Tajikistan advances on resilience to disasters and climate change

The meeting brought together senior officials from the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense, representatives of ministries and agencies that are members of the National DRR Platform, the UN Resident Coordinator, the Swiss Cooperation Office, UNDRR, and partner organizations.

Participants reviewed progress achieved under the project and discussed the Strategic Action Plan for 2026–2028. They highlighted that, through joint efforts, Tajikistan is shifting from a reactive emergency response model to a comprehensive approach to disaster risk management. Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense, Mr. Imomali Ibrohimzoda, noted that significant progress has been made in institutionalizing disaster risk reduction during the reporting period.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan, Ms. Parvathy Ramaswami urged participants “to accelerate the transition from disaster response to comprehensive disaster risk management, by shifting towards prevention based on rigorous scientific analysis & empirical data”. 

She further stressed the importance of technology, national capacity, institutional continuity and long-term stability of the National DRR Platform to coordinate disaster risk reduction and early warning system to save lives and minimize losses.

Ms. Franziska Voegtli, Deputy Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan, emphasized: “Disaster risk reduction concerns all sectors and requires commitment from all of us. DRR must be systematically integrated into sectoral strategies and plans with appropriate financial allocations.”

The joint project has delivered tangible results, strengthening risk governance, elevating political leadership on DRR, and enhancing risk knowledge and inclusive stakeholder engagement. Mr. Sebastien Penzini, Deputy Chief of the UNDRR Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, highlighted the significant progress made in resuming coordination mechanisms.

He emphasized that “building disaster resilience in the country requires the active engagement of all responsible agencies and members of the National DRR Platform, underscoring the importance of sustained interministerial and multi-stakeholder cooperation”.

The next phase of work will focus on improving the national system for loss and damage data collection, monitoring the implementation of the National Strategy, and expanding partnerships with the private sector and civil society. The meeting concluded with a professional exchange session, where representatives reaffirmed their commitment to coordinating efforts to protect Tajikistan from climate change–related threats.