ILO launches assessment on climate change and water scarcity impacts on Turkmenistan's cotton sector

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched an assessment examining how climate change and water scarcity are affecting cotton production, rural livelihoods and employment in Turkmenistan, according to a press release. The study, discussed at a workshop in Ashgabat on 30 September, places particular emphasis on decent work and a just transition. It will analyze what climate-related changes mean for workers, farmers, households and authorities, with attention to women, youth and groups that may face greater risks. The initiative aims to inform evidence-based policy dialogue on strengthening rural resilience in the country.

Cotton remains an important part of Turkmenistan’s rural economy and a key source of employment and livelihoods for rural communities. Its production is highly dependent on irrigation, making the sector particularly vulnerable to shifts in water availability and climatic conditions. Across Central Asia, rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and extreme weather events are increasing pressure on water resources, agriculture and rural livelihoods. These pressures are reshaping the conditions under which cotton is produced and workers are employed. The assessment responds directly to this evolving landscape.

The work is led by Cristina Martinez, Senior Specialist on Enterprise Development and Green Jobs from the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team and Country Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The 30 September workshop in Ashgabat brought together representatives of national institutions, employers’ and workers’ organizations and other stakeholders. Participants discussed the links between climate change, water availability, cotton production and decent work. They also shared perspectives on the key issues to be examined. The scope and methodology of the assessment were agreed through these discussions.

Combining quantitative and qualitative research, the assessment will analyze the cotton-sector ecosystem and value chain, labour market dynamics and the different impacts of climate change and water scarcity on women and men. The analysis will focus particularly on Dashoguz, Lebap and Balkan velayats. The research will also examine how workers, farmers, households and authorities are adapting to changing conditions. It will consider whether some groups face greater risks and what measures could strengthen rural resilience. The work will be informed by the ILO Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all.

The findings are expected to contribute to evidence-based policy dialogue on how Turkmenistan can strengthen the resilience of rural employment and livelihoods, promote decent work and respond to climate- and water-related pressures. The assessment is being undertaken as part of the European Union-supported ILO project “Promoting decent work and preventing child labour and forced labour in Turkmenistan”. The project combines national-level policy support with practical action at local level. It aims to promote decent work and prevent child and forced labour, particularly in the cotton sector. The initiative places decent work, social dialogue and labour standards at the center of Turkmenistan’s response to environmental change.