Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 2 March 2026 — A National Dialogue on Drought Issues in Turkmenistan was held at the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna of the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan. The event was organized by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) with the support of the Central Asia Regional Environmental Center (CAREC) Project Office in Ashgabat. The meeting brought together representatives of relevant ministries and government agencies, research institutions, international and regional organizations, as well as civil society organizations to develop coordinated approaches to enhancing the country’s resilience to drought.
During the plenary session, participants were presented with the objectives and expected outcomes of the National Dialogue, aimed at formulating priority measures to reduce drought risks.
Presentation of the drought risk and resilience assessment conducted for Turkmenistan. Photocredit to SIC ICSD.
The technical session included an overview of the Regional Drought Risk and Resilience Assessment (DRRA) Project in Central Asia, as well as preliminary findings of the drought risk assessment for Turkmenistan, conducted in accordance with the World Bank’s DRRA methodology (Blocks I-IV). The discussion enabled the identification of key vulnerabilities and priority areas for further strengthening national drought management policies.
Staff members of the Scientific-Information Center of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD) actively contributed to the thematic working groups addressing the establishment of a national drought early warning system, improvement of irrigation efficiency and water accounting, promotion of climate-resilient agricultural production, sustainable pasture management, and the digitalization of water governance. The expert input of SIC ICSD focused on integrating sustainable development principles, enhancing intersectoral coordination, and promoting science-based planning within the emerging list of priority measures.
Groupwork during the Dialogue. Photocredit to CAREC.
In the second half of the day, participants conducted a multi-criteria assessment of the proposed measures, taking into account their drought risk reduction potential, feasibility, cost-effectiveness, associated socio-environmental co-benefits, institutional readiness, and alignment with national development strategies. As a result of the deliberations, a consolidated national list of priorities was developed and an agreed set of priority measures was identified, including the designation of priority regions and sectors for implementation.
Discussion of proposed measures. Photocredit to CAREC.
The active engagement of SIC ICSD in the National Dialogue underscored the importance of scientific and analytical support in advancing climate change adaptation processes and strengthening Turkmenistan’s institutional capacity in water and natural resource management. The meeting represented an important step toward establishing a comprehensive and sustainable national drought response system.
The event supports the achievement of:
| Priority Area of REP4SD No 4 dedicated to SDG 13: “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts” |
| 4.3 Assessment of climate risks and vulnerabilites through the application of corresponding models of a climate change impact on water resources, terrestrial ecosystems and natural disasters, tackling the development of state policies and strategies in this area. |