Dushanbe, 21 August 2019 – The Regional Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Implementation of Sendai Framework concluded with the adoption of Dushanbe Resolution— a call to action for the governments to strengthen the regional coordination mechanisms and consolidated support for the global disaster risk reduction agenda.

Stakeholders from ten countries and several international organizations gathered in Dushanbe, Tajikistan to exchange best practices to actively fulfil the Sendai Framework in the region and to build cross-border cooperation on disaster response and preparedness.

“I am convinced that cooperation between our countries is the most reliable way to seek solutions to the difficulties caused by climate change and natural disasters, including those, related to water issues,” said Mahmadtoir Zokirzoda, Deputy Prime Minister, Head of National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction of the Republic of Tajikistan,addressing the opening of the conference.

Tajikistan is vulnerable to climate change and frequent natural disasters such as floods, mudflows, landslides, avalanches, and earthquakes. UNDP jointly with partners have actively been supporting the Government and people of Tajikistan in building stronger climate resilience since 2003 through various projects amounting to a total of US$25 million.

“This conference marks a crucial milestone for countries and the international community with less than a year to go until we reach the 2020 deadline of the Sendai Framework Target-E. It also provides a good opportunity to take stock of the progress we have made collectively in implementing other Targets of the Sendai Framework,”stated Asako Okai UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP’s Director for the Crisis Bureau.

“UNDP will continue to provide support to the national institutions jointly with partners to provide support to the Governments in the region to develop and implement national and sub-national DRR strategies, to identify and regularly assess hazards and risks, to continuously work on investing more in DRR and improve level of preparedness and response at all levels.”

The Dushanbe Resolution follows Tajikistan’s own commitment to thorough international reporting on crisis data, an obligation the country has accepted in 2018. The conference was hosted by UNDP and Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense of the Republic of Tajikistan and is funded by the Government of Switzerland.

For more information please contact:

Nargiza Usmanova, Team Leader on Resilience, Environment and Energy, UNDP in Tajikistan (Tel.:+992 (44) 6005600, E-mail: nargizakhon.usmanova@undp.org).

Rukhshona Nazhmidinova, Head of Communications Unit, UNDP in Tajikistan (Tel.:+992 (44) 6005600, E-mail: rukhshona.nazhmidinova@undp.org).

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UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in 177 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.  www.undp.org.