Tajikistan senior officials and representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) discussed opportunities to incorporate climate and resilience considerations into COVID-19 recovery and long-term development planning during a roundtable on 19 January 2022. The Tajikistan Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and ADB co-led the event.

“Climate change is an increasingly important issue in shaping Tajikistan’s medium- and long-term development plans,” said ADB Country Director for Tajikistan Shanny Campbell, who opened the roundtable. “In exploring development pathways beyond COVID-19, the country should reassess ongoing and future development plans and identify programs that will shift the economy towards a greener, more inclusive and resilient pathway.”

ADB and the NDC Partnership are working together in response to the request from the Government of Tajikistan for technical assistance on issues such as the economic impact of COVID-19 to national development goals and climate action, identification of possible economic recovery measures, and long-term action to ensure economic sustainability and sustainable development.

Climate change has been an integral part of ADB’s work for many years. Tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental sustainability are among core priorities of the ADB’s corporate strategy, Strategy 2030. In 2021, ADB elevated its ambition to deliver climate financing to $100 billion from 2019 to 2030.

Since Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998, the bank has become the country’s largest multilateral development partner with more than $2.2 billion in assistance, including over $1.7 billion in grants. ADB’s 2021-2025 country partnership strategy with Tajikistan focuses on three strategic priorities: structural reforms to enhance resource allocation and mobilization, improving labor productivity through human capital development, and fostering better livelihoods by investing in the land-linked economy.