DUSHANBE, July 26, 2013, Asia-Plus -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $21.55 million grant from the Strategic Climate Fund for a project to reduce the adverse effects of climate change in 59 villages in the Panj River basin in Tajikistan, press release issued by ADB’s Tajikistan resident Mission (TJRM) said.

The project will increase communities’ ability to cope with the expected increase in temperature and precipitation variability, improve access to water services, and provide information and affordable finance to improve agriculture and diversify the economy.

Tajikistan is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change.  The Panj River basin, with an area of 114,500 square kilometers and around 1.27 million people, is the largest in the country.  Communities there are already experiencing extreme climatic events such as floods, droughts, and landslides, which destroy crops and infrastructure and, in the worst cases, take lives.

“Tajikistan is a small greenhouse gas producer and yet among the most vulnerable to climate change,” said Klaus Gerhaeusser, director general of ADB’s Central and West Asia Department.  “ADB will continue to leverage financial resources from the international community to help Tajikistan combat climate change.”

In selected villages, the project will implement a wide range of measures, including upgrading flood protection, irrigation, and drinking water supply; and providing microcredit for climate-resilient economic activities.  It will also establish water users’ associations, and advise on efficient water management, restoration of soil fertility, and climate-resilient crops.

The Government of Tajikistan and participating microfinance institutions will provide counterpart funding of $1.15 million for the project, which is due for completion in 2019. The executing agencies are the Ministry of Land Reclamation and Water Resources, the State Unitary Enterprise for Housing and Communal Services (Khochagii Manziliyu Kommunali), and the Ministry of Finance, each responsible for different sets of measures.

The “Building Climate Resilience in Panj River Basin” Project aims to increase resilience to climate vulnerability and change of communities in the Panj River Basin.  The project''s impact will be improved livelihoods of Panj River Basin communities vulnerable to climate variability and change.  The project''s outcome will be reduced adverse effects of climate variability and climate change in 59 villages in 19 jamoats in the Panj River Basin.  The project has four outputs: Output 1 is flood protection infrastructure climate-proofed in 10 jamoats; Output 2 is irrigation systems climate-proofed in eight jamoats; Output 3 is water supply infrastructure climate-proofed in seven jamoats; and Output 4 is micro credits and micro deposits made available to promote climate resilience in the Panj River Basin.

Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998 and, to date, the institution has approved total assistance of over $990 million in concessional loans, grants, and technical assistance to the country. ADB’s operations benefit the population by reducing isolation, increasing communication, broadening access to electricity, improving social services, and creating more income-generating opportunities.