The five-day training "Features of atmospheric circulation and synoptic processes in the territory of Turkmenistan and neighboring states" was held in Ashgabat within the framework of the project "Support of Climate Resilient Economic Activity of Agricultural Communities in Arid Regions of Turkmenistan", jointly implemented by UNDP, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan and GEF Special Climate Fund.

The training was held in a hybrid format.

The training was attended by forecasters from the Service for Hydrometeorology, specialists from the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Wildlife of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, the Scientific Information Center of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development, teachers from the Turkmen State University named after Magtymguly, Turkmen Agricultural University named after S.A. Niyazov and the Turkmen Agricultural Institute (Dashoguz).

International lecturer, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Mr. Erkin Isaev from Bishkek, acquainted the participants with the possibilities of various programs for modeling and forecasting weather situations using digital technologies. The Kyrgyz expert will also provide the national Hydrometeorology Service with assistance in the preparation of guidelines for the preparation of reviews of storm winds, hazardous events, instructions for forecasting precipitation in Turkmenistan, taking into account international experience.

Farhat Orunov, Program Analyst, UNDP Environmental Portfolio in Turkmenistan:

“The aim of the seminar is to discuss the peculiarities of atmospheric circulation and to strengthen the potential of the Hydrometeorological Service in providing quality services to the population and organizations, as well as to environmental scientists and climatologists. The Hydrometeorological Service of Turkmenistan is part of the network of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which supports interstate cooperation and the exchange of data from global, regional, national observing systems. Therefore, the constant improvement of the professional level of scientific and technical personnel is an important condition for the solution of national forecasting tasks and the stable development of economic and agricultural sectors”.

The event was organized with the assistance of the project partner, the "Assisting Better Governance in Turkmenistan" program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

A joint project between UNDP and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan "Supporting Climate Resilient Economic Livelihoods of Agricultural Communities in the Dry Regions of Turkmenistan" was launched in 2016 and aims to support the application of climate change adaptation measures for the sustainable development of agricultural communities living in Lebap and Dashoguz velayats of Turkmenistan.

One of the main objectives of the project is to support the Government in improving institutional and legal mechanisms for the efficient use of water and land resources, including the introduction of measures to adapt to climate change through institutional changes.

The project is actively involved in the development of a solid regulatory framework in the field of land and water management by attracting qualified specialists in the field of jurisprudence and creating a platform for exchanging knowledge and experience, discussing and joining efforts to revise existing bills and regulations, according to the press release from UNDP.