Central Asia Climate Change Conference (CACCC-2025) “Achieving the Global Climate Finance Goal through Regional and National Actions in Central Asia”

May 13-15, 2025 Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Date and place of birth: November 11, 1982, Republic of Tajikistan. 
Nationality: Tajik 

Country of citizenship: Republic of Tajikistan 

Country of current residence and work: Republic of Kazakhstan 
Position Name: Executive Director 

Organization: Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) 

Mr. Zafar Makhmudov is the Executive Director of the Regional Environmental 
Centre for Central Asia (CAREC).   

His main areas of professional expertise and activities are related to the mainstreaming climate change adaptation and mitigation into national development plans and strategies. Prior to joining CAREC, Mr.  Makhmudov served as the Head of the Project Implementation Unit at the Committee for Environment  Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, where he coordinated projects on natural  resource management at all levels of their implementation, including project development, structuring,  negotiation, execution and monitoring. He negotiated the initiation of new projects, which are carried out in close cooperation with a number of international development partners, in close coordination with the donor community and concerted actions of the multilateral development banks by providing access to climate and environmental funds with the support of the National Coordinator. The portfolio of implemented projects included the PPCR project in Tajikistan “Environmental Land Management and Improving Livelihoods in Rural Areas” and the “Program for Adaptation to Climate Change and Mitigation of Its Consequences in the Aral Sea Basin”. 

Mr. Zafar Makhmudov also served as the Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the Committee on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement of 2030. As a member of the Board of the Climate Investment Funds and Co-chair of the Pilot Program Committee for Climate Resilience, he  has advanced experience in managing and preparing National Adaptation Plans, a National Adaptation  Strategy for Climate Change, National Environmental Plan and extensive experience in conducting  negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and other  climate related funds.  

Tatiana Proskuryakova is the World Bank’s Regional Director for the Central Asia region that encompasses five countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Prior to this appointment, she served as the Country Manager for Romania and Hungary during 2017-2021, Country Manager in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro based in Sarajevo since 2015, Country Manager in North Macedonia during 2013-14, and Country Operations Adviser for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay during 2010-13.

Ms. Proskuryakova joined the World Bank in 1992 and throughout her career she has held various positions both in headquarters and in field offices, including in operations (in Europe and Central Asia Region and in Latin America and the Caribbean Region), portfolio management (in Latin America Department of Development Effectiveness), and corporate strategy (in Operational Policy and Country Services Vice Presidency). From 2003-2007, Ms. Proskuryakova was Senior Advisor representing the Russian Federation at the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors. Ms. Proskuryakova holds an M.Sc. in Economics/Political Economy from the Moscow State University, Russia, and an M. Phil. in Economics from the University of Oxford, UK

Speaker at the session “Regional collaboration and climate financing for sustainable development”

Mr. Torsten Brezina serves as the GIZ Cluster Coordinator for Regional Programmes in Central Asia since August 2017. In this position, he holds strategic responsibilities for the implementation of projects and programmes in the areas of climate change adaptation, natural resources management, disaster risk management, and political dialogue on climate and environment.

Since 2001 Mr. Brezina has been working in GIZ in various positions, including Country Director in Uzbekistan 2014-2017 and Head of Programmes in Central Asia, Russia, and Ukraine.

Mr. Brezina draws on more than two decades of professional experience in sustainable development and regional cooperation, strategy, and policymaking.                  With his experience in the fields, Mr. Brezina has built a broad vision of the climate-natural resources-land use- regional dialogue, of its stakeholders, of economic and strategic challenges on the path of sustainable economic development and stability. His assignments included operations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Speaker at Parallel Session C.2: Building Climate Resilience on Local Level 

In 2019, Turakul Murodov was appointed as Head of the National Coordination Group of the Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for the Aral Sea Basin (CAMP4SAB) Project under the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. This project is funded by the Green Climate Fund through the World Bank.

 Mr. Murodov is also Head of the Secretariate of the National Authorized Agency to liaise with the Green Climate Fund. 

Between 2010 and 2019, he headed various projects funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Tajikistan, and worked as a national consultant in UNDP, ADB, JICA and USAID projects.

He has over 13 years of experience in the field of environmental protection and climate change.

Alexey Kokorin has nearly 45 years of experience in climate issues. He is the author of more than 190 scientific and popular works on the underlying physical causes and consequences of climate change, international climate cooperation, education and popularization of scientific knowledge. In 1981, Kokorin graduated with honors from Lomonosov Moscow State University, Physics Department. In 1984, he received his PhD degree in physics and mathematics from the same university. For over 15 years he worked at the Institute of Global Climate and Ecology of Roshydromet (Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring) and the Russian Academy of Sciences, where he progressed from junior to lead researcher.

Since the late 1980s, he participated as a leading author in the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for the dissemination of scientific knowledge on climate change among thousands of scientists who contributed to this work. In 2017, Mr. Kokorin was awarded the badge "Honorary Conservationist of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia", as well as the certificate of honor of Roshydromet for many years of diligent work.

Since 1994, Alexey Kokorin actively participates in the work of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in the 1990s - as a member of the Russian delegation, and for the last 20 years - as an observer and independent expert. From 2000 till Summer 2023, he was the Director of Climate Program of WWF-Russia (in March 2023, the organization was included in the Russian Registry of Foreign Agents).

Over many years of his work, Alexey Kokorin has been the leader or leading expert on over 30 climate projects of UNEP, UNDP, the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, Fund of Presidential Grants and a number of international and national cooperation agencies. In recent years he became involved in activities in the Central Asia, in particular in the promotion of adaptation to climate change. From Summer 2023 till Spring 2024, he was consultant of the Central Asia Regional Ecological Centre. He also represents countries of the region in the special expert group of non-governmental organizations working on climate issues and the UNFCCC (Policy Coordination Group of the Climate Action Network). Since February 2024, Alexey Kokorin has been an expert on climate issues in the Russian “Nature and People” Foundation, where, in particular, he is in charge of preparing analytical materials on different aspects of the climate issues.

Through his work with the media Mr. Kokorin is actively involved in communicating scientific information on climate change to the public at large. Over the past 20 years he provided about 4,000 interviews to Russian and foreign media. Alexey Kokorin is constantly analyzing the activities of the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement; since 2000, twice a year, he has been preparing detailed information reviews for specialists in Russia and neighboring countries. 

William Hynes, Co-Director of the C3A Program, the World Bank

Moderator at Parallel Sessions 1.1: Innovative Tools for Designing Climate Financing Strategies in Central Asia (WB C3A)

Speaker at Central Asia Regional Economy-climate Scenario-building workshop

William Hynes is a Senior Climate Change Economist at the World Bank, an Honorary Professor of UCL and an External Applied Complexity Fellow at the Santa Fe Institute. He works on integrating climate issues into the Bank’s macroeconomic analysis and dialogue in Central Asia and the South Caucasus. Prior to this, as a Senior Advisor to the Secretary General and Head of New Approaches to Economic Challenges (NAEC) at OECD, he developed research programs on systems thinking, anticipation and resilience, new analytical tools and techniques and new economic and growth narratives. His publications and research are broad and interdisciplinary with a recent focus on green growth, systemic resilience and neuroscience inspired policy. He holds a DPhil from Oxford University, was a Marie Curie Fellow at the London School of Economics and is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin.

Etienne Espagne, Co-Director and Founder of the C3A Program, the World Bank

Moderator at Panel Session 1: Climate Finance and Innovations

Speaker at Central Asia Regional Economy-climate Scenario-building workshop

Étienne Espagne is a senior climate economist at the World Bank EFI chief economist office and an associate researcher at CERDI. He co-leads two major programs at the World Bank on analytical tool development and capacity development for finance ministries. Prior to this, as a senior economist at AFD (Agence Française de Développement), the bilateral development bank for the French government, he developed and contributed to a research program on the modelization and evaluation of climate damages, adaptation and mitigation strategies in developing and emerging economies, and previously worked at France Stratégie, CEPII and CIRED. He has published several papers on and continues to focus on building theories, models and methodologies to assess the macro-financial aspects of low-carbon and nature policies, especially in developing and emerging economies. He holds a PhD in environmental economics from the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) and is a graduate from the French École des Mines de Paris and the Paris School of Economics. 

Dilovarsho Dustzoda, CAREC Climate Change and Sustainable Energy (CCSE) Programme Manager, and Regional Climate Action Transparency Hub (ReCATH) Manager

Speaker and Moderator:

·       Pre-Conference Session: ReCATH AF kick-off meeting

·       Parallel Session 1.4: Regional Advisory Committee Meeting of the Resiland CA+ Programme

·       Panel Session 3: Transboundary Landscape Restoration in Central Asia

·       Parallel Session 2.2: Approaches to delivering NDC 3.0 and Methane ETF activities in Central Asia

·       Parallel Session 3.3: Green Economy Transition with Material Resource and Climate Change Linkage

Dilovarsho Dustzoda, Climate Change and Sustainable Energy (CCSE) Programme Manager, and Regional Climate Action Transparency Hub (ReCATH) Manager of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) that encompasses five countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Before this appointment, he served as the Head of the International Relations and Environmental Conventions Department of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan (2021-2023), Director of the Agency for Hydrometeorology of the Republic of Tajikistan (2020-2021), Director of the National Biodiversity and Biosafety Center (2019-2021). From 2003 to 2019, he had senior positions in the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Since 2001, Dilovarsho Dustzoda held management positions in several projects of international organizations (UNDP, World Bank, WWF, UNEP, GIZ), where he supervised projects on environmental protection, biodiversity, biosafety, protected areas, genetic resources and climate change.

He served as the National Focal Point for the UNFCCC and the permanent representative of WMO from Tajikistan. Being a member of COP/MOP UNCBD Bureue and member of several committees under these conventions, he has represented the Central and Eastern Europe region.

Dilovarsho Dustzoda holds an International Relations Master's Degree from the Tajik State National University; he is fluent in English, Russian, Turkish and Tajik languages.

 еорологической организации от Республики Таджикистан, членом бюро Конвенции по биоразнообразию, а также членом многочисленных комиссий этих конвенций, где представлял регион Центральной и Восточной Европы.

Диловаршо Дустзода имеет степень магистра международных отношений Таджикского национального университета, владеет русским, английским, турецким и таджикскими языками. 

Speaker at the Panel Session 3: Transboundary Landscape Restoration in Central Asia

Lyudmila Kiktenko has a background in economics and management of organizations, and economics of land degradation. She has worked in the development sector for over 23 years, including 18 years in the environmental sector and environmental issues in five Central Asian countries. As Programme Manager of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) Ludmila Kiktenko has prepared and managed the implementation of more than 15 multi-country and multi-partner grant projects in Central Asia, which have contributed to:

·        Understanding of water-energy-food security Nexus in Central Asia and practical application of the Nexus approach

·        Understanding of the opportunities offered by the Environmental Conventions to the countries

·        Promotion of ‘economization’ of environmental actions

·        Networking of experts and practitioners to strengthen educational programmers and implementation of pilot projects

Ludmila Kiktenko has practical skills in facilitating regional dialogues and cross-sectoral working groups, conceptualizing project ideas and preparing technical project proposals, implementing all phases of project management. She has extensive experience in monitoring project indicators, developing, consulting and evaluating the achievement of project objectives.

Fluent in Russian (native language) and English.

Nikolaenko Alexander Yurievich holds a Master's degree from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. With over two decades of expertise, he has contributed significantly to the development and execution of international projects focusing on environmental management and water resources across Central Asia. Notably, he has served as a regional advisor for the GIZ Program "Transboundary Water Resources Management" and, since 2020, for the "Green Central Asia" Program.

Senior Environmental Specialist in Environment, Natural Resources, and the Blue Economy

 Speaker at the Parallel Session D1 “Resilient Landscapes for Sustainable Development: Strategies, Innovations, and Partnerships” 

Asferachew Abate is Senior Environmental Specialist in Environment, Natural Resources, and the Blue Economy at the World Bank. Asferachew is Task Team Leader for Tajikistan RESILAND and the Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin Projects. Asferachew joined the Bank in 2011 in the Ethiopia Country Office where he successfully led operations on sustainable land and forest management in Ethiopia, Sudan, Ghana, and India. He provided environmental safeguards support for many projects and played a key role in building clients capacity on safeguards. Prior to joining the Bank Asferachew had over 15 years of experience in environment and sustainable development by working in governmental and non-governmental organizations that included Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Heinrich Böll Foundation, and Ethiopia Wildlife and Natural History Society.  Asferachew holds a PhD in ecology from Bayreuth University, Germany.

Director, Knowledge and Learning, NDC Partnership

Speaker at Opening Plenary and Panel Session 2 “Climate capacity, innovation and financing: needs and opportunities”

Amanda McKee is the Director for Knowledge and Learning with the NDC Partnership Support Unit. She oversees the development of knowledge products and learning activities to support NDC implementation and ambition-raising efforts across the Partnership members and beyond. Previously, Amanda managed the Partnership’s Climate Action Enhancement Package (CAEP), supporting 67 developing countries to enhance their NDCs as part of the 2020 update process. This included disbursement of the Partnership's $30 million Technical Assistance Fund. Amanda has spent much of her career fostering collaboration to promote learning across sectors and disciplines to tackle policy challenges in the fields of climate change, green growth, and sustainable development.

Before joining the NDC Partnership, Amanda led knowledge management efforts for the Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP), helping to shape global research efforts to support policy action on green growth, and encourage collaboration across multilateral organizations and research institutes. Prior to this, Amanda worked on trade and environment issues with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the UN’s International Trade Centre. This included contributions to the WTO/UN Environment report on Trade and Climate Change, development of training materials and delivery of training courses to government officials and small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). She is a Canadian citizen and holds a Master’s degree in International Economics from the Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.

Deo Gabinete is a Regional Manager for the NDC Partnership Support Unit based at the UNFCCC Regional Collaboration Center in Bangkok, Thailand. He coordinates the implementation of the Partnership’s activities related to all the stages of country engagement and knowledge strategies in Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Pacific, and represents the Support Unit at national and regional fora relevant to NDC implementation. 

Before joining the Support Unit, he served as a liaison for the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), where he coordinated CTCN's technical assistance, capacity building and networking activities for Asia-Pacific countries. He also led the Climate and Disaster Resilience programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization in the Philippines and supported the development and management of the country office's project portfolio on disaster risk reduction and management, climate change, fisheries, and ICT. He has been supporting government and non-government stakeholders, throughout his career, to increase their capacities to mainstream climate change and disaster resilience into development planning and policy implementation.

GIZ

Sergey leads the programme “Climate Risk Management in Central Asia” implemented by GIZ on behalf of German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), working across all five countries on the cross-section of climate change, water resources management, DRR and transboundary cooperation. His previous assignments included coordinating regional GIZ projects in South-East Asia, negotiating on topics of climate finance and carbon markets, and working in different roles at the UNFCCC secretariat. He holds Master of Science in Physics and MBA from the London Business School.

Speaker at parallel session B.3: WEF Nexus Next Steps

Dmitry Petrin is a Senior operations officer of the World Bank Central Asia Regional office responsible for coordination of regional engagement agenda, development and update of the Regional Engagement Framework for Central Asia, operational support and policy guidance in connection with the preparation, approval, implementation, and evaluation of operational products and analytical works at regional and cross-regional levels. Serve as focal point to coordinate the Bank's high-level dialogue with other regional entities (e.g., other IFIs, CAREC, etc), internal and external parties (e.g., cooperation agencies and other international organizations) and monitor other regional engagements e.g., EU CA Strategy, China Belt and Road, US CA Strategy etc.

From 1993 contributed to preparation and implementation support of projects of the WB, EBRD, EU, DFID, New Development Bank, Foundation for Enterprise Restructuring. He was responsible for coordinating the activities of the project implementation team with partners and government agencies. 

Evetta Zenina, a specialist with broad experience in climate change, natural resources and sustainable management, from January 2019 taking up duties as Natural Resources Officer (Climate Change) in subregional office of FAO (Turkiye and Central Asia).  She is technically supporting countries of the region in the area of climate change and sustainable management of land and water, disaster risk reduction (DRR) to respond to the challenges posed by climate change and to implement and deliver on their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.

She has expertise on managing the projects on   sustainable and resilient agrifood systems that provide a variety of solutions that respond to the climate crisis challenges and contribute to restoring degraded natural and managed ecosystems. Through the research, preparation of publications and supporting tool and methodologies development, she tailors and pilots good practices and innovative solutions, in the diverse range of regional, country and community to transform agrifood systems, policies supported by sustainable governance and appropriate legal and institutional frameworks.

Evetta holds Masters degrees in Economics from the Lomonosov Moscow State University and Sustainable Natural Resources Management from the Humboldt University of Berlin. She was also engaged as an Intern at Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and wrote her master thesis there with the research focus on the global agricultural efficiency respective to the GHG emissions by applying quantitative analysis, qualitative methodologies and data collection methods.

Before joining FAO, Evetta worked in United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in the Chemicals and Health Branch in Geneva. She supported the management of the Special Programme projects on Institutional Strengthening (Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm and Minamata Conventions related projects) with developing, least developed countries and economies in transition. Also, she is the co-author of several publications. 

Ms. Nailia Timerkhanova (Mustaeva) has 15 years of professional experience in climate change and sustainable development. She has been working with UNDP, CAREC and UNEP on climate resilience, transparency and climate reporting under the UNFCCC in all five countries of Central Asia. At present, she cooperates with ICAT/CAREC and UNEP-CCC on regional and global initiatives on capacity building for transparency in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Iskandar Abdullaev, a PhD Degree in water management, Facilitator at Session 3.1- Collaborative Climate Smart Solutions for Water and Land Restoration in Central Asia

Dr. Iskandar Abdullaev holds a PhD Degree in water management from Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers (TIIAME)

Dr. Abdullaev is a Senior Researcher at the International Water Management Institute. He is a water professional with around 30 years of experience. His professional career includes positions such as Professor at Giessen University, Germany, Deputy Director of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) from 2019 to 2023, and Executive Director of the Regional Environmental Center (CAREC) for Central Asia.

Dr Abdullaev's research interests include water sector developments and transformations, socio-technical aspects of water management, water history, water saving, and climate change. Dr. Abdullaev served as a Regional Advisor for Germany’s Berlin Initiative—Transboundary Water Management in Central Asia (Program) at the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). From 2007 to 2009, he served as a Senior Researcher at the ZEF Centre for Development Research, University of Bonn, Germany, where he conducted research in Central Asia and Afghanistan. From 2001 to 2007, Dr. Abdullaev worked as a regional researcher at the International Water Management Institute, Headquartered in Sri Lanka. His research focus included Central Asia, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Caucasus.

Language Proficiency: English and Russian fluent, German- moderate, Uzbek- Native.

Георгий Куртовезов, кандидат технических наук

Georgy Kurtovezov, PhD in Technical Sciences

Speaker at Session 3.1 "Collective Climate-smart Solutions for Water Management and Land Restoration in Central Asia"

Georgy Durdyevich Kurtovezov is a graduate of the Hydromelioration Faculty of the Turkmen Agricultural Institute in 1977. Hydrotechnical Engineer. Academic degree - PhD in Technical Sciences, majoring in “ Melioration and Irrigated Agriculture”, Moscow Hydromelioration Institute, Moscow. 1985. 

Georgy Durdyevich Kurtovezov is the Head of the Laboratory of Hydrotechnics and Water Use at the Scientific-Production and Project Institute “Turkmensuwylymtaslama”. He started his professional career in 1977 at the Turkmen Research Institute of Hydrotechnics and Melioration. Since 1986, he has worked as a lecturer at the Hydromelioration Faculty of the S.A.Nyyazov Turkmen Agricultural University ( associate, senior lecturer, deputy dean, associate professor, head of the Department of Organization and Production of Hydromelioration Works).

Georgy Durdyevich Kurtovezov has the academic title of Associate Professor in the “Agricultural Melioration and Hydromelioration Systems Operation” , awarded by the Higher Certification Committee of Turkmenistan in 1995.

Since 2014, engaged in research activities at the Research and Production and Project Institute “Turkmensuwylymtaslama” of the State Water Management Committee of Turkmenistan (Deputy Director for Science, Head of Laboratory).

He has more than 40 published scientific works, including a lecture book for higher educational institutions of Turkmenistan, instructions, inventions and patents, as well as a number of methodological guidelines in the field of rational and integrated use of water resources.

Proficient in both Russian and Turkmen.

Gapurjan Hamrayev, Phd in "Physical Geography, Geophysics, Landscape Geochemistry and Biogeography"

Speaker at Parallel Session 2.1. Collaborative Climate Smart Solutions for Water and Land Restoration in Central Asia

Gapurzhan Hamraev obtained a degree in Physical Geography, Geography Teacher. PhD in Physical Geography, Geophysics, Landscape Geochemistry and Biogeography.

Gafurzhan Hamrayev has more than 30 years of experience in the environmental protection, physical geography and applied geomorphology, protection of engineering facilities from sand drifts and blowouts. He has extensive practical experience in the projecting and locating engineering facilities in the desert (roads and railways, power lines, pipelines and gas pipelines, etc.).

Gafurzhan Hamrayev has extensive experience in climate change, disaster risk management, and water resources management (both national and transboundary). Over the past two decades, he heads the Department of Hydrometeorology at the Makhtumkuli Turkmen State University.

Gapurzhan Hamrayev participated in international workshops in more than 10 countries, including Inwent and Erasmus+ workshops on emergency situations, sustainable land management, biosphere reserve planning in Central Asia. Including: Uzbekistan, Germany, Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan in the training seminars and workshops of UNDP-GEF, UNEP-GEF UNEP, ECO, Inwent and Erasmus+, etc.

Gafurzhan Hamrayev is proficient in Turkmen (native), Russian, and Uzbek.

Speaker at 2.1. Collaborative Climate Smart Solutions for Water and Land Restoration in Central Asia on the topic of the World Bank RESILAND CA+ Program Experience: Sustainable Landscape Restoration Project”

Durdyev Bayrammurad has a higher education in the field of agriculture, completed postgraduate and doctoral programs, and received a PhD in agriculture.

Durdyev Bayrammurad is the Head of the Biodiversity Laboratory of the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna of the Ministry of Environment Protection of Turkmenistan. He has more than 35 years of experience in the field of agroecology, has practical knowledge in the land resources management, increasing productivity of irrigated lands, optimization of crop fertilization system and introduction of coordinate farming system.

Over the past five years, he has contributed as a national expert in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Regional Program "Integrated Natural Resource Management in Drought-prone and Salt-affected Agricultural Production Landscapes in Central Asia and Türkiye" (CACILM-2) and the World Bank RESILAND CA+ Regional Program on the problems of restoration of degraded landscapes of Turkmenistan.

Published more than 40 scientific works, including 3 monographs on the environmental improvement in the Central Asian region.

He speaks Turkmen (native language) and Russian fluently.

Pirli Kepbanov, Кепбанов, PhD in Biology

Speaker at Session 2.1. Collaborative Climate Smart Solutions for Water and Land Restoration in Central Asia

Pirli Kepbanov graduated from the Faculty of Biology of the A.M. Gorky Turkmen State University in 1985. He obtained a diploma as Biologist and Teacher of biology and chemistry.

In 1995, he obtained PhD in Biology, specializing in Botany.

Pirli Kepbanov is the Director of the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna under the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan. He has more than 35 years of experience in the field of ecology, studying desert vegetation of Turkmenistan.

Author and co-author of about 75 publications, including 5 biology textbooks for secondary schools and a medical vocational college, 25 articles, 6 brochures, theses, etc. He also provides academic supervision for PhD students.

Projects successfully implemented with his participation include:

·       The Central Asian Countries Initiative for Land Management (CACILM)

·       The Multinational Capacity Building Project for Sustainable Land Management in Turkmenistan (2011);

·       "Conservation and Use of Agriculture and Biodiversity (Fruit Crops and Their Wild Relatives) in Central Asia" (Biodiversity International / UNEP-GEF, 2009);

·       Multinational Project on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Temperate Desert Ecosystems (Central Asian Desert Initiative – CADI, 2019–2020).

Pyrly Kepbanov has practical knowledge of pasture management, protected areas, forest restoration, and the sustainable use of natural resources. Since 1988, he has been actively involved in education and training: he lectures on Plant Physiology and Ecology at Magtymguly Turkmen State University. For the past 12 years, he has served as the Chairman of the State Examination Commission of the Faculty of Biology.

He is fluent in Turkmen (native) and Russian.

Moderator of Sessoin 2.1. Collaborative Climate Smart Solutions for Water and Land Restoration in Central Asia

Dovlet Jumakuliev is a law school graduate of the Turkmen State University named after A.M. Gorky in 1983. He obtained a degree in jurisprudence. In 1992, he completed postgraduate studies at the Institute of Socio-Political Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and successfully defended his thesis and was awarded the degree of PhD in Social Sciences.

Dovlet Jumakuliyev for more than 25 years carries out activities on implementation of international projects and programs, works on development of international relations and contacts in the field of ecology, environmental protection, water resources with such organizations as FAO, ADB, CAREC Institute, CAREC and other development partners. Within accomplished projects and programs, he produced 7 reсords and reports on relevant areas of environmental protection, water resources and other spheres of social life.

Within the framework of implemented projects Dovlet Jumakuliyev has gained extensive experience and practical knowledge in the field of ecology, environmental protection, water resources use, combating desertification and land degradation, reforestation, etc.

Proficient in Turkmen (native), Russian and English.

Dastan Abdyldaev, a National Expert at the SWITCH-Asia Programme Policy Support Component (PSC) in Kyrgyzstan

Speaker at Parallel Session 3.3. Green Economy Transition with Material Resource and Climate Change Linkage

Dastan Abdyldaev earned an MSc in Global Governance at the University of London Birkbeck, UK, and an MA in International Relations at Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan.

He has 20 years of experience in Kyrgyzstan’s Government key positions as well as national projects. Experience in a variety of sectors with major expertise in climate finance-policy-diplomacy-strategy and mountains-climate change. 

Delegate to the multiple UNFCCC conferences: COP29, COP28, COP27, COP26. 

Currently a National Expert at the SWITCH-Asia Programme Policy Support Component (PSC) in Kyrgyzstan 

Recently, worked as an Expert on Climate Diplomacy & Mountains at the Secretariat of the Special Representative of the President of Kyrgyzstan for the Development of Mountain Regions. 

Previously served as a Director of Climate Finance Center of Kyrgyzstan and Focal Point to the UNFCCC, CMA, COPs, SBs, GCF, CTCN. 

Before that, he worked as an Expert at the Government Administration of Kyrgyzstan.

He is fluent in Kyrgyz (native), English, and Russian.

Utchang Kang, UNCCD Secretariat 

Speaker at Panel Session 3: Transboundary Landscape Restoration in Central Asia 

Mr. Utchang Kang has over 20 years of experience in sustainable development and international cooperation, focusing on nature conservation. He has been working at the UNCCD Secretariat since 2015. Currently, his key responsibility includes the Peace Forest Initiative, which focuses on the nexus between land, peace, and security. Previously, he took the lead on the sand and dust storms portfolio of the UNCCD secretariat, advancing global policy on sand and dust storms (SDS), including the publication of the SDS Compendium in 2022. He also worked on several initiatives, including the Changwon Initiative and the Business for Land initiative of UNCCD. Before joining the secretariat, he served at the Korea Forest Service from 2002-2015, working on international cooperation, policy, and a number of science projects related to biodiversity conservation and natural resource management. Utchang Kang holds a master’s degree in Agriculture. 

Language proficiency: English

Li Wenjun, Professor of Botany at the Herbarium of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Keynote speaker at Parallel session 3.1: Water, desertification, and biodiversity management under climate pressure

The topic is Experience and practice of sustainable landscape development from China and Asia

Prof. Wenjun Li graduated in Botany in 2016 from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he remained for his PhD in Plant Sciences.

Dr Li Wenjun is Professor of Botany at the Herbarium of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is now leading a research group working on plant taxonomy, evolution and distribution patterns of diversity in arid land.

He is fluent in Chinese (native), English.

Lei Jiaqiang, scientific leader of research project of desertification control in Central Asia region

Speaker at Panel Sessions 3: Transboundary Landscape Restoration in Central Asia

Prof. Lei Jiaqiang obtained a Bachelor of Science degree, a Master of Science degree, a Doctor of Science degree.

Prof. Lei Jiaqiang is former director-general of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology & Geography, CAS, vice-chairman of Chinese Association of Sand Disaster Control and Sand Industry, director of ANSO-ACD (Association of Desertification Control) and so on.

Prof. Lei has been mainly engaged in the study of aeolian environment and sand encroachment control. He leads the research team to work on desertification combating technology and pilot demonstration in Xinjiang, China and in Central Asia and Africa Countries as well. One of the projects he involved is the Green Belt Project in the Taklimakan Sand Sea, the famous project in the world. And now, Prof. Lei is scientific leader of research project of desertification control in Central Asia region.

He is fluent in Chinese (native), English.

Duan Weili, the Deputy Director of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Keynote Speaker at Parallel Sessions 3.1: Water, desertification, and biodiversity management under climate pressure

The topic is Developing climate-proof water systems: examples and cases from China

Prof. Duan completed his B.S. in Safety Engineering at Sichuan University (2004–2008), concurrently pursuing a second major in National Economic Management (2006–2008). He earned an M.S. in Safety Technology and Engineering from South China University of Technology (2008–2011) and a Ph.D. from Kyoto University (2011–2014). From 2014 to 2017, he conducted postdoctoral research at Kyoto University’s Disaster Prevention Research Institute, CAS Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, and Japan’s National Institute for Environmental Studies.

Prof. Duan is the Deputy Director of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), specializing in watershed hydrological processes and sustainable development.

He has led major projects including the National Basic Resources Survey Program, the National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars, the CAS Pioneer B Program, and the Western Cross-Innovation Team Project. He has authored over 110 academic papers, including more than 80 SCI-indexed publications, with several recognized as ESI Highly Cited Papers. He has delivered keynote and invited speeches at international conferences such as the International Conference on Flood Management, UNESCO Hydrology and Water Quality Conference, and the International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM).

His accolades include the National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars, Springer Nature’s "China New Development Award," First Prize of the 16th Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Natural Science Outstanding Academic Paper Award, First Prize of the Xinjiang Natural Science Award, CAS "Outstanding Communist Party Member," the 11th Xinjiang Youth Science and Technology Award, recognition as a "Top 2% Global Scientist," and designation as a Xinjiang Leading Talent in Scientific Innovation. He serves as Deputy Secretary-General of the Remote Sensing Subcommittee of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) China Committee, editorial board member for journals including National Science Review (NSR), Journal of Flood Risk Management (Wiley), and Hydrology Research (IWA), among others.

He is fluent in Chinese (native), English.

Tian Changyan, professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Discussant at the Parallel Sessions 3.1: Water, desertification, and biodiversity management under climate pressure

Prof. Tian Changyan obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Soil Agro-chemistry, a Master of Science degree in soil science.

Prof. Tian Changyan previously served as Deputy Director and Party Committee Secretary of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His notable professional affiliations include Standing Council Member of the Soil Science Society of China and President of the Xinjiang Society of Soil and Fertilizer. His research primarily focuses on soil improvement, plant nutrition, and oasis agro-ecology. His work addresses critical challenges in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, particularly in optimizing soil fertility, enhancing nutrient utilization efficiency, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices in fragile ecological zones. He integrates multidisciplinary approaches to develop innovative strategies for combating soil degradation, salinization, and desertification, while advancing green agricultural technologies tailored to oasis environments. His studies emphasize the interplay between soil health, plant growth, and ecosystem stability, contributing to the scientific foundation for ecological restoration and agricultural productivity in arid regions.

Prof. Tian has led 16 national and provincial research projects, including key initiatives under China’s National Key R&D Programs (973, 863), National Natural Science Foundation grants, and regional collaborations. His impactful contributions have earned him prestigious honors such as the National Advanced Individual in Science and Technology Poverty Alleviation, National Outstanding Agricultural Science Worker, and Outstanding Contribution Expert of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. He has published over 110 research papers, and holds 4 authorized national patents for soil improvement technologies. Recognized for translating research into practice, his methodologies have been widely applied in ecological restoration projects across Northwest China. Additionally, he serves in prominent academic roles, including professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Xinjiang Agricultural University, and holds leadership positions in professional societies such as the Chinese Society of Soil Science and the Soil and Fertilizer Society of Xinjiang. His work continues to shape policies and practices in sustainable agriculture and desertification control.

He is fluent in Chinese (native), English.

Jilili Abuduwaili, Vice President of the Xinjiang Geographical Society

Discussant at Parallel Sessions 3.1: Water, desertification, and biodiversity management under climate pressure

Prof. Jilili completed his Ph.D. in Geoecology at Lomonosov Moscow State University (2001–2005), B.S. in Physical Geography at Xinjiang University (1981–1986)

Prof. Jilili is the former Deputy Director of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). His research focuses on arid zone resource environments, ecological security, landscape evolution, and international cooperation with Russia and Central Asian countries. He has led over 20 national and international projects, including those funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, key initiatives from the Ministry of Science and Technology, international collaborations, and programs under CAS, provincial/ministerial, and local governments.

He serves as director of the Kazakhstan Branch Center, CAS Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, vice President of the CAS Overseas Returnees Association (Western Returned Scholars Association) and Chair of its Marine and Eco-environment Committee, Council Member of the Geographical Society of China and Deputy Director of its Geopolitics Committee, Vice President of the Xinjiang Geographical Society and Director of its Central Asian Regional Geography Committee, Expert Advisor to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Advisory Panel, Editorial board member for journals including Journal of Arid Land. With over 180 publications, he has authored/co-authored more than 50 SCI-indexed papers and 10 monographs.

He is fluent in Chinese (native), Russian.

Qiao Jianfang, the Head of Department of International Cooperation of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Speaker at Parallel Session 3.1: Water, desertification, and biodiversity management under climate pressure

Dr. Qiao Jianfang obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Soil Agro-chemistry, a Master of Science degree in soil science.

Dr. Qiao Jianfang is the Head of Department of International Cooperation of Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences. She also is the director of the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) International Project Office for Science Initiative of Green Aral Sea, the secretary-general of Xinjiang Association of Sciences and Expedition, and the Executive Director of BCAA (Biodiversity Conservation Alliance for Arid Lands ) Secretariat.

She has led and participated in over ten international collaborative projects funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Natural Science Foundation, and international organizations. With nearly 20 years of experience in international collaborative management, she has initiated and chaired the establishment of the ANSO-Association for Combating Desertification (ANSO-ACD), the ANSO International Project Office for Science Initiative of Green Aral Sea, the Biodiversity Conservation Alliance for Arid Lands, and the China-Tajikistan Joint Laboratory for Biodiversity Conservation and Utilization.

She also has organized more than ten major international conferences and training workshops. Her extensive work experience and accomplishments in recruiting foreign expertise, establishing global collaborative platforms, and expanding international cooperation networks have contributed lot to cooperation and dialogue between the national research institute in China and the national research institutions in the Central Asian countries.

She is fluent in Chinese (native), English.

Gozel Atamuradova, Project Manager “Conservation of Land Resources in the Aral Sea Basin”, UNDP

Speaker at Panel Session 3.1: Collaborative Climate-Resilient Solutions for Water Management and Land Restoration in Central Asia

Gozel Atamuradova obtained a Bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, from Turkmen Polytechnical Institute and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management (Green Economy and Project Management) from Nicosia, Cyprus International University.

Gozel has more than 10 years of experience in the field of sustainable natural resource management and the implementation of environmental projects. She is currently leading a project of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan in collaboration with UNDP/GEF, aimed at the conservation and effective management of land resources and ecosystems in the Aral Sea basin. Prior to this, from 2017 to 2022, she held the position of Land Management Specialist in a UNDP/GEF project supporting the adaptation of agricultural communities to climate change in the arid regions of Turkmenistan. Her experience also includes coordinating a project by the Civil Society Organization "Bosfor" and the U.S. Embassy, focused on analyzing opportunities and risks for agribusiness development in the Ahal region, as well as working on initiatives aimed at capacity building and attracting investments for sustainable land management.

She is fluent in Russian, English and Turkmen.

Dr. Walid Ali, Policy Specialist – Climate and Security Risk, UNDP

Speaker at Panel Session 3: Transboundary Landscape Restoration in Central Asia

Has a PhD in Environment and Development from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, where he focused on sustainability and climate resilience. Dr. Walid Ali also earned an MSc in Strategic IT Planning from Universiti Sains Malaysia and a BSc in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Al-Gezira in Sudan, building a multidisciplinary foundation for addressing complex environmental and development challenges.

Walid Ali has over 18 years of experience in sustainability, climate change, and environmental governance across the Middle East, North Africa, Horn of Africa, Europe, and Central Asia. His expertise spans climate policy and risk management, sustainable development, low-carbon strategies, and circular economy initiatives. He has provided technical leadership in developing national policies and implementing multi-partner regional programmes to support countries' commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Over the past two decades, he has managed complex portfolios funded by bilateral donors, and vertical funds, delivering high-impact results in climate resilience, environmental governance, and ecosystem restoration. He has led over 25 strategic sustainability initiatives and supported transboundary cooperation in climate security hotspots.

Fluent in English and Arabic.

Tazeen Fasih, a Program Leader and Lead Economist for Human Development and Jobs in the Central Asian countries, the World Bank

Speaker at Panel Session 2: Regional Priorities and Collaboration on Climate

Tazeen Fasih earned M.Phil degree in Economics at QUAID E AZAM UNIVERSITY and holds Phd in Economics, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

Tazeen Fasih is working as a Program Leader and Lead Economist for Human Development and Jobs in the Central Asian countries in the World Bank, based in Almaty. She has global experience working on issues related to education and human capital development. During her career at the World Bank, she has managed and contributed to lending operations and analytical work programs in a number of countries in Africa, East Asia, South Asia and the Middle East regions.  Her policy-oriented research focuses on economics of education including improved efficiency of education expenditure in decentralized settings and on skills and labor market outcomes. She holds a PhD in Economics from the University of London.

She is fluent in Urdu and English

Dr. Caroline Milow, Programme Manager, Green Central Asia Project, GIZ

Programme Director, Green Central Asia Phase II - Transboundary Dialogue on Climate, Environment and Security in Central Asia 2024 – present

Programme Director, Transboundary Water Management in Central Asia and Team Leader Uzbekistan at Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, based in Tashkent since September 2014-2020

Political Advisor to European Union Special Representative for Central Asia / European Union External Action Service (2011-2014)

Senior Project Officer / Programme Manager at OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan (2008-2011)

Analysis and Reporting Officer/Chief of Staff Office at OSCE Mission in Kosovo (2006-2008)

Deputy Head of Democratisation Department / Head of Civil Society Development and Gender Unit at OSCE Presence in Albania (2003-2005)

Head of Office - Regional Office Elbasan at OSCE Presence in Albania (2000-2003)

Field Officer at OSCE Presence in Albania (1999-2000)

Education

November 1993 to March 1998, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / University of Regensburg / Germany

November 1987 to August 1993, Master of Arts in history, political science, Slavic languages and literature