Green Climate Fund approves $30m to strengthen climate resilience in Tajikistan

The Green Climate Fund has approved a $30 million climate adaptation project for Tajikistan to help 73,500 people strengthen food security, protect water resources and build more resilient rural livelihoods.

Project to strengthen vulnerable communities

The funding will support vulnerable communities in some of Tajikistan's most climate-exposed regions as they face rising temperatures, water shortages and more frequent extreme weather events.

Implemented by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in partnership with the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of Tajikistan and its Centre for Implementation of Investment Projects, the programme will promote climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable water management, improved climate information services and stronger local institutions. These measures are intended to help communities prepare for climate shocks before disasters occur.

Tajikistan is among the Central Asian countries most vulnerable to climate change. Rising temperatures, shrinking glaciers, droughts, floods and increasing water scarcity are placing growing pressure on agriculture, food systems and rural livelihoods in a country where many communities depend on climate-sensitive farming.

“The approval of this project marks a significant milestone for Tajikistan and demonstrates the Green Climate Fund’s confidence in the country’s commitment to building climate resilience,” said Siemon Hollema, WFP Representative and Country Director in Tajikistan. “Together with the Government of Tajikistan and our partners, we are investing in a more resilient future for vulnerable communities, helping them withstand climate shocks while protecting livelihoods and food security.”

Climate adaptation remains a national priority

Beyond its immediate benefits for vulnerable communities, the project supports Tajikistan's broader climate adaptation strategy. With around 93% of its territory covered by mountains, the country is particularly vulnerable to glacier retreat and changing water flows. Its glaciers feed major river systems across Central Asia, meaning their decline affects not only Tajikistan but also downstream countries that rely on shared water resources.

Although Tajikistan contributes only a small share of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is already experiencing some of climate change's most visible impacts. The country has made adaptation a national priority under its commitments to the Paris Agreement, working with international partners to strengthen water management, climate-smart agriculture, hydrometeorological services and disaster preparedness.

• Tajikistan emerges as one of Central Asia’s fastest-growing economies
• Tajikistan hosts global water summit as climate pressures grow
• More than 1,300 glaciers lost in Tajikistan, raising Central Asia water concerns

International focus on glacier loss

In recent years, Tajikistan has also sought to draw greater international attention to the risks posed by melting glaciers. It championed the UN initiative declaring 2025 the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation and later hosted a high-level international conference in Dushanbe, where governments, international organisations and scientists discussed the implications of glacier loss for regional water and food security.

The new Green Climate Fund-backed programme forms part of that broader effort, helping vulnerable communities adapt before climate-related hazards develop into humanitarian crises. As the fund's accredited entity for the project, WFP will oversee implementation in close cooperation with national and local authorities, development partners and local communities.

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Tajikistan Climate Water Crisis Green News World Food Programme