Section 6
United Nations and its specialized agencies
6.9. World Meteorological Organization
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It was established in 1950. It is the UN system's authoritative voice on the state and behavior of the Earth's atmosphere, its interaction with the oceans.
WMO and WHO hosted a cross-sectoral dialogue on digital cooperation and Big Data in preparation for the United Nations World Data Forum 2020 (19 February).
WMO and the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) launched a new web-based interface to help monitor the availability and quality of global meteorological observations within the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS) (17 March). The WIGOS Data Quality Monitoring System (WDQMS) monitors the performance of the in-situ observing systems that are a key component of WIGOS.
WMO supported online 5th (27-28 May) and 6th (28-29 October) Arctic Climate Forums and the High Mountain Summit initiated by Columbia (11 December).
The virtual Data Conference was convened by WMO. It set the scene for a comprehensive modernization of the roles, rules and requirements for the international exchange of observations and other data that measure the pulse of the planet (16-19 December).
WMO projects in CA and Afghanistan
In 2020, the following projects were continued: (1) Afghanistan Early Warning System (US $2,4 million); (2) Hydromet & Early Warning Services for Resilience (US $3.7 million); (3) Central Asia Region Flash Flood Guidance (CARFFG) System; (4) Uzbekistan Climate Data Restoration (by February 2020, Uzhydromet has converted over 7 million pages of hydrometeorological observations into digital images and this operation is on track to complete this first phase of data rescue by the end of 2020).
WMO Publications
WMO Bulletins Vol. 69 (1) Climate and Water and 69 (2) Responding to a Global Pandemic; Global Seasonal Climate Update; WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate; 2020 State of Climate Services; report “United in Science 2020”. Other publications are available here.
Source: wmo.int
6.10. International Fund for Agricultural Development
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a multilateral financial institution established in 1977. It mobilizes resources to eliminate malnutrition and improve agricultural productivity and incomes for rural poor in developing countries. It provides direct financing in the form of loans and grants, attracts additional resources to implement projects and programs. Currently it has a number of ongoing projects in Central Asia.
Kyrgyzstan
Since 1996, IFAD has invested US $97.8 million in rural development in the Kyrgyz Republic. IFAD Country Strategic Opportunities Program (COSOP 2018-2022) aims to support inclusive rural transformation that enables smallholders to reduce poverty and strengthen livelihood resilience. This is addressed through two strategic objectives:
(1) Increase smallholders’ equitable and sustainable returns by improving services and developing livestock product value chains that enable rural producers, principally smallholders, to capitalize on market opportunities;
(2) Enhance smallholders’ resilience to climate change by implementing innovative approaches that strengthen resilience and ensure sustainable incomes from diversified livelihoods systems.
The 2020 ongoing projects include “Access to Markets” (2018-2023) and “Livestock and Market Development Program II” (2014-2021).
FAO and IFAD join forces to develop e-agriculture in Kyrgyzstan. FAO Representative in Kyrgyzstan and IFAD Country Director signed a partnership agreement, which will be an important initial step in the development of e-agriculture in Kyrgyzstan. This partnership will pave the way to a clear Action Plan which, guided by the Kyrgyz Government, will involve strategic Development Partners towards an inclusive Strategy to accompany the Agricultural sector and Rural Transformation in the country, supported by the New Information and Communication Technologies which already proved successful in the country as well as the sub-region.
Tajikistan
IFAD has been investing in the rural poor in Tajikistan by strengthening local institutions and grassroots organizations, and expanding their access to land, productive technologies and resources. Key activities include: natural resource management; implementing land reforms; and strengthening local institutions and grassroots organizations. The 2020 ongoing projects include “Livestock and Pasture Development, Phase 2” and “Community-Based Agricultural Support”. Within the framework of the latter, new agricultural equipment was provided to farmers and the Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mr. Z. Zavkizoda held a videoconference with the IFAD Country Director Mr. M. Kauttu.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan joined IFAD in 2011. Since 2014, IFAD has supported three investment projects totaling more than US $435.3 million (US$128.7 million from IFAD) and directly targeting about 105,000 rural families. IFAD projects work to enable sustainable income growth for rural people through viable small-scale agricultural production and rural enterprise systems, with a specific focus on dekhan farmers, rural women and youth. The 2020 ongoing projects include “Dairy Value Chains Development Program” and “Agriculture Diversification and Modernization”. A financing agreement was signed for US $ 47 million within the framework of the 2nd phase of the project (4 August).
Source: www.ifad.org
6.11. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It coordinates international cooperation in these areas. Established in 1945, it includes 193 member-states. UNESCO's programs contribute to the achievement of the SDGs defined in the Agenda 2030. Key areas of activity include the following five program sectors: education, natural sciences, social and human sciences, culture, and communication and information.
On 17 June, UNESCO in partnership with Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources and National University of Sciences and Technology hosted a webinar “Policy Dialogue on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) as a Tool for Prevention and Smart Monitoring of COVID-19”. More than 50 national and international participants including experts, members from academia and students attended the event. It highlighted the challenges faced in implementing IWRM.
On 28 July, the UNESCO Water Family in the Asia and the Pacific held its first online gathering. The agenda was focused on the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact in different parts of the region – from the Small Island Developing States of the Pacific to the mountain countries of Central Asia. The principal outcomes of the meeting were a commitment to collaboratively mobilize water science and innovation to address the pandemic and its impacts and to reinforce work towards SDG 6 and other water-related SDG targets.
In October, UNESCO and France have formalized the creation in Montpellier of the International Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Water Systems Dynamics (ICIReWaRD), which will provide expertise, carry out research and training actions in management and governance, water science and technology in vulnerable regions, focusing in particular on problems linked to rapid urbanization, demographic pressure and the foreseeable effects of climate change. This research institute, within the University of Montpellier, will promote partnerships in the field of research and training, in order to strengthen the capacities of Member-States. It also aims to train future professionals with the skills and expertise to tackle complex water issues.
On 26-27 October, the UNESCO Water Family in Asia and the Pacific conducted a virtual meeting of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Program (IHP) - Regional Steering Committee. The special session was held to ensure that the water science community continues its important deliberations on cooperation and exchange in the hydrological sciences amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The new IHP strategy coming into effect in 2022 was also discussed.
On 28-30 October, UNESCO-IHP in cooperation with IWRA and IAH held an online Conference “Addressing Groundwater Resilience under Climate Change” to raise awareness of the links between groundwater and climate change, which are key to the management of this vital resource.
On 7-11 December, the UNESCO Division of Water Sciences in cooperation with the Greater Paris Metropolis, SIAAP and ARCEAU-IdF organized an online Pre-Conference “Water, Megacities and Global Change” to respond to the urgent and pressing need of initiating discussion on the challenges and solutions related to water, megacities and global change which was planned to take place during the Second International Conference “Water, Megacities and Global Change”, but had to be postponed to December 2021.
Activities of the UNESCO Cluster Office in Almaty
Project Activities. The UNESCO Cluster Office in Almaty held, (1) in relation to the preparation to the GEF-UNDP-UNESCO project on glaciers, a technical meeting in cooperation with IHP and in coordination with the UNDP Istanbul Regional Center to approve the project proposal and submit it to the GEF Secretariat for consideration for funding. Participants discussed issues related to the last stage of submitting a project proposal and components, as well as details and features of its implementation (16 June); an online consultation meeting with civil society organizations. The participants had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the proposed structure of the project, as well as to provide comments concerning coordination of sub-regional and basin-level planning efforts, importance of gender aspects and availability of the project communications and learning materials for local communities (30 September, Almaty); (2) a technical online meeting within the framework of the 3rd phase of the “Governance of groundwater resources in transboundary aquifers”/GGRETA project (2020-2022) (10 December). During the event, the project countries presented the progress of the project implementation in 2020, as well as discussed the work plan for the next year. The current phase of the project aims to strengthen cooperation between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for sustainable water resources management and to develop a numerical model of the Pretashkent transboundary aquifer as a basis for joint, sustainable water resources management.
On 10 September, the UNESCO Almaty Cluster Office and Swiss ‘Adventure of Science’ initiative organized an online conference on Women and Glaciers in Central Asia, which focused on motivating women and girls by sharing their visions, and combat stereotypes of gender in science. The conference brought together 50 people from Central Asia and Europe. The event was divided into three sessions: Gender equality, Climate change and Environment Protection, and Citizen science projects, and attendees shared visions and knowledge for consideration during the time of COVID-19 crisis.
On 16 October, the UNESCO Almaty Cluster Office in cooperation with the United Nations Agency for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction in Almaty (CESDRR) and the Disaster and Climate Resilience Youth Network (DACRYN) organized an online event “Youth and SENDAI 7”, on the occasion of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. More than 150 people attended the event from Central Asia, Eastern Europe and South-East Asia. The program included a panel session “Youth and DRR Policy: Bridging the Gap” and a plenary session “Sendai 7 and Youth in Central Asia”, during which speakers and participants shared their vision, knowledge and experience in the field of DRR on relevant for the Central Asian region topics.
On 24 November, GKU in partnership with the UNESCO office in Almaty organized a pre-conference online event on “UNESCO Water Family: Cooperation in Education and Science in Central Asia” at the occasion of the Silk Road of Knowledge online conference. The meeting aimed at identifying the needs and agreeing on a common approach for promoting better networking and partnership among the UNESCO Water Family, water related research and educational institutions in Central Asian countries.
On 26 November, the UNESCO Cluster Office in Almaty in cooperation with UNECE and UNEP organized an online High-Level Policy Dialogue “Building a Resilient Future in Coalition with Nature in Central Asia” to share knowledge, strengthen and scale actions in “building back better” from the COVID-19 pandemic. The event helped to take stock of the considerable efforts already made and underway by the Central Asian countries with regards to the environment at national and regional levels. The countries were able to showcase their work on nature protection and identify priority areas, such as ecotourism, green economies, rational use of natural resources and low-carbon development, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic challenges.
On 22-24 December, the Public Fund Center “Cooperation for Sustainable Development” (Kazakhstan), with the support and participation of the UNESCO Almaty Office, organized an online training for teachers to familiarize them with a new learning module on “Water and COVID-19” developed for 5-9 grade students. The module includes five thematic lessons, covering various aspects of water use in the context of climate change and COVID-19 pandemic, water pollution and efficiency. During the 3-days training, about 70 teachers from four Central Asian countries were trained on the new module and learned about specificity of teaching this important subject.
Source: UNESCO Cluster Office in Almaty, www.unesco.org
6.12. Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was established in 1945.
Nutrition, climate change, gender equality, social protection, and decent rural employment are cross-cutting issues of FAO activity in the Central Asian region.
FAO Activities in the Central Asian States in 2020
Kazakhstan
The portfolio of FAO technical assistance projects in Kazakhstan for 2010-2025, excluding planned projects under the Partnership Program, totals 39 projects worth US $35.8 million. 11 projects have already been successfully completed, 8 projects are ongoing, and 20 projects are under preparation. The project focus areas are determined jointly with national partners and mainly with the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan. The FAO Country Programming Framework (CPF) in Kazakhstan, which is currently updated in line with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Kazakhstan for 2021-2025, shapes FAO assistance in Kazakhstan.
Currently, there are ongoing projects on integrated land and pasture management, production of drought-resistant and salt-tolerant crops; formation and development of value-added agriculture in rural areas with the involvement of homestead plots and family farms; combating antimicrobial resistance and crop pests, including locusts, as well as on enhanced phytosanitary control, digitalization in agriculture, reduction of food waste and losses and other most urgent areas for the development of the country's agroindustry.
A project was launched to support the Ministry of Agriculture in preparation of a new National Plan for agroindustry development in 2022-2026. Additionally, a few projects have been started to develop agro-food trade, establish an international food hub in Kazakhstan (together with the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan), promote agricultural markets and agro-food export, and develop land relations and family farming.
In collaboration with the joint UNECE/FAO Forestry and Timber Section and international experts, the country has developed the draft “Master Plan for the Development of the Forestry Sector in the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2030,” as well as a roadmap for its implementation.
Kyrgyzstan
FAO’s assistance in Kyrgyzstan is shaped by the 2018-2022 FAO’s CPF. FAO’s portfolio in Kyrgyzstan consists of 28 regional and sub-regional, as well as 11 national projects in the field of aquaculture and fisheries, forest management, poultry farming, organic agriculture, and locust control, including “Towards Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries Development in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2009-2020” (funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, US $2.5 million); “Accelerating Progress towards the Economic Empowerment of Rural Women in the Kyrgyz Republic” (2014-2020, US $1.1 million).
The FAO-EU “Food and Nutrition Security Impact, Resilience, Sustainability and Transformation” supports development of a comprehensive and consistent agricultural and rural development framework and contributes to the preparation of a new National Food Security and Nutrition Program for 2018-2022.
Moreover, FAO in Kyrgyzstan together with (1) GCF prepared the project “Carbon Sequestration through Climate Investment in Forests and Rangelands in the Kyrgyz Republic” (US $50 million), to intervene in key hot spots of target areas with adapted forest and pasture investments and to clearly transform management of pasture and forest resources at the national and local levels to ecosystem-based sustainable natural resource management by enhancing an integrated and participatory approach, which is adaptive to climate change and responsive to needs of local communities; (2) GEF provided 10 hardware sets for development of e-agriculture in the country. Since April 2020, specialists of the State Design “Kyrgyzgiprozem” Institute on Land Management have been digitizing the Kyrgyzstan land use maps.
Tajikistan
FAO’s assistance in Tajikistan is shaped by the 2019-2021 FAO’s CPF. In 2020, FAO contributed US $2.83 million to Tajikistan, of which US $2.16 million was utilized.
Agriculture, organic agriculture, and food security. The project “Strengthening Institutions and Capacity of the Ministry of Agriculture & State Veterinary Inspection Service for Policy Formulation” (2016-2020, US $5.7 million) supported implementation of Tajikistan’s Agrarian Reform Program and institutional development and capacity strengthening of the Ministry of Agriculture in relevant areas of policy-making, financial and policy analysis, disease surveillance and data management. Within the framework of the Program, the following pilot projects are implemented: “School Food and Nutrition Programs” and “Promoting Inclusive Economic Growth through Matching Grants for Families of Migrants”. JICA and FAO have launched a new pilot project to support the Ministry of Agriculture of Tajikistan in potato seed replenishing. A National Investment Plan for Agriculture in Tajikistan for 2021-2030 is planned.
Turkmenistan
FAO interventions and resource mobilization for Turkmenistan envisages three priority areas: (1) agricultural production and food security, with a view to increasing the contribution of agriculture, forestry and fisheries to the country's economic growth; (2) sustainable natural resource management, climate change mitigation and adaptation; (3) increased resilience of rural livelihoods to agriculture and food security threats and shocks. FAO has no official representation in the country.
Turkmenistan officially endorsed a set of projects on reducing food loss and waste, improving fisheries and aquaculture management, and increasing fungal resistance of wheat.
Uzbekistan
Agricultural development and food security. A new four-year FAO project, “Smart Farming for the Next Generation” (US $3.4 million provided by South Korea), implemented in Uzbekistan and Vietnam, will contribute to the achievement of SDGs, including the eradication of poverty and hunger, and ensuring good health and well-being for everyone. The overall goal of the project is to initiate and promote smart and sustainable production, as well as post-harvest handling and marketing of vegetables grown in greenhouses.
FAO launched the Technical Cooperation Program “Support in Implementation of Inclusive Agricultural Policies” (US $100 thousand, end of 2022) aimed at improving rural livelihoods through inclusive policies in agriculture and rural women’s empowerment.
GEF has approved to co-finance FAO’s efforts in Uzbekistan striving to shift food systems and land use to a sustainable track and supporting land restoration. Specifically, improvements in the wheat production and value chain are foreseen, given that the country is the sixth biggest wheat consumer in the world and that appetite is growing.
FAO Regional Projects and Activities:
(1) “Integrated Natural Resources Management in Drought-Prone and Salt-Affected Agricultural Production Landscapes in Central Asia and Turkey project” is the second phase of the Central Asian Countries Initiative on Land Management (CACILM-2) regional program (US $75 million, 2017-2022). In 2020, the following events were held: regional webinar on “Estimating the Impact of Land Management on Climate Change Mitigation with the Carbon Benefits Project (CBP) Tools” (25-29 May); two trainings - QGIS Basics, Watershed tool, Trends.Earth (15 June-1 July); 3rd Project Steering Committee meeting (24 January, Bishkek);
(2) Central Asian Desert Initiative (CADI). The 3rd CADI Steering Committee meeting was organized online (13 November). The agenda included reports and discussions on implementing CADI activities in the target countries in 2019-2020 and an outlook on the work plan in 2021. Capacity building in Uzbekistan has been implemented via the Farmers' Field Schools (FFS) concept developed by FAO. On two pilot sites in Uzbekistan, the FAO project team conducted a series of FFS sessions to improve nutritional security and increase the rural farmers' income living under harsh climatic conditions of cold winter desert through enhanced capacity (December);
(3) Program to Improve National and Regional Locust Management in Caucasus and Central Asia to reduce occurrence and intensity of locust outbreaks in CCA, thus limiting threat or damage to crops and rangelands and safeguarding rural population food security and livelihoods, as well as minimizing impact of chemical control operations on human health and the environment. An Annual Technical Workshop on Locusts in Caucasus and Central Asia was held (24-26 November, online). The new “Project for Improvement of Locust Management (Phase 2)” was launched on the occasion of the first Project Steering Committee (1 December);
(4) “Developing Capacity for Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in selected countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia”. FAO analyzed the situation with food security and nutrition in Kyrgyzstan through a number of indicators of social and food systems and prepared infographics, which illustrates data interrelation over time, and also demonstrates their trends.
In order to define its future medium and long term priorities for Europe and Central Asia, FAO has requested a group of renowned experts to prepare a region-specific report outlining the trends, challenges, and opportunities for food, agriculture and rural development in the region up to 2025 and beyond. A virtual regional workshop was convened, where the research teams presented the draft report for review. The meeting underlined the importance of including the COVID-19 response in the report, not only under short-term, but also medium-term, action. Experts also emphasized the multiple dimensions of digitalization, its implications and opportunities for the region, as well as the need to promote agriculture, fisheries, and forestry to young people (27–28 August). The challenges and opportunities of digital agriculture was the topic of the second meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of Central Asia, facilitated by FAO and Kazakhstan. The Central Asian countries expressed interest in developing and implementing comprehensive digital agricultural strategies to spur the growth of digital technologies (8 December).
Source: www.fao.org
6.13. International Law Commission
The International Law Committee (ILC) is a subsidiary body of UNGA, consisting of thirty four members of recognized competence in international law, who sit in their individual capacity and not as representatives of their Governments. The task of ILC is encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification. It was established in 1947. The Commission has no representatives of the Central Asian states in its composition.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, the General Assembly, on 12 August 2020, decided to postpone the seventy-second session of the ILC to 2021. Subsequently, in accordance with resolution 75/135 of 15 December 2020, the International Law Commission will hold its seventy-second session at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 26 April to 4 June and from 5 July to 6 August 2021 (11 weeks).
The 72nd Session of the Commission is to consider the following items: immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction; provisional application of treaties; protection of the atmosphere; succession of States in respect of State responsibility; general principles of law; sea-level rise in relation to international law. Had the seventy-second session taken place in 2020, additional topics were on the agenda for the 2021 session – and may well still be so. These topics are: peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens) and protection of the environment in relation to armed conflict.
Source: www.independentila.org
6.14. International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations. It was established in 1945. It delivers judicial and advisory functions. No judges from Central Asia sit in the International Court. Cases submitted to the Court involve a wide variety of subject matters: territorial and maritime disputes; consular rights; human rights; environmental damage and conservation of living resources; international responsibility and compensation for harm; the immunities of States, their representatives and assets; interpretation and application of international treaties and conventions. In 2020, the Court’s list of cases included only one case directly related to water – dispute over the status and use of the waters of the Silala (Chile v. Bolivia). For the nature of the case and proceedings in 2016-2020, see the ICJ report.