ADB supports Tajikistan’s preparations for climate change adaptation

DUSHANBE, November 9, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $750,000 technical assistance grant (TA) to strengthen the Government of Tajikistan’s ability to make informed decisions regarding adaptation to climate impacts, press release issued by the ADB Tajikistan Resident Mission (TJRM) today said.

The grant is part of the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) funded under the multi-donor Strategic Climate Fund.

"Tajikistan’s vulnerability to climate change poses additional and significant risks to the country’s economy, human welfare and environment," said Ryutaro Takaku, ADB’s Water Resources Engineer. "The PPCR’s overall objective is to pilot and demonstrate ways to integrate climate risks and resilience into core development planning, while complementing other ongoing activities."

The TA aims to strengthen the ability of Tajikistan’s hydrometeorological and water sector institutions to anticipate climate impacts and provide resiliency measures for vulnerable sectors and river basins in the country.

The Committee on Environment Protection and the Ministry of Water Resources and Land Reclamation are the implementing agencies for the TA, which is planned to be completed by June 2011.

Tajikistan has been selected as one of nine countries and two regions in the world to participate in the PPCR.

The Strategic Climate Fund is a unique financing instrument designed to support three targeted programs (Forest Investment Program, Pilot Program for Climate Resilience, and Scaling-up Renewable Energy Program) to pilot new approaches with potential for scaled-up, transformational action aimed at a specific climate change challenge or sectoral response.  

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members—48 from the region.  In 2009, it approved a total of $16.1 billion in financing operations through loans, grants, guarantees, a trade finance facilitation program, equity investments, and technical assistance projects.  ADB also mobilized cofinancing amounting to $3.2 billion.