Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan, 11-15 March 2024 – A representative of the Scientific-Information Center of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD) actively participated in the regional practical training workshop on “Climate Finance”, organized under the framework of the Regional Climate Action Transparency Hub for Central Asia (ReCATH) project. The event was convened by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) with the support of the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) and brought together representatives of government agencies, international organizations, national experts, and specialized institutions from all five Central Asian countries.
The five-day training aimed to strengthen the technical capacities of national experts in the field of climate finance, enhance mechanisms for monitoring and tracking climate finance flows in line with the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) under the Paris Agreement, and improve the quality of preparation of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs).
During the first day of the training, participants examined international approaches to climate finance mobilization, the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the mobilization and allocation of climate finance, and contemporary methodologies for developing project proposals for international financial institutions and climate funds. Practical sessions focused on climate project budgeting, financial risk assessment, the structure of project proposals, and the preparation of investment-ready initiatives in the areas of climate change adaptation, mitigation, greenhouse gas inventory development, and sustainable natural resource management.
Particular attention during the second and third days was devoted to methodologies for tracking climate finance flows in accordance with ETF requirements. International experts presented current approaches to climate finance classification, analysis of financing sources, methodologies for reporting on support provided, received, and needed, as well as the practical application of the ICAT Climate Finance Transparency Guide. Participants discussed institutional arrangements for establishing national climate finance tracking systems, inter-agency coordination mechanisms, centralized data management, and the enhancement of national reporting systems in preparation for the first BTRs.
The SIC ICSD representative actively contributed to expert discussions and country working groups dedicated to assessing existing institutional arrangements for climate finance tracking across Central Asian countries. Discussions addressed the allocation of responsibilities among government institutions, mechanisms for information exchange, identification of existing gaps in data collection systems, and opportunities for strengthening national climate finance monitoring frameworks. Particular emphasis was placed on expanding regional cooperation in this area and promoting the exchange of international good practices.
The practical component of the training included simulations of national reporting systems, hands-on exercises using climate finance reporting templates, analysis of sample datasets for BTR preparation, and the joint development of recommendations for improving national systems for monitoring climate finance flows. During the group exercises, participants presented assessments of their countries' institutional frameworks, exchanged experiences on climate finance accounting practices, and formulated recommendations for further strengthening transparency mechanisms.
The final day of the training focused on the practical development of new climate project concepts and the preparation of project proposals using internationally recognized approaches to climate finance mobilization. Participants presented their project concepts, explored opportunities for accessing resources from international climate funds, and identified priority areas for further strengthening national capacities in climate finance and project development.
At the conclusion of the training, participants reaffirmed the importance of further strengthening regional cooperation on climate finance, promoting harmonized methodological approaches to tracking climate finance flows, and enhancing national systems for climate reporting. Particular emphasis was placed on expanding knowledge exchange among Central Asian countries, strengthening regional expert networks, and further improving institutional mechanisms for implementing the requirements of the Paris Agreement.
The participation of the SIC ICSD representative in the regional practical training contributes to strengthening scientific and information cooperation among the Central Asian countries in the fields of climate finance and climate action transparency. The knowledge and practical experience gained will support the SIC ICSD's continued efforts to advance regional cooperation, strengthen national monitoring and reporting systems, and contribute to the implementation of the climate priorities of the Regional Environmental Programme for Sustainable Development of Central Asia (REP4SD-CA) 2020-2030.
The event supports the achievement of:
| Priority Area No 4 dedicated to SDG 13: “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts” |
| 4.2 Preparation and implementation of regional programs and projects financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Green Climate Fund (GCF) and other donor agencies. |
| 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. |