Roadmap for health and well-being in Central Asia 2022–2025: summary evaluation report

Overview

The Roadmap for health and well-being in Central Asia 2022–2025 (CARM) was developed to foster joint health initiatives among Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, with support from the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Endorsed by heads of State in 2023, CARM aims to align health priorities and enhance regional collaboration. An evaluation of CARM’s design, execution, governance, and outcomes was conducted from December 2024 to March 2025 and involved a comprehensive review of over 50 documents and interviews with 71 key stakeholders, including those from ministries of health, WHO offices, and development partners. CARM successfully secured high-level political buy-in and established a platform for regional dialogue. However, it faced challenges in operationalization and strategic focus. CARM’s broad scope and unclear role led to inconsistent implementation. Despite these challenges, CARM demonstrated that subregional cooperation can work when the agenda is focused and implementation is feasible. Initiatives such as TB-Free Central Asia, digital health pilots, and climate-health resilience projects showed real promise. Future strategies should prioritize clear roles, dedicated funding and robust implementation plans. The proposed next-generation roadmap aims to be more practical, dynamic and focused, ensuring sustained, measurable impact through joint action and investment.