In her opening remarks, Ms. Maya Ashirova, Manager of the UNDP/ GCF project "Developing a National Adaptation Planning Process in Turkmenistan" noted: “There is no doubt that climate change is comprehensive, since almost all sectors of the economy are facing the negative consequences of climate change. An intersectoral approach is applied for the national adaptation planning process in Turkmenistan, which takes into account a whole range of issues relevant to our country. During the workshop we will look at various aspects of adaptation to climate change in the water and agricultural sectors and discuss the inclusion of migration and health issues in the NAP.”

 Another topic of discussion was the integration of the nexus of migration, environment and climate change into the NAP. In particular, the Supplement on Human Mobility to the UNFCCC Technical Guidelines on the National Adaptation Plan Process was presented. Based on the experience of Moldova, the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Actions of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) into the NAP process was reviewed. In Moldova, this work was implemented jointly by national partners, IOM and UNDP.

“Over the past two decades, IOM has contributed to the global recognition of the link between migration and climate change, thanks to which we are witnessing a progressive transition from a lack of interest and understanding of the climatic and environmental factors of migration to increased awareness of stakeholders, formulating migration topics within the framework of a coherent national development policy on climate change, more evidence, strengthening partnerships and policy instruments, where this connection is explicitly  recognized,”- said Mr. Timur Dosmammedov, Head of IOM Office in Turkmenistan.

In the follow up discussions and group work, the workshop participants reviewed issues related to adaptation planning through a gender lens, guided by the principle of “not leaving the most vulnerable groups behind”.