The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic presented and discussed the technical assistance on the Climate Resilience Disaster Risk Reduction in Water Resources Management Project at an inception workshop in Bishkek.
50 people attended the event, including officials from the Department of Water Resources and Land Reclamation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Industry and Land Reclamation, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Department of Agriculture and Ecology, as well as the Ambassador of Japan to the Kyrgyz Republic.
The technical assistance is financed by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) and administered by ADB. The aim of the inception workshop for the ADB technical assistance is to present the progress and plans for project preparation and discuss the content and design of the project.
The Kyrgyz Republic is highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change and extreme weather events. Disasters triggered by natural hazards—floods in the southwest districts, droughts in the northern districts, landslides, and earthquakes—are frequent, which also cost the Kyrgyz economy approximately 1% to 1.5% of the gross domestic product annually.
As a result, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic has estimated the country-wide adaptation investment requirement at approximately $2 billion. The water resources sector is ranked highest in need of these funds. The government’s 40 Steps to a New Era and the recently finalized Climate Investment Program describe strategic adaptation priorities for investment. These include modernizing water resources infrastructure, optimizing water management, and using resilient agricultural techniques.
The proposed $25 million project is included in ADB’s Country Operations Business Plan, 2017-2019, for the Kyrgyz Republic, and will contribute directly to the Kyrgyz Republic’s climate change and disaster resilience in the country’s water sector, with a focus on flood, landslide, and drought risks. The project activities will include structural (civil works) and non-structural (including capacity building, planning, and training for disaster resilience) elements.
“The proposed project is aligned with ADB’s broader strategy of reducing poverty through inclusive growth, where the biggest impact is to protect the population and territories from emergencies, threats, risks, and hazards. It will also help prevent climate change-related damage and losses in the country,” said Candice McDeigan, ADB Country Director for the Kyrgyz Republic.
The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Emergency Situations will be the implementing agencies for the investment project, which will include the modernization of irrigation practices, improved agriculture and land management, flood protection infrastructure, and improved data collection and analysis.
Established in May 2000 and financed by the Government of Japan, JFPR provides direct grant assistance to the poorest and most vulnerable groups of ADB’s developing member countries while fostering long-term social and economic development.
Original source: ADB
Published on 30 January 2018
