Building on the outcomes of the First Regional Workshop held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 3-4 April 2024, the recent first series of the National Workshops marked the way ahead in addressing critical issues with the cryosphere in Central Asia. These workshops, conducted under the regional project titled “Strengthening the Resilience of Central Asian Countries by Enabling Regional Cooperation to Assess Glacio-naval Systems to Develop Integrated Methods for Sustainable Development and Adaptation to Climate Change,” aimed to contextualize each country’s status and perspectives on the cryosphere, water resources, and climate change. The respective national stakeholders identified major issues and their associated impacts, analyzed their causal chain, and discussed leverage points to develop the Diagnostic Analysis (DA) under the GEF IW: LEARN TDA/SAP Methodology.

The workshops, strategically planned across key Central Asian cities, have been a significant step towards the project's continuity and progress. Starting with Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, on 29-30 May, followed by Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 6-7 June, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 18 June, and concluding in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 20-21 June, the series of workshops have set a strong foundation. The planning for the concluding workshop in Turkmenistanrway, ensuring the project's momentum and the stakeholders' continued involvement, is already under.

The workshops brought together various stakeholders, including cryosphere researchers, data management specialists, and governmental, scientific, and educational institutes from each participating country, providing a platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange. Participants had the opportunity to review their respective country's perspectives on the cryosphere, water resources, and climate change, identifying national priorities and assessing their impact on sustainable development. The outcomes of the workshops laid a solid foundation for developing scenario strategies for effectively addressing future cryosphere changes and their impacts on Central Asia.

The project, financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and executed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), takes a comprehensive approach. It focuses on the improved monitoring of snow, glaciers, and permafrost, increased awareness and knowledge on them and on their crucial role in maintaining regional water supplies, sustaining agriculture, and generating energy across Central Asia. By recognizing the transboundary nature of climate-related challenges, the project seeks to enhance regional cooperation in strengthening resilience through cryosphere data collection and action plans, ensuring its effectiveness and impact.

About the project

The project “Strengthening the Resilience of Central Asian Countries by Enabling Regional Cooperation to Assess Glacial-Naval Systems to Develop Integrated Methods for Sustainable Development and Adaptation to Climate Change” was financed by GEF through UNDP and implemented by UNESCO. The project will support two areas of the GEF-7 Strategy: IW-3-5 Enhances water security in freshwater ecosystems through advanced information exchange and early warning, and IW-3-6 enhances water security in freshwater ecosystems through enhanced regional and national cooperation on shared freshwater surface and groundwater basins.

The project is designed to build the capacity of Central Asia through activities that support science-based consensus among the countries to develop the monitoring and assessment of the cryosphere and to enhance understanding of climate change impacts on the cryosphere in Central Asia. The project supports national and regional strategic action programs (SAP), including implementation and demonstration projects that support climate change adaptation in the affected regions. Finally, the project is developing consensus on assessment and monitoring programs for the cryosphere in Central Asia and will raise awareness among stakeholders and develop a knowledge platform.

The project represents a pioneering effort to strengthen management capacities and enhance multi-country cooperation in a region highly susceptible to climate impacts. At the regional level, the project estimates that 1,500 people will benefit directly from project activities. Finally, millions of people will benefit indirectly from the institutional mechanisms, policies, and projects that are put into place to improve water resource management in Central Asia.

For more information, please contact, Nana Baramidze [n.baramidze@unesco.org]  or visit the dedicated page on Iwlearn.net