On October 29, a seminar to validate results and the final meeting of the Steering Committee took place in Ashgabat for a project implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, with support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The events focused on the outcomes of two years of work.

The GCF readiness project, "Enhancing Turkmenistan’s capacity for access to climate finance through capacity building and strategic frameworks," was aimed at removing barriers to the implementation of climate actions and strengthening the country’s institutional capacity to attract and utilize climate finance. Particular focus was placed on agriculture, forestry, and other forms of land use.

The seminar was attended by representatives from relevant ministries and agencies, the financial sector, and scientific and educational institutions.

A technical expert from the FAO presented the project’s key results. Within the framework of the institutional component, a digital tool was developed for the classification, recording, and tracking of climate finance flows, and a series of practical training sessions on using this tool was conducted for national specialists.

A comprehensive analysis of the barriers to attracting climate finance was also conducted. The issues identified include the absence of a national "green" taxonomy, limited access to concessional financial mechanisms, and the need to strengthen technical capacity and improve systems for collecting and utilizing climate data.

The second set of results concerned the identification of priority climate technologies, the preparation of strategic documents, and the creation of conditions for attracting private investment. For livestock farming, crop production, forestry, and aquaculture, technologies have been identified that facilitate adaptation to climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Following the research, a number of analytical and strategic documents have been prepared. These include implementation and investment plans for an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC); draft regulatory provisions for a proposed "Climate" law; a roadmap for engaging the private sector in climate-related investments; preliminary feasibility studies and an environmental assessment for the Aral Sea basin; and a legal and financial rationale for establishing a Regional Climate Technology Center for Central Asia, to be based in Ashgabat.

The Steering Committee adopted a final Conclusion, in which it took note of the prepared materials and recommended that ministries and agencies ensure their practical application during the development and implementation of sectoral programs and strategies. The document was signed by authorized representatives of relevant government bodies, educational institutions, and the FAO.

The Conclusion also outlines priority needs: continued technical support, expanded access to GCF grant funding, and further strengthening of national capacity to implement Turkmenistan’s long-term climate and environmental priorities.