Around 30 people from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Swiss State Secretariat for economic affairs and key partner organisations from Central Asia (Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan), South Caucasus (Georgia), Pakistan and Switzerland participated in the event in Khorog, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. The seminar balanced in-door learning and exchange with outdoor field exposure including experience sharing among different stakeholders. Both regions were able to compare approaches and share their knowledge – enabling feedback loops, critical revisiting of one’s own thinking, and learning from existing best practices and innovative approaches.
The region of Gorno-Badakhshan (Pamirs) was selected to illustrate, reflect, and learn about climate change induced challenges and innovative approaches in the fields of disaster risk reduction and local and regional water management. In order to foster knowledge exchanges and work partnerships between all involved collaborating institutions, the Campus of the University of Central Asia (UCA) in Khorog has accepted to host this seminar. Researchers from various universities, in particular the University of Central Asia, and other collaborating research institutions contributed to the event.
The Seminar was preceded by an on-line discussion in English and in Russian language, involving nearly a hundred participants from both regions and from Europe. The discussion was based on four scientific papers produced specifically for the event on the latest state of knowledge on climate change and its impacts on disasters risks and water availability in Central Asia and the Caucasus, existing institutions and challenges in responding to these issues, as well as pathways to sustainable solutions and key concepts. These papers have been translated and will be disseminated along with the key messages in order to disseminate knowledge, raise awareness, stimulate reflexion and propagate solutions and good practices among the community of practitioners and decision makers. Among others, the conclusions of the workshop highlight the need for a cross-sectoral approach that is people-centred and that integrates climate change, disaster risks reduction and water management. It also underlines the role of the state in harmonising knowledge and disseminating good practices, and stresses the importance and benefits of improved regional cooperation on these issues.
As one of the participants from the Swiss Embassy in Kyrgyzstan Tunzhurbek Kudabaev mentioned: “For me, it was so important to see the successful inclusion of Disaster Risk reduction into their planning and operation of development agencies working in mountain areas. In future, we are going to integrate the approach into our water projects as well".
This year Switzerland celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Dushanbe. Within the framework of a comprehensive cooperation and development program, Switzerland has supported the People and the Government of Tajikistan in reforming the health, water and natural resource management sectors, in increasing access to justice and in facilitating the country’s transition towards a market economy. Switzerland invests approximately 20 Million USD per year in projects implemented in all parts of Tajikistan.
