From 30 May to 6 June 2026, the 8th Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty will participate in the Assembly through the GEF-UNDP-UNESCO Cryosphere Project.

Held every four years, the GEF Assembly brings together representatives of 186 member countries to review policies, set priorities for future environmental action and assess the performance of GEF-funded initiatives. The Assembly also provides a platform to showcase successful projects and innovations supported by the GEF across different regions, demonstrating how collaborative financing can contribute to scalable solutions for environmental sustainability.

As part of the Assembly programme, the GEF-UNDP-UNESCO Cryosphere Project will organize a side event in cooperation with the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the National Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan for UNESCO, and the National Hydrometeorological Institute of UzHydromet.

The side event, titled “From Joint Analysis of Key Cryosphere Challenges in Central Asia to the Joint Subregional Action Programme on the Cryosphere for 2027-2035”, will take place on 3 June 2026, from 14:00 to 15:00, at the Expo Centre Silk Road Samarkand, Stage 2.

The event will present the Joint Subregional Action Programme (JSAP) on the Cryosphere for 2027-2035 and provide a platform to discuss regional cooperation on cryosphere monitoring and climate change adaptation in Central Asia. It will also offer an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of Central Asian countries to support the implementation of the JSAP, following the joint statement voiced at the Regional Environmental Summit 2026 on 23 April 2026 in Astana.

Participants will exchange views on the next steps for implementation and continued collaboration under the GEF-UNDP-UNESCO regional project.