Enabling an effective National Adaptation Plan process for Tajikistan

The overall goal of the project is to establish the institutional arrangements and human/institutional capacities to develop and execute National Adaptation Plans to implement Tajikistan’s National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS). As part of the NAP process, the project will also capacitate responsible agencies for the four priority sectors which have been identified by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan as being particularly vulnerable: energy, water resources, transportation, and agriculture, and advance mainstreaming of climate change adaptation considerations in these agenciesThe project will also address barriers and gaps with respect to financing of priority adaptation measures and implementation capabilities at the subnational level in order to establish the enabling conditions which will allow for the NAP to be effectively implemented. 

The project will closely coordinate with other ongoing and planned adaptation measures and provide a structure by which the lessons learned from those initiatives can be institutionalized into ongoing climate change adaptation planning in Tajikistan. Lastly, the project has been designed to ensure broad stakeholder engagement and involvement, focusing particularly on vulnerable groups (e.g., women). 

In addition to the implementing partner, the Committee of Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan (CEP), other project partners include the Agency for Hydrometeorology, Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Committee on Emergency Situations and Civil Defense, Ministry of Agriculture, Agency for Land Reclamation and Irrigation, and the Committee on Land Use, Geodesy and Cartography.  

The "Enabling an effective National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process for Tajikistan" project supports the Government of Tajikistan to establish the institutional arrangements and capacities to develop and execute National Adaptation Plans to further an overarching approach to adaptation planning and implementation in the country. 

The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has made commitments to confront the challenges of climate change and to implementing the commitments made in its Nationally Determined Contribution. At the national level, to achieve its adaptation goals the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has developed a National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (NCCAS), which is a long-term statement of priorities with respect to climate change adaptation.  The current project addresses identified gaps and barriers to implementation and is consistent with the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan’s vision for the NAP process.   

The following results are expected to be delivered through the three outcomes of the project:

• Committee on Environmental Protection is strengthened as the lead agency and coordinating body for climate change adaptation.

• Statistics Agency develops and implements national indicators and reporting methodology for climate change adaptation planning and implementation.

• Climate Change Center knowledge management capabilities are strengthened.

• Mainstreaming of climate change adaptation in priority sector planning and regulatory frameworks is advanced.

• Priority sector vulnerabilities and adaptation options are identified.

• Long-term climate change adaptation capacity development program is established and implemented.

• Establish and institutionalize a financing mechanism for the NAP/NCCAS/NDC implementation.

• Sub-national capacities for climate change adaptation mainstreaming, planning, and project implementation are enhanced.

• Private sector is engaged in climate change adaptation activities at national and sectoral levels. 

PROJECT RATIONALE 

Tajikistan has already started to feel the effects of climate change. Temperatures in Tajikistan have consistently increased since the 1930's at an average rate of 0.1˚C/decade. Climate-induced extreme weather events (such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, landslides and avalanches) are expected to increase in both frequency and intensity as a result of warming. Almost one-third of the population lives below the poverty line, which adds significantly to the climate risk vulnerability of a country that is already identified as the most vulnerable among all European and Central Asian countries. Climate change could adversely affect Tajikistan through impacts on social, cultural, economic, and natural resources. The relatively low level of socio-economic development, inadequate infrastructure, and high dependency on climate-sensitive sectors make the country extremely vulnerable to climate-induced extreme events. 

PROJECT UPDATES 

• Institutional review of the Climate Change Centre conducted, and learning materials developed based on the needs identified

• Sectoral institutional and legal reviews conducted

• Four Quarterly bulletins on Climate Change Adaptation developed and submitted to the Climate Change Centre (CCC) for wide dissemination

• A technical working group of 23 sectoral and cross-sectoral agencies established for the NAP process going forward

• The relationship between key national partners and international stakeholders in the climate change adaptation process strengthened through consistent meetings and updates

• Agreement between the Agency for Hydrometeorology (AoH) and the University of Central Asia (UCA) strengthened in creating innovative mechanisms for climate change adaptation in Tajikistan by establishing a long-term climate change adaptation capacity development program

• NAP awareness-raising and capacity-building activities held with 309 people (33% female) representing Tajikistan’s national state agencies and local and international CSOs, NGOs and private sector through 12 workshops on coordination and institutional arrangements for climate change adaptation planning and implementation

• Seven capacity-building workshops on exchanging climate data, products, information, and services conducted with the CCC’s staff

• Initial drafting of the M&E manual, methodology, and planning tools for key development and cross-sectoral areas commenced in early stage with the involvement of national experts