Capacity building of regional activists on climate change issues and its impact on persons with disabilities in Tajikistan.

Climate change is one of the most pressing and complex challenges of our time. The impact of climate change is especially felt by vulnerable groups of the population, including people with disabilities (PwD). To help this group of people adapt to new conditions and raise their awareness about the risks posed by natural disasters, an important project was launched in Tajikistan aimed at enhancing the capacity of regional activists.

Project Objective

The main goal of the project is to strengthen the capacity of regional activists on climate change issues and its impact on people with disabilities. This includes training activists and creating infrastructure to support PwD in the context of climate changes.

Key Achievements of the Project

The project includes several key indicators that demonstrate its success:

1. A situational analysis of the needs of PwD in the context of climate change was conducted.
2. Three training sessions were organized on climate change, disaster risks, and their impact on PwD in three regions of Tajikistan: Dushanbe, Bokhtar, and Khujand.
3. 42 people with disabilities increased their knowledge about climate change risks, emergencies (EM), and action plans for PwD in EM situations.
4. A section on the organization’s website was created with information on climate change and the needs of PwD.
5. An Action Plan for responding to EM, considering the needs of PwD, was developed.

Project Tasks and Activities

To achieve the set goals, the project includes several key tasks and activities:

1. Training sessions:

— Two-day training sessions for activists were held in Dushanbe, Khujand, and Bokhtar. Each training session gathered 14 participants, who increased their capacity on climate change, disaster risks, and action plans for PwD in EM situations.

2. Modernization of the organization’s website:

— A technical project was developed to create a section on climate change and the needs of PwD.

— A tender was held to select a developer, a contractor was chosen, and a contract was signed.

— The new section of the website was successfully tested and is now functioning.

3. Situational analysis:

— A technical assignment was prepared for experts, an analysis was conducted, and a report was prepared, which was accepted and approved.

Impact of the Project

The project had a significant impact on the PwD community in Tajikistan. Leaders of the PwD movement became more informed about climate change, disaster risks, and action plans for PwD.

Leaders of PwD organizations can now use the knowledge gained in their daily work and in meetings with their beneficiaries. This knowledge could save the lives of people with disabilities in the event of natural disasters.

Furthermore, thanks to the project, PwD now have the opportunity to submit quality project proposals for grants from international organizations, which will allow them to continue their systematic work in this direction.

Project Implementation Period: March – September 2024

Conclusion

The project to enhance the capacity of regional activists in Tajikistan is an important step towards creating a sustainable and safe society for people with disabilities in the context of climate change. It demonstrates how targeted initiatives can significantly improve the quality of life and ensure the safety of the most vulnerable groups of the population.