbon reduction that integrates emissions reduction measures into air quality policy by the end of the project.

Indicator: Number of action plans, roadmaps, strategies, or other future plans with SLCP targets or mitigation measures formally adopted, endorsed and/or implemented

Output 1.1: National black carbon emissions inventory.
Output 1.2: Policy review and draft national strategy for black carbon mitigation.

Outcome 2: The Government of Uzbekistan demonstrates improved capacity to monitor and report black carbon emissions by the end of the project.

Indicator: Number of government entities with a demonstrated improved capacity for SLCP action

Output 2.1: Training materials on black carbon monitoring and enforcement techniques.
Output 2.2: Standardized MRV framework for black carbon emissions.
Output 2.3: Capacity-building workshop for relevant stakeholders on monitoring and reporting black carbon emissions.

Outcome 3: The Government of Uzbekistan adopts a national MRV system for black carbon emissions by the end of the project or soon after.

Indicator: Number of monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems developed or updated that include SLCPs

Output 3.1: Standardized methodologies and indicators for monitoring black carbon reduction measures across the heavy-duty vehicle emissions (HDVE) sector are developed.
Output 3.2: A reporting mechanism requiring regular submission of progress data on black carbon reduction targets is designed and institutionalized.
Output 3.3: A transparent and accessible database framework is outlined to collect, store, and analyze sectoral mitigation data, while avoiding procurement of large digital platforms.
Output 3.4: A verification protocol is developed to ensure the accuracy and credibility of reported data, potentially involving independent third-party audits or verification bodies.

Outcome 4: The Government of Uzbekistan pilots and evaluates advanced black carbon mitigation technologies for heavy-duty vehicles by the end of the project.

Indicator: Number of SLCP mitigation tools, technologies, or practices adopted

Output 4.1: Technology assessment report identifying and evaluating cost-effective black carbon mitigation technologies for heavy-duty diesel vehicles.
Output 4.2: Technical guideline developed on the application of advanced black carbon mitigation technologies for high-emitting heavy-duty vehicles, including catalytic converters for older gasoline-powered trucks and buses as a representative example.
Output 4.3: Pilot demonstration conducted in collaboration with the Tashkent City Transport Department to install and test black carbon emission control technologies on municipal heavy-duty diesel vehicles.
Output 4.4: Pilot demonstration report developed to summarize emissions reductions, operational performance, maintenance experience, and cost-effectiveness of tested HDV technologies, with recommendations for national scale-up.
Output 4.5: Policy recommendation brief prepared to support the integration of validated heavy-duty vehicle advanced black carbon mitigation technologies into Uzbekistan’s emissions standards, fleet procurement policies, and national transport strategies.

Outcome 5: The Government of Uzbekistan mobilizes external support and establishes partnerships for black carbon mitigation financing by the end of the project.

Indicator: Amount of external funding (“catalysed funding”) for SLCP actions

Output 5.1: A financial roadmap is developed outlining priority investment areas and funding requirements for implementing black carbon mitigation measures.
Output 5.2: A summary report is produced highlighting global best practices, financing instruments, and international funding opportunities for black carbon mitigation.
Output 5.3: A consultation workshop is convened with financial institutions, private sector representatives, and development partners to present investment needs and identify potential funding partnerships.

APPLICATION PROCESs

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for consideration, project proposals must meet the following requirements:

Complete and submitted before the deadline
Submitted by a non-governmental organization (NGO), intergovernmental organization (IGO), or other not-for-profit entity.
Requested funding is within the estimated budget amount, or includes a clear justification for additional expenses
Project duration is less than 24 months
Budget criteria are met and spending caps on expenses are respected.
Please note that entities will be required to provide the last three (3) audited financial statements to be eligible for CCAC funding. These statements may be provided along with the application for funding or at the request of the CCAC Secretariat during the evaluation process.

For-profit entities may only participate in the project as stakeholders, co-funders, or end users. Applicants are encouraged to include for-profit entities in the development of the project proposal and/or during project implementation if their ownership of the proposed solution is key to the project’s success.

How to apply

Eligible applicants are invited to apply using the Application Form and Excel Budget Form. Specific instructions on completing these forms are available in both documents.

Applicants may choose to follow the cost range proposed above OR propose a different budget supported by a clear justification. However, applicants should note that cost efficiency will play a significant role in the selection process.

The completed Application Form and Excel Budget Form should be submitted to secretariat [at] ccacoalition.org.

Evaluation criteria

Proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:

Presents a clear plan to achieve the required outcomes during the lifetime of the project or soon after
Includes a plan or activities to enable the scaling up of, replication of, or sustained use of project results over time
Sets out a clear approach for enabling or contributing to SLCP emissions reductions and resulting co-benefits
Involves relevant stakeholders
Approach is grounded in a strong understanding of relevant risks
Complements other relevant initiatives, funding mechanisms, and existing policy processes
Applicant demonstrates necessary capacity and experience to perform the work
A realistic, cost-effective, and clearly justified budget and approach is proposed
Project meets the minimum requirements for the OECD DAC gender equality marker Score 1

Selection process
A preliminary review of proposals submitted by the deadline will be conducted by members of the CCAC Secretariat, Funding Task Team, and Board, in consultation with relevant CCAC Partners.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present their proposals in further detail and to respond to follow-up questions about their application.
Successful applicants will be invited to develop a Project Implementation Plan and Detailed Budget in consultation with the CCAC Secretariat and relevant CCAC Partners.
The selection process may take up to 6 months after the closing date of the call for proposals. Due to the high volume of requests, the CCAC will not respond to requests for updates or feedback during this time.

Due diligence and procurement

Due diligence

CCAC implementers with UNEP contractual agreements must meet with the following requirements:

Have adequate financial resources to perform the contract and meet all existing commitments (financial health)
Be able to provide proof of registration, proof of not-for-profit status and audited financial statements for the last three completed fiscal years
Have a record of satisfactory performance with UNEP/CCAC, when applicable; and - Not have been suspended or debarred by UNEP/CCAC or another UN agency. UNEP/CCAC also considers entities included in the Security Council Resolution Lists to be ineligible for UNEP/CCAC agreements.
* (inter)governmental entities/ United Nations are exempt from this requirement

Contract requirements

If selected for funding, your project will be contracted through the United Nations. Organisation(s) selected to implement the project must meet the following due diligence and procurement rules.

Procurement

As a general rule, Implementation Agreements allow for incidental procurement only.