Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 27 April 2026 — Representatives of the Scientific-Information Center and the Secretariat of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development of Central Asia (ICSD) participated in a Consultative Meeting on the development of the Country Programme Strategy for Turkmenistan under the Eighth Operational Phase of the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP). The event was organized with the support of international partners, including Conservation Labs and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, and brought together approximately 30 representatives of government institutions and non-governmental organizations.
The consultations aimed to develop a shared vision of the country programme’s priorities, including the identification of key thematic areas, geographic focus zones, capacity-building needs, and opportunities for enhanced partnership and cooperation. Throughout the event, participants engaged in a series of interactive sessions designed to facilitate a comprehensive assessment of the current environmental agenda and to define strategic directions for national-level support.
Consultative Meeting in progress. Photocredit to SIC ICSD.
As part of the working programme, participants undertook stakeholder and ecosystem mapping exercises, enabling the identification of key actors and priority natural areas. Particular attention was given to thematic discussions on biodiversity conservation and the expansion of protected areas, climate change mitigation and land degradation, as well as the promotion of sustainable livelihoods and the resilience of local communities.
During subsequent sessions, participants examined existing constraints and challenges, including gaps in institutional capacity, financing and technical needs, as well as administrative and coordination issues. Considerable emphasis was also placed on ensuring an inclusive process, with targeted discussions focusing on the engagement of women, youth, and other underrepresented groups.
The consultations concluded with the formulation of priority project concepts and intervention areas, followed by their prioritization based on relevance and potential impact. The outcomes of the discussions provide a foundation for the further development of the GEF SGP Country Programme Strategy for Turkmenistan, aimed at promoting sustainable natural resource management, strengthening community resilience, and advancing environmental initiatives.
The participation of ICSD representatives contributed to aligning national priorities with the regional sustainable development agenda and to strengthening coordination efforts in the implementation of environmental initiatives across Central Asia.
The event supports the achievement of:
| Priority Area of REP4SD No 5 dedicated to SDG 15: “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems” |
| 5.2.2 strengthening scientific cooperation on restoration of rare and endangered plant and animal species, taking joint measures for their protection; |
| Priority area No 6 of REP4SD dedicated to SDG 17: “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development” |
| 6.1 Involvement of the region into implementation of global environmental conventions, programmes and initiatives. |