Supporting peace through local solutions in the Fergana Valley 

Communities across Central Asia’s Fergana Valley are navigating climate change, water shortages and rising social tensions. With Saferworld’s support, civil society organisations in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are beginning a new wave of locally led peacebuilding initiatives – helping people work together to address shared challenges, strengthen trust and prevent conflict. 

The Fergana Valley is home to diverse communities living across the borders of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. While the region has made progress on cooperation in recent years, people still face deep-rooted challenges that increase the risk of conflict – particularly in areas where communities share scarce water resources and live with legacies of mistrust. 

Across six new small-grants, Saferworld is supporting eight community-based organisations to lead their own projects that respond to these issues. These efforts reflect a shared commitment to peace – one rooted in community dialogue, cross-border cooperation and decision-making that includes all. It also provides an opportunity to put into practice new skills and knowledge from a series of thematic trainings, and provides a platform for cooperation between civil society organisations and the authorities – at times even reaching across borders. These kinds of flexible small grants help organisations to prioritise issues that they find to be the most pressing for the communities they work with and to come up with innovative solutions to address them. 

Tackling water scarcity and climate risks 

Water access and climate change are shared challenges that, if unaddressed, can deepen social tensions as people rely on limited, shared resources in border regions of the Fergana Valley. In Uzbekistan’s Fergana District, the Centre for the Promotion of Civil Initiatives is starting H2O for Community Development. The project will support women and young people to learn about sustainable water use, digital tools and conflict mediation, enabling them to contribute to local water management and reduce household-level tensions. 

In Batken, Kyrgyzstan, Dialogue, Trust, Rights is launching Climate is Changing – Batken is Adapting, a project that combines training with hands-on infrastructure repairs. Farmers, teachers and local leaders will take part in awareness raising and practical activities to manage climate risks – such as restoring irrigation canals – while helping to embed climate resilience into local planning. 

Meanwhile, Peace Initiatives (Kyrgyzstan) and Mehrjon (Uzbekistan) are working together on Water for Peace and Cooperation. Communities living along the Ak-Suu and Sokh rivers will be supported to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and participate more actively in local water governance. By reducing pollution and preventing resource-related disputes, the project aims to strengthen cohesion between neighbouring villages across borders. 

Creating space for youth-led peacebuilding 

Young people have enormous potential to lead positive change – but in many parts of the Fergana Valley, they face exclusion from decision making, stereotyping and limited opportunities to engage in local governance or community solutions. 

In Osh, Kyrgyzstan, the organisation New Rhythm is beginning Generation of Peace, a programmeto support young people aged 18–35 to develop skills in peaceful communication and conflict resolution. Through safe spaces for dialogue and peace education, the project aims to reduce tensions in a rapidly urbanising and diverse city. 

Hamroh (Uzbekistan) and the Centre for Friendship, Tolerance and Mediation at Osh State University are also focusing on youth leadership with their cross-border project, Bridges of Friendship. Their aim is to help young people develop mediation skills and engage in dialogue across ethnic and gender divides. By building trust and breaking down stereotypes, the initiative will contribute to peaceful coexistence between communities in Andijan and Osh. 

Promoting trust and inclusion in decision-making 

In Uzbekistan’s Jalakuduk District, near the Kyrgyz border, the Yuksalish Movement is launching Peace in the Community. The project will support women and young people to develop skills in communication, legal awareness and community dialogue. By creating more inclusive spaces for community participation, it seeks to bring people together and prevent local disputes from escalating. 

Locally led, regionally relevant 

Communities know their own needs best. Each of these initiatives responds to distinct needs identified by the people living in the region – but they all share a focus on inclusion, dialogue and cooperation. They are not only helping communities manage immediate challenges but also contributing to longer-term peacebuilding across the Fergana Valley.  

As these efforts begin, Saferworld will work in partnership with these organisations – supporting learning, amplifying local voices and helping to ensure that peacebuilding efforts are shaped by the people most affected. 

Photo: Participants at Generation of Peace, a youth camp organised by New Rhythm CSO, engage in a training on conflict resolution and peacebuilding in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Credit: Danil Usmanov / Saferworld