DUSHANBE, April 9, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Senior government officials and climate change experts from around the world gathered for the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) Partnership Forum in the Philippines in March to discuss financial measures to help developing countries mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change, according to press release issued by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Tajikistan Resident Mission (TJRM) on April 8.

Hosted by ADB, the meetings were an opportunity to review the impact of CIF, and to strengthen developing country participation in CIF climate action schemes.

"I found this CIF Partnership Forum to be very useful to share Tajikistan''s experience in addressing climate change issues. It was also useful to learn how other countries are dealing with similar problems," said Mr. Zaynullo Sharipov, Ecology and Emergencies Division, President''s Office, who headed the Tajikistan delegation to the Forum.

The CIF are implemented by Multilateral Development Banks – the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Inter-American Development Bank, and World Bank Group – to provide interim funding for priority climate change responses while the new global financial architecture is negotiated.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region. In 2009, it approved $16 billion of loans, $1.11 billion of grant projects, and technical assistance amounting to $266.8 million.