Locations21 August 2019, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Plenary Statement on behalf of UNDP Tajikistan
Ms. Pratibha Mehta, Resident Representative, UNDP Tajikistan
His Excellency, Mr. Mahmadtoir Zokirzoda, Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan,
His Excellency, Mr. Rustam Nazarzoda, Chairman of the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense,
Her Excellency, Ms. Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction,
Her Excellency, Ms. Asako Okai, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Crisis Bureau,
Ms. Corinne Demenge, Deputy Director of Swiss Development Cooperation,
Excellencies, distinguished participants, ladies and gentlemen,
UNDP Office in Tajikistan is very pleased to partner with the Government of Tajikistan, particularly with the Committee for Emergency Situations and Swiss Development Cooperation, in organizing this important conference.
I am particularly pleased because this year we also celebrate 25 years of partnership between UNDP Office in Tajikistan and Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense. Together, we have worked on emergency response during the rehabilitation and reconstruction period right after the civil war in Tajikistan. And now we are working on mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into national and local development to implement the 2030 National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy, fostering coordination through the National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction.
Over years UNDP’s support has been first to achieve MDGs and now SDGs. More concretely, since the adoption of SDGs and Sendai framework our partnership now focuses on strengthens DR governance:
· Capacity search and rescue, managing humanitarian stockpiles for emergency response, as well as building institutional and community capacities for disaster risk reduction.
The emphasis is now on prevention of disaster risks. Based on underlying causes of hazards and vulnerability, including forward-looking strategies to mitigate and adapt to climatic changes.
Disasters are increasingly linked to the current pace of climate change induced extreme weather events. In Tajikistan, recent observations show that the annual mean temperature increased unevenly (as much as 0.1-0.5ºС per decade over the last 50 years). The future climate change prognosis indicates a significant rise of annual temperature (up to +5°C) by the end of 21st century, and will increase the risk of droughts, mudflows and floods due to snow melting patterns. Geographical characteristics, population’s dependence on natural resources, food security challenges make Tajikistan even more vulnerable to climate change and frequent natural disasters. As such, it is estimated that 1/3 of all annual losses of gross agricultural output is caused by disasters.
There is no country in the world that is capable to face all challenges of climate-induced disasters alone. Harnessing regional cooperation for disaster resilience is crucial in achieving the aspirations of the Sustainable Development Goals and require investment in long-term solutions to built resilience.
UNDP Tajikistan stands ready to continue work with all UN Agencies and other partners to support Tajikistan to tackle climatic changes, reduce disaster risks and build overall resilience.
Thank you for your attention.
