National workshops advance NAPs and SAP development in Central Asia
As part of the GEF-UNDP-UNESCO Cryosphere project “Strengthening the resilience of Central Asian countries by enabling regional cooperation to assess glacio-nival systems to develop integrated methods for sustainable development and adaptation to climate change,” a series of national workshops was held across Central Asia to support the preparation of National Action Plans (NAPs) and a Subregional Joint Action Programme (SJAP)*.
The workshops followed the third subregional meeting held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in April 2025, and took place in Almaty (Kazakhstan), Hisor (Tajikistan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), and Bishkek (Kyrgyz Republic). They focused on translating regional priorities into national-level actions to strengthen cryosphere monitoring, improve data sharing, and build technical capacity.
Discussions addressed practical steps to enhance monitoring of glaciers, snow cover, and permafrost; expand research; and develop new knowledge products on the cryosphere. The workshops also supported the creation of multi-institutional national working groups to coordinate follow-up activities.
Next steps include further work with the national working groups to finalize the NAPs and prepare the SJAP. A subregional meeting is planned for August 2025 in Kyrgyzstan to advance these efforts.
*Within the project, the working term “Subregional Joint Action Programme(SJAP)” is used, corresponding to the concept of a Strategic Action Programme (SAP) as defined in the GEF International Waters methodology. A SAP is a negotiated policy document that should be endorsed at the highest level across all relevant sectors. It sets clear priorities for action, for example, in policy, legal, institutional reform or investments, to address the priority issues identified in the Diagnostic Analysis. The SAP preparation process is intended to be highly collaborative and cooperative among the participating countries.
About the project
This workshop is part of a larger initiative, Strengthening the resilience of Central Asian countries by enabling regional cooperation to assess glacio-nival systems to develop integrated methods for sustainable development and adaptation to climate change." The project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through UNDP and implemented by UNESCO, aims to address the region’s critical environmental challenge: the degradation of snow, glacier, and permafrost systems (glacio-nival systems), which are vital sources of water for Central Asian countries. These systems play a crucial role in supporting agriculture, energy, and everyday water supply, making their preservation essential for the livelihoods of millions.
By fostering regional cooperation, the project encourages Central Asian nations to develop joint strategies for managing and protecting their shared water resources, especially as climate change continues to threaten the stability of these glacio-nival systems. The outcomes of the this workshop will feed into broader regional strategies, helping countries adapt to future changes in the cryosphere and strengthen their resilience to climate impacts.
For more information on the project, please contact the Project Manager, Nana Baramidze (n.baramidze@unesco.org), and visit the project page on iwlearn.net.
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Words by Altyntomiris Baltabayeva. Photos by UNESCO.
