Yerevan, Armenia – 12 May 2025 – Climate experts and government representatives from across Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe are gathering in Yerevan, Armenia, from 12–15 May 2025 for a global workshop to exchange experiences.

The exercise will bring together representatives from eight countries: Armenia,  Viet Nam, the Philippines,  Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Iraq, and Yemen. Hosted by UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Armenia, the workshop will offer specialists a space to share experiences and tackle common operational challenges, refine strategies for effective project implementation, and identify correlations between local climate action and national policy. A key outcome will be the establishment of a Community of Practice to foster ongoing knowledge-sharing and mutual support throughout the projects’ lifecycle.

The workshop offers a unique platform for early collaboration and peer exchange as countries launch a new round of climate initiatives under a Japan Supplementary Budget (JSB)-supported programme.

To date, Japan’s support through UNDP’s Climate Promise has allowed millions of people to access clean energy and climate-resilient livelihoods. “Japan’s commitment goes beyond financial support—it reflects a deep belief in practical partnerships and inclusive climate progress,” noted H.E. Aoki Yutaka, Ambassador of Japan to Armenia.

“This workshop is not just a platform for sharing experiences. It is an opportunity for joint discussions, idea generation, and harmonization of goals that unite us as countries and institutions capable of generating multiplier effects, as well as collaborating in the context of broader agendas for developing countries,” noted Mr. Vardan Kostanyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Development of Armenia.

“These projects play a crucial role in enabling rapid, high-impact climate action in countries with urgent development needs,” said Mr. Levon Azizyan, Director of the “Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center” SNCO, Ministry of Environment of Armenia. “They act as accelerators—testing innovative solutions and building institutional foundations for scale.”

The four-day agenda balances technical sessions, peer learning, and field visits to JSB project sites in Armenia. Key focus areas include:

• Drawing on lessons from previous JSB projects to inform new interventions;
• Linking project results to national adaptation and mitigation strategies;
• Preparing for effective monitoring, reporting, and communications;
• Aligning JSB-supported actions with broader national climate policies and NDC priorities.

“We are proud to host this global workshop and to contribute to shaping more effective and inclusive climate action across the JSB-supported countries,” said Ms. Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia. “This event carries particular significance this year, as countries prepare for the next round of NDCs. Initiatives like this are essential for advancing impactful and inclusive climate action worldwide.”

Special sessions will engage UNDP Regional Technical Advisors, providing hands-on guidance to country teams in designing project frameworks that maximize long-term impact.

About UNDP’s Climate Promise

UNDP’s Climate Promise is the UN system’s largest portfolio of support on climate action, working with more than 140 countries and territories and directly benefiting 37 million people. This portfolio implements over US$2.3 billion in grant financing and draws on UNDP’s expertise in adaptation, mitigation, carbon markets, climate and forests, and climate strategies and policy. Visit our website at climatepromise.undp.org and follow us on X at @UNDPClimate.

Media Contact: Hovhannes Sarajyan, UNDP in  Armenia Communications Officer, tel.: +374 91420122