Partnership

23 February 2022

Press release

Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Thursday, 17^th of February – United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO) Almaty Cluster Office Director, Krista Pikkat hold a meeting with the Director of the Agency for hydrometeorology of the Committee of Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, Kurbonzoda Abdullo Habibulo and other representatives of the agency.

The meeting was dedicated to the discussion of the “Reducing vulnerabilities of populations in Central Asia region from glacier lake outburst floods in a changing climate” (GLOFCA) project funded by the Adaptation Fund and implemented by the UNESCO Almaty Cluster Office.

Krista Pikkat addressed the questions brought by the agency representatives and updated the national partners on the ongoing activities of the project and informed them on the next steps. Both parties agreed that the Agency on hydrometeorology is one of the main partners of the project in the country and must be involved in the capacity buildings and other activities to the maximum extent possible. Therefore, a list of proposed activities on the engagement of the agency into the project was handed to the UNESCO Director by Mr. Abdullo.

About the GLOFCA project

The GLOFCA is a regional project funded by the Adaptation Fund, implemented by UNESCO Cluster office Almaty in the four Central Asian countries- the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan. The project aims to strengthen adaptation to climate change in Central Asia by reducing the social risks and vulnerabilities associated with glaciers melting-related hazards, notably GLOFs. The project objective will be achieved by assessing societal risks and vulnerabilities associated with GLOFs and then addressing these risks and vulnerabilities. The approach will strengthen the monitoring, analytical, and response capacities of institutions and government officials responsible for DRR, emergencies, and CCA through community and gender-sensitive ground-level training and awareness campaigns, and through the establishment of early warning systems (EWS), supported with the necessary state-of-the-art monitoring strategies. The emerging and increasing risk associated with GLOFs, together with appropriate response and adaptation strategies will be brought to the forefront of attention for decision-makers and communities in all of the participating countries.