The Kyrgyz Republic has recognised the risks posed by climate change and has begun to take steps towards improving their adaptive capacity. The integration of climate change and disaster risk management into sustainable development planning, poverty reduction and adaptation to climate change are one of five priority areas required for building a basis of stable risk management, according to international standards.

The National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSSD) approved in 2018 provides long-term direction, covering the period from 2018-2040 it recognizes the need to transition to more sustainable development pathways through the advancement of green economic principles as a national priority in various policy frameworks. The NSSD calls for the development of climate change adaptation strategies to reduce vulnerability and improve resilience. The NSSD will be implemented through five-year development programs. The first phase, covering the period 2018-2022, is referred to as the “Unity, Trust, Creation” program, and was approved by the parliament (Jogorku Kenesh) on 20 April 2018. Sections of the NSSD, including the “development of strategic branches of economy crosscutting priority” and “cross-cutting directions of development: ecological aspects of development” provide a clear mandate to establish a National Adaptation Plan process to provide strategic guidance on climate change adaptation, aligning it with the country’s efforts to achieve the SDGs.

The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic with support of the UNDP submitted a funding proposal for Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness and Preparatory Support for the formulation of its National Adaptation Plan. This process will be consistent with the government’s strategic vision for climate change adaptation. The project objective is to establish a national adaptation planning process that enhances vertical and horizontal climate change adaptation planning, facilitates mainstreaming of climate risks at sectoral and subnational levels, and identifies a program of priority climate change adaptation investments.

UNDP supports to strengthen the climate resilience of livelihoods of local communities in the Batken Province, which is deemed to be a most vulnerable region to climate change impacts in the Kyrgyz Republic. This is planned to achieve through expansion of the regional climate observation net, comprehensive promotion and scaled up implementation of the best practices of water efficient irrigation and climate smart agriculture, and protection of irrigation water infrastructure from hydrometeorological disasters, as well as the awareness raising of the local stakeholders on climate resilience integrating into communication campaigns.

Reducing vulnerability will be achieved through comprehensive promotion of mutually complementary solutions, replicating and scaling up climate change adaptation practices that have been successfully piloted by UNDP in such areas as agriculture, integrated water resource management and DRR.