Bishkek – 18 August 2023 – The Fergana Valley – a transboundary zone of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – is a unique ecological region facing a range of climate challenges, including increased drought and floods, rising temperatures, and other extreme weather events. The growth of climate threats is increasing in the region and the occurrence of numerous cases endangers the population, adversely affecting agriculture, water management, energy, and the health of the entire region.

To develop strategies to combat these climate challenges, UNDP together with the Ministry of Emergency Situations organized the regional training on monitoring and early warning systems on climate risks and challenges in the Ferghana Valley. The event took place on August 17-18 in the city of Osh and brought together representatives of emergency situations authorities and other government agencies, stakeholders, environmental experts, and specialists from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.   

Early warning systems (EWS) are key elements of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, and aim to help communities prepare for hazardous climate-related events. EWS ensure preparedness and rapid response to natural disasters, using a model that integrates the components of risk knowledge, monitoring and predicting, dissemination of information, and response to warnings. This regional training serves as a starting point for the development of effective early warning strategies that will ensure security and well-being at the regional level.

“Serious climate threats and climate change issues have a permanent negative impact on the population and economy of the world. Emergencies recognize neither borders nor nationalities. In this regard, we attach great importance to international cooperation in addressing the challenges of disaster management. I want to note that every year our relations are being improved, strengthened and reach a new level of cooperation,” said Karybai uulu Kanatbek, Head of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Recognizing the urgency of enhancing early warning systems to assist the vulnerable Fergana Valley region with climate change adaptation, this two-day regional training allowed the participants to share practices and discuss advanced technologies and methods for analyzing and forecasting climate risks, develop strategies for early warning and climate risk warning, and strengthen cooperation between the countries of Central Asia.

The first day of the training was marked by live discussions and analysis of climate risks in the region. Presentations by experts from the National Academies of Sciences of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as representatives of the Centre of Hydrometeorological Service of Uzbekistan, provided a better understanding of the main challenges and consequences associated with climate change.

The second day of the training continued the topic of early warning and notification through field research in the Uzgen and Kara-Suu districts. Case studies of early warning systems from different regions provided an example of the analysis of success factors and obstacles in implementing these systems.

The regional training was designed to increase the participants' awareness of the process of EWS, leading to better performance in disaster preparedness and response in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

The event was organized by the regional project «Climate Change and Resilience in Central Asia», implemented by UNDP in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan and funded by the European Union. The overall goal of the project is to assist in ensuring stability and developing models of climate-resilient development in the Ferghana Valley.

Contacts for the media:

Meerim Ruslanbekova, Communications Specialist at +996772751929