During the 21st meeting of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, First Deputy Minister of Ecology Obidjon Kudratov held a bilateral meeting with the Regional Coordinator for Europe and Central Asia of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Ulrich Apel.

During the meeting, U.Apel highlighted the long-standing cooperation with Uzbekistan and the level of interaction achieved due to the active implementation of the grant funds allocated in the previous GEF financing cycles.

Considering the intensification of regional cooperation and the strengthening of relations in Central Asia, as well as the cross-border nature of environmental protection issues, the GEF expressed readiness to provide financing for joint regional programs and initiatives, including those related to combating sand and dust storms and mitigating their negative consequences.

In addition, the GEF expressed readiness to consider the possibility of increasing the financing limit for the Republic of Uzbekistan under the ninth financing cycle for the years 2026-2030.

For reference, under the eighth GEF financing cycle for the years 2022-2026, grant funds amounting to 13 million US dollars were allocated to the Republic of Uzbekistan. According to Appendix 11 of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, two project proposals have been developed jointly with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the UN Development Program (UNDP) for submission for funding.

Following the meeting, the participation of the Executive Director and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility in the 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (COP-14) has been confirmed. The conference will take place in Samarkand from February 12 to 17, 2024.