DUSAHNBE, March 19, 2010, Asia-Plus – A joint team of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank, and the International Finance Corporation, concluded its mission in Dushanbe last week to prepare the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) grant proposal under the multi-donor Climate Investment Funds, which aims to pilot ways to integrate climate risk assessments and resilience into Tajikistan''s priority investment/development programs, according to the ADB Tajikistan Resident Mission (TJRM) .

The Phase I grant proposal of $1.5 million is intended for analytical studies and capacity building efforts, and may include the following activities: institutional analysis and capacity needs for climate resilience; climate science and impact modeling partnership; awareness raising on projected climate change impacts; enhancing climate resilience of the energy sector; analysis of sustainable land management approaches for changing climate conditions; and an analysis of the benefits and challenges of a multi-sector river basin and eco-system-based approach to climate resilience in existing priority investments.

These activities have been identified through extensive consultation with the government, civil society and donor organizations. The Phase I grant proposal is expected to be submitted to the government shortly for review.

Phase I is expected to lead to the preparation of a larger Strategic Program for Climate Resilience to support climate adaptation investments under the next Phase II, which is considered in the amount of $20-30 million.

Tajikistan has been selected as one of nine countries and two regions in the world to participate in the PPCR.

The Climate Investment Funds are unique financing instruments designed to support low-carbon and climate-resilient development through scaled-up financing channeled through the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Inter-American Development Bank, and World Bank Group.