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22 March 2023
IOM in Turkmenistan launches regional project "Assistance to the Governments of Central Asian States in the Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)"
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Press Release
21 March 2023
Early Warnings For All Initiative scaled up into action on the ground
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Press Release
20 March 2023
Discussing the Sustainable Development Goals in Turkmenistan
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Turkmenistan
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Turkmenistan:
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23 March 2023
IOM in Turkmenistan launches regional project "Assistance to the Governments of Central Asian States in the Implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)"
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Turkmenistan has launched a regional project "Assistance to the Governments of Central Asian States in the implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM)". The event marking the official launch of the regional project in Turkmenistan brought together in the physical format members of the Interdepartmental Working Group on GCM implementation, members of the Mejlis and representatives of national public associations representing project partners, the UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan and representatives of UN agencies in Turkmenistan representing the UN Network on Migration in the country, as well as IOM Subregional Coordinator for Central Asia, representatives of the UN Migration Network Secretariat, IOM Regional Office in Geneva, representatives of International Organization “United Cities and Local Authorities” in the online format.
This regional project aims to strengthen the capacity of the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as relevant stakeholders in the region to advance the implementation, follow-up and review of the GCM objectives in line with its guiding principles and ahead of the upcoming GCM Regional Migration Review Forum scheduled for 2024. In Turkmenistan, the project aims to strengthen the capacity of members of the Interdepartmental Working Group on GCM Implementation and other stakeholders in implementing specific initiatives, such as the development of a National Action Plan on the priority areas identified in the Progress Declaration of the International Migration Review Forum, as well as supporting the preparation and presentation by Turkmenistan of the Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the implementation of the GCM at the Regional Forum in 2024.
“The upcoming Regional Migration Review Forum in 2024 will provide an excellent opportunity for Turkmenistan to show all its achievements in the field of migration in accordance with SDG target 10.7 to promote orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of a planned and well managed migration policy. I want to assure that the UN Network on Migration in Turkmenistan will make every effort to support national partners and other stakeholders in the preparation of this VNR within the framework of this project,” UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Dmitry Shlapachenko noted.
“There is already a necessary framework and some experience for the project implementation in Turkmenistan. For example, following the spirit and principles of the GCM, Turkmenistan has already submitted a National Voluntary Review on the implementation of GCM, first at the Regional Migration Review Forum in 2020, and then at the first ever International Migration Review Forum in 2022, which resulted in the adoption of the Progress Declaration. In this document, the countries reaffirmed their commitment to the guiding principles and goals of the GCM and agreed on the further actions to accelerate the implementation of the GCM,” IOM Sub-Regional Coordinator for Central Asia, Head of Mission in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan Zeynal Hajiyev stressed.
As part of the event, national project partners and relevant stakeholders got acquainted with the forthcoming joint work on the implementation of the GCM and the recommended actions of the Progress Declaration of the International Migration Review Forum to accelerate the implementation of the GCM, including the preparation of a Voluntary National Review for submission at the Regional Migration Review Forum in 2024. The participants of the event also got acquainted with the experience of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the implementation of the GCM and discussed interdependence of migration issues and the 2030 Agenda.
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28 February 2023
United Nations Experts’ Mission completes its visit to Arkadag City
The UN mission representing the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) arrived in Turkmenistan to visit, review and assess the development of new Arkadag City development based on their respective mandates.
Based on the request of the Turkmenistan Government, the aim of the mission was to review the urban planning, implementation and management of Arkadag City, alongside the compliance of the intended local impact with national standards for contributing to the localization of the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In addition, the request to the mission was made to put forward recommendations for enhancement in future development stages of the city as well as future urban development initiatives in the country, including those associated with the digital transformation and challenges emerging from the adoption of digital and frontier technologies.
During the mission the experts had a series of meetings with colleagues from the UN development system and relevant national government officials as well as official in Ashgabat. Moreover, during two extensive site visits guided by meetings with local government representatives on site, the experts were able to monitor the process, construction methodologies and mechanisms of Arkadag City to ensure innovation for environmentally smart, economically viable, disaster resilient and sustainable urban development.
The experts recommended the efforts made to advancing the localization of the New Urban Agenda and SDGs in the new Arkadag City as a potential good practice to be shared within the regionally but also globally. The Turkmenistan approach to smart, carbon neutral and sustainable city development stands out to be proactive and people-centered, hereby promoting a better quality of life for all while preserving environmental assets. In particular, the UN experts expressed their appreciation of the outstanding efforts in sustainable Smart City development using state-of-the-art digital technologies and benefiting from all aspects of the Forth Industrial Revolution for infrastructural, environmental and economic development.
The participating UN agencies will share the comprehensive findings of the technical mission and will provide detailed recommendations to effectively implement the construction of the Arkadag City in line with the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals; efforts made in the realization of the Arkadag City vision shall inspire urban development across the whole country.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that recently, Turkmenistan joined the Group of Friends of UN-Habitat for Sustainable Urbanization and the New Urban Agenda and will cooperate on further joint initiatives towards building inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities in Turkmenistan.
For more information, please contact:
Chary Nurmuhammedov
Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leader
chary.nurmuhammedov@un.org
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20 February 2023
Volunteerism is the focus of the project Volunteer Academy
The Public Association “Yenme” launched the Volunteer Academy youth project under the grant program of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Turkmenistan intended to support youth leadership.
The Volunteer Academy project is aimed at developing the volunteer movement as an effective tool for civil and patriotic education, creating a mechanism for promotion and popularization of values and practice of volunteering in the society. The project provides for creation of a platform for exchange of experiences, gaining new knowledge and skills in the area of volunteerism for implementation of ideas. The project will offer an opportunity to communicate with like-minded people and coordinate the activities of volunteers to achieve positive results in solving social issues.
As a launch event, the Volunteer Academy project held the Volunteer Forum'23 in an online format, bringing together 30 young activists from Turkmenistan. The forum reviewed the experience of the volunteer movement in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, discussed the role of volunteers in society and development of intellectual volunteering. The forum participants also shared their professional observations. The forum laid the foundation for development of interaction between volunteer organizations, public associations and young leaders.
It is expected that by the end of the project, more than 100 young people will get acquainted with the volunteer movement, more than 50 young people will join the ranks of volunteers and will actively participate in the life of society.
The Volunteer Academy project is being implemented by the Public Association “Yenme” under a grant program to support youth leadership within the framework of the project “Building Youth Resilience through Community Engagement” implemented by IOM in Turkmenistan in partnership with the Eurasia Foundation (EF) as part of the Social Innovations in Central Asia (SICA) program with the financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Strengthening the capacity of young people for improvement of well-being of local communities is one of the goals of the project.
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IOM contact person in Turkmenistan:
Nargiza Davletova, NGO Coordinator
phone: +99364183250, e-mail: ndavletova@iom.int
Nargiza Davletova, NGO Coordinator
phone: +99364183250, e-mail: ndavletova@iom.int
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10 February 2023
A future Turkmen scientist in search of a solution to plastic pollution
All over the world, women and girls are leaders and agents of change, mobilizing action for climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. Many of them contribute to the fight against climate change through their scientific work and innovative approach to finding solutions to the climate crisis.
Ogulshirin Tacheva is a fourth-year student studying biotechnology and ecology and environmental management at the Oguz Han Engineering and Technology University of Turkmenistan. Since her childhood Ogulshirin loved nature and dreamed of contributing to the fight against climate change.
All over the world, engineering is one of the fields most dominated by men, and women tend not to choose this field of study or drop out before graduation. Ogulshirin confirms that some of her friends did not share her interest in science and engineering and have chosen more gender stereotypical professions. She proudly states that her parents positively reacted to her career choice and fully supported her desire to study science to protect nature:
“My parents helped me choose my path of development and I think that without their support and care I would not have succeeded. They kept motivating me and encouraging me to never give up in face of any challenges”.
Ogulshirin parents were incredibly proud and happy for their daughter when, last year, she took part and won 1st place in a student research competition entitled "Progressive and modern method of using recycled materials in everyday life" among students of Turkmenistan.
The competition, held on the occasion of the World Cities Day, was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/GEF/Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan project "Sustainable Cities in Turkmenistan: Integrated Green Urban Development in Ashgabat and Awaza” jointly with the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan with the aim to develop the creative and innovative potential of young future ecologists to promote sustainable use of natural resources, rational consumption and waste minimization.
“I was very glad that UNDP and the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan highly acknowledged the results of my scientific research and thereby motivated me to continue working in this direction,” - said Ogulshirin. “This award is not only my achievement, but rather the result of support and guidance from my teachers and classmates.”
Ogulshirin started her research work from the first year of study, striving to find new methods of waste-free production and plastic waste management to maintain healthy ecosystems. A young first-year student began her research work by collecting information about the production of fuel from plastic to convert plastic waste into energy.
Further, having studied all the methods existing in the world, Ogulshirin began to create her own model for recycling of secondary raw materials. With the support of her teachers and local engineers, she developed a trial installation of a pyrolysis reactor, which made it possible to obtain liquid fuel, combustible gas and construction materials.
To increase the economic benefits of this project, the young future woman scientist decided to improve the system and use the resulting combustible gas as fuel for the device and use the resulting obtained resin as a base for building material.
Ogulshirin is currently working on her thesis and plans to continue her work on the development of a waste-free production system in Turkmenistan. She is also an active member of the research center "Environmental Biotechnology".
Ogulshirin competed and won the UNDP contest, being 8 months pregnant. Now, three months later, she is the mother of a little girl: “I want my daughter to grow up with the desire to love and protect nature, and I hope that my achievements will inspire her on this path,” – said Ogulshirin.
After graduation, Ogulshirin plans to continue her education in the field of ecology and engineering and enroll in a master’s programme.
“I have big plans, and I want to open my own plastic waste recycling plant. If oil is used for the production of plastic products, then the process can be reversed and fuel can be obtained from plastic waste to minimize pollution,” – Ogulshirin said.
Ogulshirin Tacheva is one of the few who are trying to protect people and the planet from plastic pollution with the help of science. She never gives up and boldly moves forward to achieve her goal.
“We, as women scientists can play an important role in finding solutions to climate change and moving everyone forward towards a sustainable future for everyone.”
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30 January 2023
Young SDG Ambassadors in Turkmenistan as Champions of today’s world
In the modern world, when there are eight billion people on the planet, it is crucial to take into account the diversity and power of all generations to effect constructive change. In light of this, and in consideration of the Agenda 2030, which was adopted in 2015 and defines the global priorities for sustainable development for our generation and represents an ambitious response from the international community to the most pressing global issues of development, the special role of young people becomes increasingly apparent.
As it may seem initially, the term of Sustainable Development Goals may be referred only to policy makers or government officials, but in fact SDGs are all about bringing inputs by everyone and indeed leaving no one behind. That is why, when considering promotion of sustainable development, we must analyze the roles of young people in this process. Numerous researches and the real practice demonstrate us that only positive consequences emerge from the active participation of young people. This allows us to identify the main roles of youth such as critical thinkers, catalysts of changes, innovators, communicators, leaders and many more.
“We are very happy that we have such an inclusive platform such as Young Sustainable Development Goals Ambassadors in Turkmenistan endorsed by the United Nations Office and the Government of Turkmenistan. It helps us translate our vision of development into reality and convert our ambitious ideas into actions. In this process, I use the power of music as my tool to deliver my message. Also, I'm proud to have worked with the British Embassy and young activists to co-organize the first ever Climate and Environment festival in Turkmenistan, which took place in Ashgabat. The festival sought to encourage environmental awareness and community-led climate action throughout Turkmenistan. It is wonderful that many young people who demonstrated their excitement for eco-life were present at the event that attracted over a thousand individuals”, says Sabrina Guseynova, Young SDG Ambassador for Climate action and Regional winner of UNDRR “Sing for Resilience” competition.
Young SDG ambassadors in Turkmenistan are selected through the competitive process and when such pioneers of social changes form their group, they are provided with plenty opportunities for personal and professional growth.
“As an ambassador for Goal 6 on water and sanitation, I had an amazing opportunity to participate at the professional children's forum on climate change organized in Ankara, Türkiye in November 2022. I was motivated not only by fruitful conversations and discussions with my fellow Young Water activists, but I also got inspired by the meeting with the First Lady of Türkiye who equally supports young people and advocates for positive changes. This was indeed a life-changing opportunity for me. In addition, as part of my SDG mission, I began delivering lectures to the first-year students of my university enrolled in the Water Diplomacy course. For me, it's more than just an extracurricular activity; it's an opportunity to use a platform to educate young people about conflict prevention, mediation and international agenda about water issues”, tells us Yupar Egirjayeva, Young SDG Ambassador for Goal 6, a student at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.
Young SDG Ambassadors in Turkmenistan cover their activities according to the specific goals that they have chosen in the beginning of their term. There is a spectrum of aspects that define their work and each of them decides on their own what sphere they would focus on during еtheir mission.
“There are 5 aspects that I love about being a youth ambassador: the ability to express myself, knowing to be needed, knowing that all good things happen now, and not sometime in the future, pride that I also contribute to changing the world, and that I have met such interesting and amazing activists. In light of this, I'm happy to report that I've written numerous articles for my university's newspaper that discuss gender equality and useful strategies for encouraging tolerance among young people. I hope to carry on this endeavor after using literature to educate my peers about this problem”, says Annabibi Baymuhammedova, Young SDG Ambassador for Gender Equality and Reduced Inequalities.
“It gives me great pleasure to announce that, as the winner of the 23rd F.F. Martens International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition, which was held in Moscow by the ICRC Regional Delegation, my team and I have organized training sessions at my university using a peer-to-peer approach to get the next generation of students ready to compete in this competition. We taught 35 students the fundamentals of human rights law and international humanitarian law during our training sessions. Building on this success, in the International Year of Dialogue as a Guarantee of Peace, working closely with UN in Turkmenistan, I will continue to contribute to the achievement of SDG 16 in our community with my knowledge, passion, capacity and strong will to bring more to this world”, shares his aspirations Nowruz Nurberdiyev, Young SDG Ambassador for Goal 16 and Coordinator of the Turkmenistan Team at UNICEF Central Asia Youth Partners Group.
“I do believe that superhumans exist in Turkmenistan and they are called Young SDG Ambassadors! We may not fly as superheroes, but I as promoter of Quality Education, I do have a power to promote youth awareness about my topic. Personally, as SDG Ambassador of Quality Education also as Graphic Designer, I use all capacities and opportunities that I have to educate students and all those people around me who want to study design tools, but may not have chances to do so. There is one room in my local area with computers, and I am using that room every day to give lessons for students for free. What I learn today I pass this knowledge to them. Also, I am happy to share that within my scope of work, my fellow SDG Ambassadors and I organized Food Fair for Older People among faculty students at the International University for the Humanities and Development where I study”, proudly shares her experience Selbi Shaylyeva, Young SDG Ambassador for Goal 4.
“Being an SDG Ambassador and representing Goal 4 "Quality Education" I would love to share the quote that has made a great impression on me and altered my life, "Education is the most powerful weapon with which you can change the world". It goes without saying, education plays an important role in our lives, because it's a passport for our future. In several months I have gained quite a lot of new and fascinating things. I strongly believe that if we pluck up our courage together, we as young people will promote the quality of education. In order to exchange ideas and have talks about the value of inclusive education among young people in society, I actively participated in the online bridge session between Turkmen State University, where I study, and foreign educational institutions. I also make it a point to encourage inclusivity in my workplace as an English language teacher”, says Jepbarberdi Gurbanmuradov, Young SDG Ambassador for Goal 4.
“With growing population, there is even more demand than supply in the global economy. This holds true for job markets as well. Women, refugees, people with disabilities, and young, enthusiastic people from low income families are deprived of the opportunity to land their dream jobs. As for me, we should create opportunities ourselves, and help to do the same for others. I'm also happy to report that in my role as the current cohort's social media manager, I concentrated on promoting chances for young people to grow personally and professionally. Additionally, I led a session with my fellows at the American Center to discuss academic and professional opportunities for people with disabilities to pursue”, reflects Mengli Veliyeva, Young SDG Ambassador for Goal 8 on decent work and economic growth, and the cohort’s social media manager.
The year of 2022 was a full of diverse events. It is delightful to observe that Youth Messengers engaged in this process both through the platform created by the UN and partners and the initiatives that were fully led by them - young people.
“As the SDG ambassadors we did a fantastic job collaborating with UN agencies. I really appreciate their dedication to our social and professional development. Special thanks goes to UNICEF for providing an unforgettable opportunity to take part in the youth conference in Uzbekistan! I hope, soon, we will be able to make our voices heard not only in the regional, but also on the international arena! Furthermore, I believe the best way to influence the world is by volunteering, so I'm happy to report that I committed to teach English to children at a local secondary school. Over the course of three months, I and my fellow volunteers taught 90 young people. We also succeeded in promoting the SDGs through an interactive approach and a peer-to-peer methodology”, shares her story Maral Allaberdyyeva, Young SDG Ambassador for Quality Education.
“Education is a fundamental human right and indispensable for achievement of many SDGs. That’s why I chose SDG 4 to promote it. I think that being an envoy for SDGs is a very moral position. I am delighted to be part of the SDG Turkmenistan team as I found peers with the same objectives, who always want to take actions. Past 6 month were full of many memories with joyful emotions. It was interesting and important for me to participate in every event, which was held by different UN Agencies and partners, where I learned about new aspects and took action together with my team. Moreover, as I am a student of IUHD (International University for the Humanities and Development), I can share one bright event, “The UN Session”, which we organized as Diplomats' Club at our University to promote Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at creating the next generation’s change makers. Being a Youth SDG Ambassador for me is a great opportunity to realize my goal and to improve the world around me”, declares Saida Halmamatova, Young SDG Ambassador for Quality Education.
“I am happy to share that the climate action that I stand for is not only limited to the actions to promote sustainability but it also refers to the issues of equality and inclusion. It was a special delight for me to attend the Inclusive Sports Festival organized in Ashgabat Olympic Village, and the Local Conference of Young People for Climate in Turkmenistan organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the British Embassy in Turkmenistan and the United Nations. I am particularly excited to share that as part of the Technovation Girls Program, I presented a series of sessions on climate action to girls aged 8 to 18 who participate to design tech solutions for community challenges. I am strongly assured that in a spirit of such productive cooperation we may and we will achieve many more impactful results”,remarks Gulshat Ayydova, Young SDG Ambassador Goals 12 and 13 and Coordinator of the Cohort.
“In my opinion, being SDG Ambassador is not only about activism, but it is also about enriching our academic background and enriching our knowledge to be able to leverage this information for activities in real life. It also helps me develop my public speaking skills and analytical thinking abilities. About my activities, I am glad that my team and I decided to run the "New Year Tree of Wishes" campaign in my university on New Year's Eve in order to help children who are in need and those with disabilities. All students of our university could randomly choose a card hung on the tree that had a child's name and a wish, and then offer a gift for that child. As a result, we visited the children at the Medical Educational Center in Ashgabat and had more than 600 gifts to give them”, states Shabibi Beshimova, Young SDG Ambassador for Gender Equality and No Poverty.
“I was very glad to broaden my horizons about the climate action which I promote as my goal of choice at capacity-building sessions organized by different entities at the UN especially for young people and youth ambassadors. I was then able to use this knowledge to promote my goal further at my university and campus. In regard to this, I am thrilled to announce that together with my fellow SDG Ambassadors, we initiated and led a fund-raising event to collect resources to buy food and hygiene items for children with disabilities at the local boarding school”, notes Enejan Achilova, Young SDG Ambassador for Climate Action.
The contribution of young people to the process of advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is fundamental to shaping the whole outcome. Described by former UN Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon as “Torchbearers of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, there are many successful examples of young people contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The development of a highly educated, erudite, physically and morally healthy, intelligent young generation is one of the strategic tasks for the development of Turkmenistan which is in the Renaissance towards a powerful state. Given the huge decisive role in the further sustainable and comprehensive socio-economic development of the country, youth is a priority for the nation that is strengthening its position on the world stage.
Shukurgeldi Myradov, Coordinator of Young SDG Ambassadors in Turkmenistan, Youth Ambassador for Good Health and Well-being and Partnerships for Sustainable Development
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Press Release
24 March 2023
Early Warnings For All Initiative scaled up into action on the ground
New York, 21 March 2023. A global initiative to ensure that everyone on Earth is protected by early warnings by 2027 is being fast-tracked into action on the ground. A recent record-breaking tropical cyclone in Southeast Africa once again shows the paramount importance of these services to save lives and livelihoods from increasingly extreme weather and climate events.
To aid this work, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has convened an Advisory Panel of leaders of UN agencies, multilateral development banks, humanitarian organizations, civil society, insurance and IT companies on 21 March. The aim is to inject more political, technological and financial clout to ensure that Early Warnings for All becomes a reality for everyone, everywhere.
The months ahead will see stepped up coordinated action, initially in 30 particularly at-risk countries, including Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries. Additional countries are expected to be added as this vital work with partners gathers pace, scale and resourcing.
At the same time, the UN’s existing actions and initiatives to save lives and livelihoods, and build resilience across a wide range of other countries will continue and be reinforced, ensuring the Early Warnings for All campaign turns its pledges into life-saving reality on the ground for millions of the most vulnerable people. The aim is not to re-invent the wheel, but rather promote collaboration and synergies and to harness the power of mobile phones and mass communications.
“Now it is time for us to deliver results. Millions of lives are hanging in the balance, It is unacceptable that the countries and peoples that have contributed the least to creating the crisis are paying the heaviest prices,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
“People in Africa, South Asia, South and Central America, and small island states are 15 times more likely to die from climate disasters. These deaths are preventable. The evidence is clear: early warning systems are one of the most effective risk reduction and climate adaptation measures to reduce disaster mortality and economic losses,” said Mr Guterres.
The need is urgent.
In the past 50 years, the number of recorded disasters has increased by a factor of five, driven in part by human-induced climate change which is super-charging our weather. This trend is expected to continue.
If no action is taken, the number of medium- or large-scale disaster events is projected to reach 560 a year – or 1.5 each day – by 2030.
The occurrence of severe weather and the effects of climate change will increase the difficulty, uncertainty, and complexity of emergency response efforts worldwide.
Preventable deaths
Half of countries globally do not have adequate early warning systems and even fewer have regulatory frameworks to link early warnings to emergency plans.
“The unprecedented flooding in Mozambique, Malawi and Madagascar from Tropical Cyclone Freddy highlights once again that our weather and precipitation is becoming more extreme and that water-related hazards are on the rise,” said WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas. “The worst affected areas have received months’ worth of rainfall in a matter of days and the socio-economic impacts are catastrophic.”
“Accurate early warnings combined with coordinated disaster management on the ground prevented the casualty toll from rising even higher. But we can do even better and that is why the Early Warnings for All initiative is the top priority for WMO. Besides avoiding damages the weather, climate and hydrological services are economically beneficial for agriculture, air, marine and ground transportation, energy, health, tourism and various businesses,” he said.
WMO and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) are spearheading the Early Warnings for All initiative, along with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
“The operationalization of this initiative is a clear example of how the UN System and partners can work together to save lives and protect livelihoods from disasters. Inclusive and multi-hazard early warning systems that close the ‘last mile’ are among the best risk reduction methods in the face of climate-related hazards and geophysical hazards such as tsunamis. Achieving this is not only a clear target in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction but a moral imperative as well,” said Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR.
Climate Change Adaptation
Early warning systems are widely regarded as the “low-hanging fruit” for climate change adaptation because they are a relatively cheap and effective way of protecting people and assets from hazards, including storms, floods, heatwaves and tsunamis to name a few.
Early Warning Systems provide more than a tenfold return on investment
Just 24 hours’ notice of an impending hazardous event can cut the ensuing damage by 30 per cent.
The Global Commission on Adaptation found that spending just US$800 million on such systems in developing countries would avoid losses of $3 to 16 billion per year.
“When disaster strikes, people and communities can turn to technology as a lifeline,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “By leading the work of the UN Early Warnings for All initiative on ‘Warning Dissemination and Communication,’ ITU is helping ensure that those at risk can act in time to our increasingly climate-vulnerable world.”
Alerts can be sent via radio and television channels, by social media, and with sirens. ITU recommends an inclusive, people-centered approach using the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), a standardized data format for public warnings, to keep messages coherent across different channels.
“Early warnings that translate into preparedness and response save lives. As climate-related disasters are becoming more frequent, more intense and more deadly, they are essential for everyone, but one in three people globally are still not covered. Early warning systems are the most effective and dignified way to prevent an extreme weather event from creating a humanitarian crisis - especially for the most vulnerable and remote communities who bear the brunt of it. No lives should be lost in a predictable disaster,” said IFRC Secretary-General Jagan Chapagain.
Advisory Panel
The Early Warnings for All initiative calls for initial new targeted investments between 2023 and 2027 of US$ 3.1 billion – a sum which would be dwarfed by the benefits. This is a small fraction (about 6 per cent) of the requested US$ 50 billion in adaptation financing. It would cover strengthening disaster risk knowledge, observations and forecasting, preparedness and response, and communication of early warnings.
A range of new and pre-existing innovative financing solutions are required to implement the plan to protect every person on Earth. These include a scaling up of the Climate Risk Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Initiative, the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF), and accelerated investment programmes of climate funds, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Adaptation Fund, and key Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), as well as other innovative new financial instruments across all stakeholders of the early warning value chain.
The Advisory Panel meeting will consider advancing the four key Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) pillars:
Disaster risk knowledge and management (US$374 million) : aims to collect data and undertake risk assessments to increase knowledge on hazards and vulnerabilities and trends. Led by UNDRR with support from WMO .
Detection, observations, monitoring, analysis and forecasting of hazards (US$1.18 billion). Develop hazard monitoring and early warning services. Led by WMO, with support from UN Development Porgramme (UNDP), UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
Dissemination and communication (US$ 550 million). Communicate risk information so it reaches all those who need it, and is understandable and usable. Led by ITU, with support from IFRC, UNDP, and WMO.
Preparedness and response ($1 billion) : Build national and community response capabilities.
Led by IFRC, with support from Risk Informed Early Action Partnership (REAP), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and World Food Programme (WFP).
Notes for Editors :
Background to the initiative
The Early Warnings For All Initiative (EW4All) was formally launched by the UN Secretary-General in November 2022 at the COP27 meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh.
The Initiative calls for the whole world to be covered by an early warning system by the end of 2027.
Early Warnings for All is co-led by WMO and UNDRR and supported by pillar leads ITU and IFRC. Implementing partners are: FAO, OCHA, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, REAP, and WFP.
The Advisory Panel will monitor and report on the progress against the achievement of the goal to the UN Secretary-General, and has the following objectives:
(1) Assess progress of the Early Warnings for All initiative against its goals and targets
(2) Build political and overall momentum and support for the Early Warnings for All initiative
(3) Provide overall recommendations for the mobilization of resources, and
(4) Monitor scientific and technical development related to early warning systems
Initial countries.
The UN Secretary-General has sent a letter to heads of state and government of an initial group of countries to receive coordinated and targeted support. This list will be expanded in the future and UN support for other countries will continue in the meantime.
Asia and Pacific: Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Lao (People’s Democratic Republic), Cambodia
Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tonga
Africa: Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Chad, Comoros, Ethiopia, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger, South Sudan, Uganda
Latin Americ and Caribbean: Guyana, Haiti, Barbados, Antigua Barbuda, Guatemala, Ecuador
Central Asia: Tajikistan Membership of Advisory Panel Petteri Taalas, WMO Secretary-General Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Jagan Chapagain, IFRC Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General Implementing Partners: UN Development Programme UN Environment Programme UN Women Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS) UN Development Coordination Office (UNDCO) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Executive Office of the Secretary-General Green Climate Fund Microsoft GSMA Insurance Development Forum Climate Action Network SG’s Youth Advisory Group African Development Bank COP 27 Presidency COP 28 Presidency
Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tonga
Africa: Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan, Chad, Comoros, Ethiopia, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Niger, South Sudan, Uganda
Latin Americ and Caribbean: Guyana, Haiti, Barbados, Antigua Barbuda, Guatemala, Ecuador
Central Asia: Tajikistan Membership of Advisory Panel Petteri Taalas, WMO Secretary-General Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Jagan Chapagain, IFRC Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General Implementing Partners: UN Development Programme UN Environment Programme UN Women Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS) UN Development Coordination Office (UNDCO) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Executive Office of the Secretary-General Green Climate Fund Microsoft GSMA Insurance Development Forum Climate Action Network SG’s Youth Advisory Group African Development Bank COP 27 Presidency COP 28 Presidency
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Press Release
20 March 2023
Discussing the Sustainable Development Goals in Turkmenistan
The Round table took place at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and brought together the staff members of the Institute, heads of the UN Agencies and Turkmen youth to review the process of realization of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda in the country.
At the round table chaired by Mr. Akmuhammet Dzhumakuliev, Lecturer of the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the heads of the UN Agencies, including Mr. Egor Zaitsev, Representative of WHO in Turkmenistan, Ms. Ayna Seyitlieva, Head of the UNFPA Country Office in Turkmenistan, Mr. Tomica Paovic, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Turkmenistan, Mr. Alexandru Nartea, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Turkmenistan, Mr. Philip Saprykin Deputy Head of the UNRCCA, Mr. Timur Dosmamedov, Head of IOM Office in Turkmenistan and Mr. Rustam Babayev, Program Officer of UNODC Country Office in Turkmenistan presented the progress and major achievements in all areas that are vital for the implementation of the SDGs in Turkmenistan. The participants of the round table also pointed out that only by accelerating joint work it will be possible to meet 17 SDGs by 2030.
The UN representatives, including Ms. Yelena Butova, Program Officer of the Regional Office of OHCHR for Central Asia, Mr. Rovshen Nurmuhammedov, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative, and Mr. Nazar Mammedov, UNICEF Program Specialist also delivered lectures at the Centre of Strategic Research of the Institute on the linkages between SDG and main directions of the Turkmen diplomacy – energy, water and environment.
Concluding the event the representatives of the UN Agencies in Turkmenistan reaffirmed their commitment to continue to give their support to the Government of Turkmenistan in achieving its national development priorities and the SDGs in the country.
For more information, please contact:
Chary Nurmuhammedov
Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leader
chary.nurmuhammedov@un.org
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Press Release
13 March 2023
Durable solutions for food security and climate change are focus of International Conference in Ashgabat
The High-level Conference brought together the high-level speakers from the Government, United Nations and the participating countries of Central Asia, Türkiye and Iran, as well as experts from international organizations and financial institutions, such as the World Bank, USAID, GIZ and others.
During the first day of the Conference, the ministerial meeting was held, at which the Ministers of agriculture of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and the invited guest speakers such as the Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Iran, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, as well as representatives of international organizations and multilateral development banks exchanged views on climate change impact on agriculture and food security in conditions of water scarcity and the role of regional cooperation.
“Sustainable agricultural practices to ensure food security, especially in the context of climate change is a priority for our country and Turkmenistan pays close attention to these issues,” said Mr. Allanur Altyyev, Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan.
“To boost agriculture in an effective and sustainable manner, events like today’s are important, as they provide a forum to find common and proven solutions”, said Vladimir Rakhmanin FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia.
On the second day of the International Conference, the plenary session opened with the statements by Mr. Annageldi Yazmuradov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Mr. Vladimir Rakhmanin, FAO Assistant Director-General, Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, Mr. Ali Salajegheh, Vice President and Head of the Department of Environment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ms. Susan Gardner, UNEP Director of Ecosystem Division, Mr. Dominique Favre, Executive Director, World Bank, and Mr. Dmitry Shlapachenko, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan. The statements were followed by the two thematic panel sessions, which provided a space for the speakers to present their vision on food and nutrition security in the context of climate change. In particular, the participants discussed adaptation and mitigation measures, shared views on the possibilities to increase financing for targeted projects and programs in this area and to strengthen international cooperation to help countries of the region to develop and implement their sustainable food systems. Based on available international experiences, the participants also discussed real solutions to address regional and global food challenges, including the establishment of the Regional Center for Climate Mitigation Technologies in Central Asia.
“UN Turkmenistan will continue to support the Government of Turkmenistan in holding activities aimed at stimulating regional and international partnerships in the food sector.” - noted Dmitry Shlapachenko, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan.
As part of the High-level Conference several documents were signed between the Government of Turkmenistan and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
In conclusion, the participants agreed that such discussions give a decisive impetus for even more intense and fruitful cooperation in achieving common objectives in the area of food and security in the context of climate change.
For more information, please contact:
Chary Nurmuhammedov
Strategic Planning and RCO Team Leader
chary.nurmuhammedov@un.org
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Press Release
06 March 2023
On International Women’s Day UN and partners call for empowering women and girls in Turkmenistan
The open dialogue served as a platform for women and girls from different spheres of life of Turkmenistan to spotlight their accomplishments, share challenges and drawbacks and the ways to tackle them. They also brought forward women and girls’ rights, encouraged other women and girls to be more proactive, and highlighted the role of women in innovation, technology, and digital education. The dialogue underscored the importance of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls so that they are not left behind.
The event started with the exhibition at which prominent Turkmen designers, women from the Blind and Deaf Society of Turkmenistan, public organization Yenme, and businesswomen presented Turkmen modern dresses, scarves, handmade toys and crafts, handmade floral jewelries, organic handmade baths, creams and other artwork.
The conversation included statements by the Deputy Foreign Minister Ms. Myahri Bashimova, heads of the UN agencies, women and girls in the field of technology and innovation, diplomacy, business, mass media, students, community activists, SDG Ambassadors and volunteers.
“You can do and achieve anything you want, just believe in your dreams, work hard and never give up” – these words were told by every speaker, and served as inspiration to the girls and women in the audience.
The event concluded with an interactive game about international and local significant women: leaders, advocates for gender equality, child rights, diplomats, business women.
The joint initiative was carried out with support from UNICEF, IOM, OHCHR and UNFPA under the leadership of the UN Coordination Office.
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Press Release
15 March 2023
UN to build strategic partnership with private sector in Turkmenistan
The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and was attended by the heads and representatives of the UN agencies in Turkmenistan, Ministers and representatives of the line ministries and national entities, as well as public and civil society organizations of the country.
Among the signed 26 documents in such areas as economy, healthcare, education, mass media, climate change, environmental protection, there was a Memorandum of Understanding between the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan and the United Nations in Turkmenistan on Cooperation in Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals in Turkmenistan, signed by the Chairman of the Union and the UN Resident Coordinator.
Given the private sector’s 70% share in the “Non-carbon GDP” in Turkmenistan, as well as its 50.5% of jobs in the country’s labor market, private businesses play a key role in the country’s economy and the their potential can become a significant factor in realizing the ambition of the 2030 Agenda. While actively supporting the government, the UNCT sees the involvement of the business community and engagement with the private sector as a crucial component of success towards achieving the SDGs during the Decade of Action, proclaimed by the UN Secretary General in 2020.
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