中亚学院年鉴（2023）：推进CAREC区域的绿色增长和可持续发展

CARECINSTITUTE

ANNUALREPORT

SYNERGIESFORSUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT:EXPLORINGINCLUSIVEGREENGROWTHANDDIGITALADOPTIONINTHECARECREGION

FLAGSHIPEVENTS:

CARECTHINKDEVELOPMENT

CARECINSTITUTE

RESEARCHCONFERENCE

TANKFORUM

TableofContents

Director'sMessage1

InstitutionalStrategy3

2023ActivitiesatGlance6

Figuresin20237

PriorityThemesandMajorEvents8

EnhancingInstitutionalCapacity38

FinancialHighlights44

2024Outlook46

Abbreviations

ADBAsianDevelopmentBank

ADBIAsianDevelopmentBankInstitute

BRIBeltandRoadInitiative

CARECCentralAsiaRegionalEconomicCooperation

CPMMCorridorPerformanceMeasurementandMonitoring

CTTNCARECThinkTankNetwork

CTTDFCARECThinkTankDevelopmentForum

COVID-19Coronavirusdisease2019

FDIForeignDirectInvestment

FTAFreeTradeAgreement

GDPGrossDomesticProduct

ICTInformationandCommunicationsTechnology

IFRSInternationalFinancialReportingStandards

IsDBIslamicDevelopmentBank

MSMEMicro,Small,andMediumenterprise

OFDIOutwardForeignDirectInvestment

PRCPeople'sRepublicofChina

RAMRoadAssetManagement

ToTTrainingofTrainers

UnitedNationsInternationalChildren'sEmergency

UNICEF

Fund

UnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCommissionfor

UNESCAP

AsiaandthePacific

Director'sMessage

DearStakeholders,

IampleasedtointroducetheCARECInstitute'sAnnualReportfor

theyear2023thatfocusesonpromotinggreengrowth,sustainabledevelopment,anddigitaladoptionintheCARECregionthrough

research,capacitybuilding,andknowledgesharing.Byengaging

leaders,experts,andstakeholdersindiscussions,theInstituteaimstoaddressregionalpolicychallengesandfindsustainablesolutionsforcollectivebenefit.

Inaworldfacingunprecedentedchallenges,theimportanceof

regionalcooperationandsustainabledevelopmentcannotbe

overstated.Aswenavigatethecomplexitiesofeconomicgrowth,inclusivity,andenvironmentalsustainability,theCARECregionstandsatacriticaljuncture.Throughalensofinclusivityandgreengrowth,thereportshowcasestheinitiativesoftheCARECInstitutethat

advocatefortheintegrationofeconomicprogress,environmentalconservation,andsocialequality.TheknowledgeproductsoftheCARECInstituteemphasizethesignificanceofmobilizingresources,promotinginnovation,andembracingdigitaltechnologiestopropeltheregiontowardsasustainablefuture.

Asweconfronttherealitiesofclimatechange,waterscarcity,andeconomicuncertainties,theCARECInstitutehasofferedvaluable

knowledgeservicesandproductstofacilitateeffectivecollaborationamongpolicymakers,researchers,andstakeholders.Together,weaimtonavigatetowardsagreenerandmoreresilientfuturebyleveragingpartnershipsandembracinginnovativesolutions.Ourcollective

effortspavethewayforasustainableandprosperousCARECregionforfuturegenerations.

ThroughinitiativesliketheCARECInstitute'sAnnualResearch

Conference,CARECThinkTankDevelopmentForumandthe

publicationofresearchpapers,policybriefsandeconomicmonitors,policydialogues,capacitybuildingtrainingsandworkshops,

policymakersareequippedwiththeknowledgeandtoolsneededtoimplementrecommendedpolicyactionsforsustainableandinclusivedevelopmentintheregion.

Thereporthighlightsthecriticalimportanceofregionalcooperation,digitaltransformation,infrastructuredevelopment,andinnovativefinancingmodelstoachievesustainableandinclusiveeconomic

growthinthepost-COVID-19era.Itemphasizestheurgencyof

addressingclimatechangechallengesthroughresearch-driven

strategiesandgreeninitiativestoshapeasustainablefuturefortheregion.

Servingasaregionalknowledgeorganization,theCARECInstituteactivelycontributestotheCARECProgrambyconductingresearch,providingcapacitybuildingservices,andfacilitatingknowledge

sharing.CollaboratingcloselywithCARECgovernments,theInstitutecontinuesassistinginachievingtheirpolicyobjectivesoffosteringprosperityandenhancingeconomicintegrationwithintheregion.

Sincerely,

KabirK.Jurazoda

InstitutionalStrategy

TheCARECInstituteStrategyfor2021-2025isdesignedtorespondtotheevolvingpost-pandemicenvironmentbyenablingagreen,

sustainable,andinclusiverecoveryoftheCARECregion.Basedonthenewstrategy,theCARECInstituteincreasesthevolumeandqualityofitsproductsandservicestomeetthedemandforknowledgefromitsmembercountriesandtheCARECProgram.Ourtwelvestrategicprioritiesfor2021-2025are:

.DeepeningStakeholderEngagement.TheCARECInstituteincreasesitsengagementwithmembercountries,theCARECSecretariatandnationalandinternationalthinktankstobetterunderstandregionalandcountry-specificresearchandcapacitybuildingneeds.

·AttractingandRetainingTechnicalTalent.Tobecomean

innovativeknowledge-basedorganization,theCARECInstitute

continuestoidentifysignificantskillgapsbytransparentlyhiringstaffandsecondees,developingtheirskills,andreviewingand

updatingstaffcompensationmechanismtoattractandretainhigh-qualitytalents.

·DiversifyingFinancialResources.WithitsnewlydevelopedResourceMobilizationStrategyfor2022-2025,theCARECInstitutecontinuestodeepenengagementwithitsmembercountriesandbuildstaffcapacitytoadvanceresource

diversification.

·EnsuringConduciveWorkingEnvironment.TheCARECInstitutepromotesaconduciveworkingenvironmenttooptimizeits

productivityandefficiencybyprovidingsustainedaccesstostate-of-the-arttoolsandtechniques,databases,andknowledgesourcesforproducingqualityoutputs.

·StrategizingOperationalPriorities.TheCARECInstitute(i)buildsin-housetechnicalexpertisearoundafewcorethemesselectedfromallfiveclustersoftheCAREC2030strategyandintegratesitsresourcesaroundthemforproducinghighimpact,highquality

knowledgeoutput;(ii)selectsrelevanttopicsforknowledge

interventionswithinthecorethemes;(iii)keepstheflexibilityto

offerdemandbasedtechnicalknowledgeservicesonanycountry-specificissues,aslongastheysupportregionalcooperationandintegrationandarewithintheInstitute'sin-housetechnical

expertiseandspecificCARECpriorityclusters;and(iv)integratesCOVID-19pandemicasanoverarchingandcrosscuttingthemeinitsoperations.

·ExpandingResearchPortfolio.TheCARECinstitute'snewfocusareasinwhichmembercountriesneedurgentpost-pandemic

researchsupportare:(i)promotingtradeandforeigndirect

investmentforincreasingregionaltradeflowsandparticipationinregionalandglobalvaluechains;(ii)buildingbackbetterby

supportinggreener,resilientandinclusivepolicies,particularlyintourismandclimatechangeareas;(iii)facilitatingcross-border

financialcooperationamongmembercountries;(iv)promotingcapacitiesandregulatoryenvironmentforcreatingandbenefitingfromregionalpublicgoods;and(v)leveragingdigitaltechnologiesforresilienceandpovertyalleviation.TheInstitutecontinuestodevelopin-housesectoralresearchcapacity,lesseningitsrelianceonoutsourcedresearchconsultants.

·RevitalizingCapacityBuildingApproach.TheCARECInstitutecontinuesrespondingtoemergingcapacitygapsinmember

countries.Thenewlyconceptualizedcapacitybuildingapproach—spearheadedbyane-learningplatformwithhybridmodalities—helpstheInstitute(i)buildonitsprogrammaticachievementsbyidentifyingcorecapacitygapsinmembercountries—policy,

regulatory,procedural,andsoon;(ii)determinelevelsofcapacityforvarioustiersofgovernment—leadership,operational;(ii)

determinestagesofcapacitybuilding—shortdurationtoextendedperiod;and(iv)definemeasurableoutcomesofcapacitybuildinginterventions—anticipatedchangesinpolicyformulation

·

AdoptinganInnovativeKnowledgeManagementApproach.

TheCARECInstitutecontinuestoinnovateitsknowledge

managementapproachbyemphasizinganddesigninguser-friendlyknowledgeproductsandharnessingdigitaltechnologyfor

bolsteringdisseminationtoreachouttoseniorpolicymakersandstakeholders,organizingandindexingknowledgetoensureuser-friendlynavigation.

·ImprovingPartnershipsandNetworks.TheCARECInstitute

continuestorefineitsapproachtobuildingpartnershipsby

identifyingopportunitiesanddevelopingsynergies,includingjointactivitieswithintheCARECThinkTankNetwork,inparticulartheCARECThinkTankDevelopmentForum.

.CARECCorridorPerformanceMeasurementandMonitoring

(CPMM).TheCARECInstituteandtheADBareworkingtogethertotransferADB'sexpertiseinCPMMmethodology,datacollectionandanalysis,andpreparationandpublicationofreportstotheCARECInstitutebytheendofthestrategyperiod.

.AdoptionofDigitalApproaches.TheCARECInstitute'stransitionfromarelativelynewinstitutiontoamature,go-toplacefor

knowledgesolutionsintheregionlargelydependsonits

adaptabilitytoembraceagile,cutting-edgetechnologiesinits

operationstoincreaseefficiencyandeffectiveness.TheInstitutecontinuestoleveragedigital/virtualtechnologies,finetune

approachesinitsoperations,inspireandleadotherregionalthinktankstolearnfromInstitute'sexperience,andfacilitatemembercountriesinbridgingdigitaladoptiongaps.

.QualityAssuranceFramework.Toachievethestatusofa

reputableandmaturethinktankintheregion,theCARECInstitutewillsignificantlyenhancethequalityofitsproductsand

interventionsbyimplementingaqualityassuranceframeworkforallitsactivities.

2023

Activities

at

Glance

JANUARY

·CARECInstitute'sSecondAnnualBook

.Regionalworkshop“StrengtheningKnowledgeandCapacitiesfortheDesignandImplementationofFreeTradeAgreementsInvolvingCARECCountries:TrainingofTrainers”

.SixthCARECThinkTank

DevelopmentForumReport

.WebinaronRegionalCooperationinCentralAsiaonWater,EnergyandClimateChange

FEBRUARY

.Report"CARECDigitalFDIEcosystemintheCARECRegion(phaseII)"

.Report“WaterInfrastructurein

CentralAsia:PromotingSustainableFinancingandPrivateCapital

Participation”

.EconomicBrief“ThePRC'sOFDIto

theCARECregion-prospectsingreenenergy"

.PolicyBrief“DevelopmentoftheCivilAviationIndustryinSixCAREC

Countries:Georgia,Kazakhstan,theKyrgyzRepublic,Mongolia,

Turkmenistan,Uzbekistan”

MARCH

·WorkshoponEarlyWarningand

RegulationsofInternationalFinancialRisks

·

DigitalCARECVirtualPolicyDialogue

ontheDigitalFDIEcosystem

.CARECInstituteE-LearningPlatform

FeaturedinADBI'sNewBook

APRIL

·JointCTTNDialogueandCARECChaiEventabouttheEconomicImpactoftheRussian-UkraineConflictontheCARECCountries

.FourthCARECChaiEventonClimateChangeIssuesandPotentialfor

RegionalAction

.CARECQuarterlyEconomicMonitor

No.9

MAY

.Workshop“ChartingaPathway

towardsaGreen,Climate-ResilientEconomyRecoveryinAsiainPost-COVID-19Era"

.Webinar"UnleashingthePotentialofMSMEsintheCARECRegion:

RecommendationsforOvercomingBarrierstoFinance"

.Country-SpecificWorkshoponRoadAssetManagementfortheKyrgyz

Republic

.Country-SpecificWorkshoponRoadAssetManagementforTajikistan

.CARECInstitute'snewreport

"StrengtheningagriculturalextensionservicesinruralUzbekistan:

opportunitiesandalternatives"

JUNE

.ThirdMeetingofCARECInstitute's

FinancialSustainabilityWorkingGroup

JULY

.Symposiumon“China-CentralAsiaCooperationonDigitalEconomy

InnovationandGovernance"

.QuarterlyEconomicMonitorNo.10

AUGUST

.SeventhCARECThinkTank

DevelopmentForum“EmbracingDigitalTechnologyforSustainableEconomicDevelopment”

·PolicyBriefontheTradeFacilitationintheCARECregion

·DialoguebetweenGovernmentandPrivateSector:PromotingTradeandInvestmentinCARECRegion

SEPTEMBER

·CARECInstitute'sThirdAnnualResearchConference“ProspectsforanInclusiveGreenGrowthandSustainabilityintheCARECRegion”

·

PolicyBriefonChina'sBestPolicy

PracticesforUsingCentralizedInspectionsforLow-Carbon

Cities.

OCTOBER

.FifthMeetingofCAREC

Institute'sAdvisoryCouncil

.CTTNDialogueonRegionalStrategicVisionforClimateAction

.WorkshoponResultsofNewCivilAviationResearchProject

NOVEMBER

NewStrategicPartnership

betweentheCARECInstituteandtheBeijingNationalAccountingInstitute

.QuarterlyEconomicMonitorNo.11

·Workshop“Householdaccessto

energyintheFerganaValley-a

multidimensionalsurvey-based

assessmentinthreeCAREC

countries"

·Knowledge-SharingWebinaronEnhancingRegionalTrade

FacilitationintheCARECregionthroughNationalSingleWindow

.CARECInstitute'sPapers

publishedinAsiaPacific

SustainableDevelopmentJournal

·Mid-TermReviewofCAREC

Institute'sStrategywasfinalized

DECEMBER

.FourteenthMeetingoftheCARECInstitute'sGoverningCouncil

.NewStrategicPartnership

betweentheCARECInstituteandtheExport-ImportBankofChina

.NewStrategicPartnership

betweentheCARECInstituteand

theCentreforAnalysisof

EconomicReformsand

Communication-Azerbaijan

.SixthChaiDialogueonMiddleCorridorDevelopment

.SeventhChaiDialoguetoDiscussRegulatoryFrictionsinDigitalPayments

·ThirdWaterVirtualPolicyDialogue.TenCPMMCountryBriefs

2023inFigures

PUBLICATIONS

]AnnualBook

3ResearchPapers&Reports

4QuarterlyEconomicMonitors

5PolicyBriefs

1EconomicBrief

10CPMMBriefs

BUILDING

CAPACITY

&

21

Workshops,Webinars,ForumsDialogues

64

64

35128

LearningPlatform

LearningPlatform

E-Learning

ModulesonE-Learning

VideosonE-Learning

PlatformVisitors

197059VisitstotheE-learningPlatform

FLAGSHIP

EVENTS

PARTNERSHIPS

1ResearchConference

5

NewMemorandumsUnderstanding

of

]CARECThinkTankDevelopmentForum

2727

33100

1873

3100

FollowersonLinkedIn

FollowersonWeibo

FollowersonWeChat

SubscribersofE-newsletterinChinese,English,andRussian

PriorityThemesandMajorEvents

FosteringSustainableDevelopmentandClimateResilienceviaRegionalCollaborationintheCARECRegion:PavingtheWaytoaGreenerFuturewithKnowledgeExchange

GreengrowthandsustainabledevelopmentarevitalfortheCARECregionastheyareessentialinpromotingeconomicprosperitywhilesimultaneouslyreducingenvironmentalimpact.EmbracinggreengrowthandsustainabledevelopmentallowsCARECmember

countriestoenhanceproductivityandefficiencywhileminimizingtheirenvironmentalfootprint,resultinginlastingeconomicandenvironmentaladvantages.

Regionalcooperationonwaterresources,energy,andclimatechangeiscrucialforgreengrowthandsustainabledevelopment.These

sectorsareinterconnected,andaddressingchallengesinoneareaoftenrequirescollaborationinothers.Inlightofthis,theCAREC

InstituteandtheDavisCenterforRussianandEurasianStudiesofHarvardUniversityjointlyhostedawebinaraboutregional

cooperationinCentralAsiaonwater,energy,andclimatechangeonJanuary30,2023.Theexpertsdiscussedhowwaterisintricatelylinkedtoclimatechange.Climatechangeimpactsthewatercycle,leadingtochangesinprecipitationpatterns,evaporationrates,andtheavailabilityofwaterresources,Risingglobaltemperaturescanresultinmorefrequentandintensedroughts,floods,andextremeweatherevents,affectingwateravailabilityandquality.Changesintemperatureandprecipitationpatternscanalterthetimingand

volumeofriverrunoff,snowmelt,andgroundwaterrecharge,

impactingwatersupplyforagriculture,industry,anddomesticuse.

ThiscanleadtowaterscarcityinsomepartsoftheCARECregionandincreasecompetitionforlimitedwaterresources.Furthermore,

climatechangecanexacerbatewater-relatedchallengessuchas

waterpollution,salinization,andsea-levelrise,affectingcoastalareas

andfreshwaterecosystems.Shiftsinrainfallpatternscanalso

influencewateravailabilityforhydropowergeneration,affectingenergyproductionandsecurity.Waterscarcitycanimpactenergyproduction,andclimatechangeaffectsbothwaterresourcesandenergysystems.Therefore,addressingclimatechangerequires

integratedwatermanagementstrategiestoadapttochanging

conditions,enhancewaterefficiency,andmitigatewater-related

risks.Sustainablewatermanagementpracticescanhelpbuild

resiliencetoclimatechangeimpactsandensuretheavailabilityofwaterresourcesforcurrentandfuturegenerations.

Theexpertdiscussionprovidedvaluableinsightsand

recommendationsforfosteringcollaboration,addressingchallenges,andadvancingsustainablepracticesinmanagingwaterresources,energy,andclimatechangeinCentralAsia.Regionalcooperation

allowsforthesharingofknowledge,resources,andbestpracticesamongcountriesfacingsimilarissues.Byworkingtogether,countriescandevelopmoreeffectivesolutionsandstrategiestomanagethesecriticalresourcessustainably.Additionally,regionalcooperationcanhelpmitigateconflictsoversharedresources,suchastransboundaryrivers,byfosteringdialogueandcooperationratherthancompetition.Overall,cooperationinwaterresources,energy,andclimatechangeisessentialforpromotingsustainabledevelopment,resilienceto

environmentalchallenges,andensuringthewell-beingof

communitiesintheregion.Youcanwatchthevideorecordingofthewebinarhere.

WiththeCARECregionconsumingalargeportionoftheavailable

water,innovativepoliciesareneededtoensureefficientand

productiveuseofthisvitalresource.CARECInstitute'snew

publication“WaterInfrastructureinCentralAsia:Promoting

SustainableFinancingandPrivateCapitalParticipation,"co-authoredbyDr.IskandarAbdullaev,formerDeputyDirectorTwooftheCARECInstitute,andMr.ShakhbozAkhmedov,formerSeniorResearch

FellowatCARECInstitute'sResearchDivision,emphasizesthe

importanceofwaterresourcesforeconomicgrowthinCentralAsia,aregionhighlydependentonwater-intensiveagriculturalandenergyproducts.

Thereportsnotesthatwaterisessentialforagriculture,whichisa

significantsectorinmanyCARECcountries,Adequatewatersupplyisnecessaryforirrigationtosupportcropgrowthandensurefood

security.Waterisvitalforenergyproductionintheregion-many

CARECcountriesrelyonwaterasasourceofhydropower,whichisarenewableandcleanenergysource.Wateravailabilitydirectly

impactsenergygenerationandcontributestotheregion'senergy

security.Additionally,waterplaysakeyroleinsustainingecosystems,biodiversity,andoverallenvironmentalhealthintheCARECregion.

Itsupportsaquaticlife,maintainswetlands,andregulatesclimatepatterns,allofwhichareessentialforecologicalbalanceand

resilience.Moreover,accesstocleanwaterisfundamentalforpublichealthandsanitation.Adequatewatersupplyandsanitationfacilitiesareessentialforpreventingwaterbornediseasesandpromoting

overallwell-beingincommunitiesacrosstheCARECregion.

Therefore,ensuringsustainablewatermanagementpracticesandinfrastructureiscrucialfortheregion'sprosperityandresilience.

Thereportadvocatesthatgovernmentsbuildlegislativeframeworksfornon-institutionalparticipantstomanageinvestmentrisksand

unlockvaluesbycollaboratingwithgovernmentagencies,regulators,andcommunities.ThegovernmentsofCentralAsiashouldmodify

theiragriculturalpoliciestoencourageprivateenterprisestoinvestinwaterservices,andtheoperationandmaintenanceofirrigation

infrastructureshouldbeofthehighestquality.Yet,thereisgreatvalueinengagingwithcommunitiesandorganizationsofvaryingsizesto

exposetherequireddataandinformation.Infact,thelong-term

performanceandsustainabilityofinfrastructurearedirectlytiedtothelevelofintegrationandcooperationamongststakeholders,suchasgovernmentagenciesandotherinstitutions.Theimprovementof

waterinfrastructure,operation,andmaintenance,aswellasthe

provisionofspecializedwaterservices,isreliantonenhancing

capacitybuildingandtechnologicalintegration.Moreover,establishingcommercialcollaborationscanincreasetechnologicalinnovationin

thewaterindustry.Theextensiveimplementationofdigital

technologiesandinnovativeapproachesinthewaterindustrywillboostwaterresourcedevelopmentandutilizationeffectiveness

PleasevisittheCARECInstitute'swebsiteformoreinformation

TheThirdWaterVirtualPolicyDialoguehostedbytheCAREC

Institutefocusedon"WaterInfrastructureinCentralAsia:PromotingSustainableFinancingandPrivateCapitalParticipation."Thedialogueparticipantsnotedthatadequatefundingisnecessarytodevelop,

maintain,andupgradewaterinfrastructuresystems,includingwatersupply,sanitation,andirrigationfacilities.Withoutproperfinancing,thesesystemsmaydeteriorate,leadingtowatershortages,

environmentaldegradation,andpublichealthrisks.Secondly,

investinginwaterinfrastructurecanimproveaccesstocleanandsafewater,particularlyinregionswherewaterscarcityisapressingissue.

This,inturn,canenhancepublichealth,reducewaterbornediseases,andimproveoverallqualityoflifeforcommunities.Furthermore,

financingwaterinfrastructureprojectscancontributetoeconomicdevelopmentbycreatingjobs,stimulatinglocaleconomies,and

attractingprivatesectorinvestments.Improvedwaterinfrastructurecanalsosupportagriculturalproductivity,industrialgrowth,and

sustainableurbandevelopment.Insummary,financingwaterinfrastructureisessentialforensuringaccesstocleanwater,promotingpublichealth,drivingeconomicgrowth,andbuildingresilientcommunitiesinthefaceofwater-relatedchallenges.

ThedialoguebroughttogetherleadingwatersectorexpertsfromtheCARECregiontodiscussissuesandpoliciesforlong-termsustainablefinancingofthewatersectorinCentralAsia.Expertsemphasizedthe

needforimprovedpolicydialoguebetweenscientistsand

policymakers,bettercoordinationamongCentralAsiancountriesandinternationalinstitutesengagedinwaterprojects,andtheimportanceofpublic-privatepartnershipsinwaterinfrastructuredevelopment.Recommendationsincludedenhancingcollaboration,legislative

improvements,anti-corruptionmeasures,transparency,andeffectiveengagementoftheprivatesectorinwaterinfrastructureprojects.Thedialoguehighlightedthesignificanceofacomprehensivestrategy

withcleartasksandresponsibilitiestoefficientlyimplementwater-relatedprojectsforsustainabledevelopmentandmanagementofwaterresourcesintheregion.Materialsandrecordingsofthe

dialogueareavailableontheCARECInstitute'se-learningplatformforbroaderaccessacrosstheCARECregionandbeyond.

Agriculturalextensionservicesplayacrucialroleinaddressing

climatechangeintheagriculturesector.Theseservicesprovidefarmerswithessentialknowledge,information,andresourcestoadapttoandmitigatetheeffectsofclimatechange.ThereportonagriculturalextensionservicesinruralUzbekistan,publishedbytheCARECInstitute,discussesthecurrentstateofresearchand

extensionservicesinUzbekistan.Ithighlightstheneedforfreshapproachesandnewtypesofextensionservicestosupportthe

increasingproductionoftheagriculturalsectorandaddressfuturechallenges.Thereportemphasizestheimportanceofinnovativemethods,suchasICT-basedextensionservices,toimprovelong-termandhigh-performingagriculturalextensionservices.

Itsuggestssupportingnewalternatives,includingdigital,

commerciallydriven,supply-basedextensionservices,toenhancethedevelopmentofextensionservicesinruralUzbekistan.Incentivesandsupportforprivatesectorplayersarerecommendedtobringquickerandmoresustainablesolutionstothesector.

Agriculturalextensionserviceshelpenhanceagriculturalproductivity,promotingsustainablepractices,buildingresilienceagainstclimatechange,facilitatingmarketaccess,andsupportingruraldevelopment.Byprovidingfarmerswithaccesstomodernfarmingtechniques,

informationonenvironmentallyfriendlypractices,andmarket-

orientedtraining,extensionservicesempowerfarmerstoincreaseyields,adapttochangingenvironmentalconditions,accessmarkets,andimprovetheirlivelihoods.Inessence,agriculturalextension

servicesareinstrumentalindrivingagriculturaldevelopmentandeconomicgrowthintheCARECregion.

Regionalcollaborationandjointstrategicplanningarekeytocreatingamoreclimate-resilientandsustainableregion.TheFourthCARECChaieventhighlightedthemainclimatechangechallengesfacedbytheregionandemphasizedthenecessarypolicyactionstoaddressthem.Keytopicsincludedtheurgentneedforregionalcooperationtotackleclimatechange,theimportanceofdevelopingadaptationandmitigationstrategies,andthepotentialforcoordinatedactionamongCARECmembercountries.ThekeytakeawaysfromtheFourth

CARECChaiEventunderscoretheurgentneedforregional

cooperationtotackleclimatechangechallengesintheCARECregion.Participantsemphasizedtheimportanceofdevelopingadaptationandmitigationstrategiestoenhanceresilienceagainstclimate

changeimpacts