Team

Ms Nana Baramidze

GEF-UNDP-UNESCO Cryosphere Project Manager

She has over 20 years of experience in environmental management, policy, and governance across Central Asia and beyond. She has led climate change and air quality assessments, advised governments, and worked with institutions such as OSCE, UNDP, USAID, the World Bank, and the Aga Khan Foundation. She also served as Strategic Affairs Advisor to Georgia’s Minister of Environment and contributed to academia by launching the first MSc in Environmental Management and Policy at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs. She holds advanced degrees in natural resource management, international studies, and public administration, and a certification in coaching from Erickson Coaching International.

Dr Elena Osipova 

Programme Specialist for Natural Sciences unit in the UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty

With nearly 15 years of experience, she coordinates UNESCO’s Natural Sciences work in Central Asia, covering biosphere reserves, global geoparks, water resources management, and science and innovation promotion. A biologist and conservation specialist, she previously worked at the European Environment Agency and the International Union for Conservation of Nature on internationally designated protected areas. She holds a degree in biology, a PhD in plant ecology, and a Master’s in Sustainable Resource Management. She is also co-author of several scientific publications on protected area management, ecosystem services, and biodiversity conservation.

Ms Nazgul Sharshenova

AF-GEF Projects National Coordinator for Kyrgyzstan, UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty

She has extensive experience managing donor-funded initiatives in Kyrgyzstan with UNICEF, UNDP, UN Women, and the Asian Development Bank. Her work has covered disaster risk reduction, environmental health, early warning systems, and emergency preparedness. She has also led regional projects on uranium legacy mitigation, climate adaptation, and community resilience, supported by partners including the Governments of Japan, USAID, the EU, and Sweden. She holds degrees in linguistics, business enterprise, and international relations.

Mr Kudratkhon Bakhadirov

GEF Project National Coordinator for Uzbekistan, UNESCO Office in Tashkent

He joined UNESCO in 2022 and is responsible for implementing project activities and achieving results in Uzbekistan. He graduated from the European Master’s Programme in Materials Science and holds a Doctor of Science degree in technical sciences from Tashkent State Technical University. Since 2007 he has participated in numerous international scientific and educational projects, contributing to cooperation and capacity building in Uzbekistan and beyond.

Ms Diana Charyeva

GEF Project National Coordinator for Turkmenistan, UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty

She has over seven years of experience with the International Organization for Migration in Turkmenistan, where she managed projects on migration and climate change, border governance, migration and health, and counter-trafficking. She holds a Master’s in Human Rights and Cultural Diversity from the University of Essex, a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the American University of Bulgaria, and additional diplomas from universities in Kyrgyzstan and Germany.

Ms Alua Kulzhabayeva

GEF-UNDP-UNESCO Cryosphere Project Financial and Administrative Assistant, UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty

She has experience in both corporate finance and international development, with a focus on improving social and environmental conditions. She has managed resilience-building and development projects in Central Asia, South-East Asia, and Europe. She holds a degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom.

Mr Talaibek Makeev

GEF-UNDP-UNESCO Cryosphere Project Technical Advisor

He is an experienced professional in the field of environment and development with over 20 years of service in international organisations. His career spans project management, technical advisory services, and policy work on water resources, environmental governance, and climate change. He has extensive experience with GEF projects, from consultations with national counterparts on project design to managing implementation, leading transboundary diagnostic analyses, and supporting the development of strategic action programmes for shared watercourses. He has also played a key role in facilitating environment and development policy dialogues in and for Central Asian countries.

Dr Larissa Kogutenko

AF-GEF Projects National Coordinator for Kazakhstan, UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty

Her research focuses on climate change and its impact on water resources and ecosystems in Central Asia. She has published extensively on glacier degradation in the Tien Shan and other regions. Dr Kogutenko holds a Master’s in Hydrometeorology from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and a PhD in Climate System and Climate Change from Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology. With more than a decade of experience, she has worked as researcher and project manager with partners such as GIZ, UNDP, SDC, and USAID on climate and water-related initiatives in the region.

Ms Khurshedmo Aknazarova

AF-GEF Projects National Coordinator for Tajikistan, UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty

She is a disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation specialist with more than 15 years of experience in development cooperation and environmental protection. She has worked with organisations such as UNDP, FOCUS, Caritas Switzerland, DAI Global, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Since June 2024 she has coordinated national-level implementation of the GEF and AF Projects in Tajikistan.

Ms Altyntomiris Baltabayeva

AF-GEF Projects Communications Assistant, UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty

She supports communications for the GEF and AF Projects, with a background in digital content creation, media, and design. She has contributed to strategic communication plans and developed multimedia content for awareness raising and outreach. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management and Marketing from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom.

Ms Gaukhar Yessentayeva

GEF-UNDP-UNESCO Senior Project Assistant, UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty

With nearly 20 years of programme management experience, she has led USAID-funded initiatives in youth development, civil society, and economic growth. She has also worked with UNESCO, Eurasia Foundation, IREX, IESC, and Project HOPE, specialising in stakeholder engagement, grants management, and regional coordination. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Minnesota State University, USA.

Mr Serikzhan Atanov

Regional project coordinator from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland

He focuses on water resources and cryosphere studies in Central Asia. With more than seven years of professional experience, he has worked on transboundary water cooperation with UNESCO, FAO, and UNECE, supporting science–policy dialogue and regional collaboration on water and the WEFE Nexus. His expertise includes cryosphere monitoring, groundwater governance, small hydropower regulation, and climate change adaptation. Within international initiatives, he contributes to advancing knowledge and developing solutions to strengthen water security in the region.

Dr Martina Barandun

Senior Researcher, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

She is a glaciologist specialising in glacier–climate interactions, surface energy balance processes, and high mountain hydrology. Her research combines monitoring and modelling approaches to better understand cryosphere processes and changes across space and time. She has been involved in regional and international initiatives such as CATCOS and CICADA, contributing to long-term cryosphere monitoring and advancing climate science in Central Asia.

Prof Martin Hölzle

Professor, department of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Switzerland

He is a scientific advisor to the World Glacier Monitoring Service and former member of the Swiss Advisory Body on Climate Change. With over 30 years of experience, he has led international projects such as CROMO-ADAPT, CATCOS, and CICADA, focusing on glaciers, snow, and permafrost in mountain regions worldwide. He has also served as President of the Swiss Snow, Ice and Permafrost Society. His research supports adaptation strategies for water management and disaster risk reduction in Central Asia and other vulnerable regions.

Dr Maria Tatkova

Junior Researcher, Laboratory for Monitoring the Dynamics of Snow and Ice Resources

She graduated from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Faculty of Geography and Nature Management, Department of Geography. Her research interests include climate change, glaciology, and cryosphere-related natural hazards. She is co-author of 10 scientific articles. Her Hirsch index is 1.

Dr Zamira Usmanova

Researcher, Laboratory for Monitoring the Dynamics of Snow and Ice Resources

She graduated from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Faculty of Geography and Nature Management, Department of Meteorology and Hydrogeology. Her research focuses on climate variability and change, and their impact on mountain cryosphere and water resources. She is co-author of more than 10 scientific articles. Her Hirsch index is 4.

Prof Takir Balykbayev

Director CARGC

He graduated from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Faculty of Mathematics. His main research interests include educational measurement and testing, quality assurance in education, digitalisation of education, mathematical modelling, climate change, glaciology, permafrost, and natural hazards linked to the cryosphere. He is the author and co-author of more than 190 scientific publications, including five monographs. Prof Balykbayev introduced several key instruments into Kazakhstan’s education system, including the Unified National Testing, Intermediate State Knowledge Control, entrance examinations for Master’s and PhD studies, and the Kaztest language test. He also initiated and implemented the “Digital University” project at Abai KazNPU, leading to the establishment of Kazakhstan’s first STEM park and an international research laboratory on educational informatisation and technology. His Hirsch index is 4.

Ms Irina Dikikh

Specialist, International Relations Department

She graduated from Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Faculty of Geography and Ecology. Her research interests include climate change, glaciology, and cryosphere-related natural hazards. She is co-author of one scientific article.

Prof Igor Severskiy

Scientific Supervisor

He graduated from Abai Kazakh Pedagogical Institute, Faculty of Natural Geography. His main research interests include climate change, mountain hydrology, glaciology, permafrost, and natural hazards associated with the cryosphere. He is the author and co-author of more than 300 scientific publications, including twelve monographs. Prof Severskiy developed a series of snow cover and avalanche hazard maps for Central Asia, published in the World Atlas of Snow and Ice Resources (1997), and contributed maps and texts for the National Atlases of Kazakhstan (2006–2010). His Hirsch index is 11.

Dr Nina Pimankina

Senior Researcher, Laboratory for Monitoring the Dynamics of Snow and Ice Resources

Senior Researcher, Laboratory for Monitoring the Dynamics of Snow and Ice Resources She graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Geography, Department of General Physical Geography and Paleogeography. Her main research interests include climate change, snow cover dynamics, and meteorological hazards during the cold season. She is co-author of 11 scientific monographs and author of 13 maps and related texts on snow cover for the National Atlases of Kazakhstan (2006–2010). Her Hirsch index is 3.

Dr Daulet Kissebayev

Researcher, Laboratory for Monitoring the Dynamics of Snow and Ice Resources

He graduated from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Faculty of Geography and Nature Management, Department of Meteorology and Hydrology. His main research interests include climate change, snow cover dynamics, meteorological hazards, atmospheric circulation, and synoptic processes. He is co-author of 13 scientific articles and five maps in geography and topography (2025). His Hirsch index is 1.

Mr Vassiliy Kapitsa

Head of the High-Mountain Permafrost Laboratory

He graduated from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Faculty of Geography, Department of Geomorphology. His research interests cover climate change, glaciology, permafrost, and cryosphere-related natural hazards. He is co-author of 27 scientific articles. His Hirsch index is 5.

Dr Alexandr Yegorov

Head of the International Relations Department

He graduated from Abai State University, Faculty of Geography and Ecology. His main research interests are climate change, glaciology, and cryosphere-related natural hazards. He is co-author of one monograph and 12 scientific articles. His Hirsch index is 5.

Mr Foteh Rahimov

Leading Engineer, High-Mountain Permafrost Laboratory

He graduated from the Russian State Hydrometeorological University, Faculty of Applied Hydrology, Department of Land Hydrology. His main research interests include climate change, glaciology, permafrost, water resources, and cryosphere-related natural hazards. He is co-author of five scientific articles.