23 July 2026 – The Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) successfully co-hosted an informational webinar titled “Introduction to GCF Project Development and AFoCO’s Central Asia Regional Project Concept.” The webinar convened representatives from the AFoCO Secretariat, the GCF Secretariat, and the five target countries in Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
The webinar commenced with opening remarks by Mr. Sunpil Jin, Vice Executive Director of AFoCO, who emphasized the importance of strengthening regional cooperation to address climate change, enhance forest resilience, and promote sustainable land management across Central Asia.
Mr. Robert Berlin, Senior Agriculture and Food Security Specialist at the GCF, delivered a presentation on GCF project development in Central Asia, highlighting the Fund’s strategic priorities, financing mechanisms, and opportunities for regional climate initiatives.
On behalf of AFoCO, Dr. Kikang Bae, Team Leader of the Strategic Planning Team, presented AFoCO’s Central Asia Regional Project Concept, detailing the project’s objectives, expected outcomes, implementation approach, and its capacity to enhance regional cooperation in sustainable forest and landscape restoration.
Following the presentations, participants engaged in an active discussion and exchanged perspectives on the proposed regional initiative. Representatives from the participating countries emphasized the significance of the project in addressing shared environmental challenges, strengthening climate resilience, and promoting sustainable forest and landscape restoration through regional cooperation.
The webinar provided a valuable platform for dialogue among stakeholders, fostering a common understanding of the GCF project development process while reinforcing partnerships among AFoCO, the GCF, and Central Asian countries. Participants expressed their commitment to continued collaboration in developing a strong regional proposal that supports climate action and sustainable forest management in the region.
AFoCO remains committed to working closely with five target countries and development partners to advance innovative, regionally coordinated initiatives that contribute to climate resilience and sustainable development.
Contributed by Ms. Tugsbileg Tumur-Ochir, Fellow Official from Mongolia, Strategic Planning Team