GCF commits $250 million to ADB's glacier resilience program in Central Asia and beyond
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved 250 $ million in funding for the «Glaciers to Farms» program, a major climate adaptation initiative led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The program aims to bolster water and agricultural resilience in glacier-dependent regions across Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Pakistan.
According to a press release from ADB’s Tajikistan Resident Mission (TJRM), the GCF contribution—provided primarily as grants—will be complemented by 3.25 $ billion in investments from ADB over the next decade. These funds will support country-led projects focused on improving water management and agricultural productivity amid rising climate pressures.
By investing in efficient irrigation, water storage infrastructure, and watershed management, the program seeks to protect rural livelihoods as accelerated glacial melt increases the frequency of droughts and floods.
«Rapid glacial retreat is one of the most complex development challenges faced by our region,» said ADB Director for Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Yasmin Siddiqi. «We need practical, scalable, and science-based solutions to help communities adapt. With catalytic support from GCF, Glaciers to Farms will help move the region beyond fragmented projects and towards systemic, long-term resilience that protects lives and livelihoods now and for future generations.»
A regional response to a melting crisis
The program spans nine ADB developing member countries—Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—all of which rely heavily on glacier- and snow-fed rivers for agriculture, domestic water supply, and electricity generation. Glacial retreat poses a growing threat to these critical ecosystem services, especially in countries where agriculture accounts for one in four jobs.
The initiative will focus on four key river basins: the Naryn and Panj in Central Asia, the Kura in the South Caucasus, and the Swat in Pakistan—collectively covering around 27 million hectares.
Approximately 13 million people, including farmers and vulnerable mountain populations, are expected to benefit directly. The program will fund climate and glacier assessments, guide national development strategies, and strengthen early warning systems to help communities manage risks such as glacial lake outburst floods and prolonged droughts.
According to a press release from ADB’s Tajikistan Resident Mission (TJRM), the GCF contribution—provided primarily as grants—will be complemented by 3.25 $ billion in investments from ADB over the next decade. These funds will support country-led projects focused on improving water management and agricultural productivity amid rising climate pressures.
By investing in efficient irrigation, water storage infrastructure, and watershed management, the program seeks to protect rural livelihoods as accelerated glacial melt increases the frequency of droughts and floods.
«Rapid glacial retreat is one of the most complex development challenges faced by our region,» said ADB Director for Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Yasmin Siddiqi. «We need practical, scalable, and science-based solutions to help communities adapt. With catalytic support from GCF, Glaciers to Farms will help move the region beyond fragmented projects and towards systemic, long-term resilience that protects lives and livelihoods now and for future generations.»
A regional response to a melting crisis
The program spans nine ADB developing member countries—Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—all of which rely heavily on glacier- and snow-fed rivers for agriculture, domestic water supply, and electricity generation. Glacial retreat poses a growing threat to these critical ecosystem services, especially in countries where agriculture accounts for one in four jobs.
The initiative will focus on four key river basins: the Naryn and Panj in Central Asia, the Kura in the South Caucasus, and the Swat in Pakistan—collectively covering around 27 million hectares.
Approximately 13 million people, including farmers and vulnerable mountain populations, are expected to benefit directly. The program will fund climate and glacier assessments, guide national development strategies, and strengthen early warning systems to help communities manage risks such as glacial lake outburst floods and prolonged droughts.
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