Participation of SIC ICWC Representatives in the Second Ferghana Peace Forum in Tajikistan

The Second Ferghana Peace Forum, held under the theme “Fergana Valley: A Space of Peace, Trust and Prosperity,” took place on 28–29 September 2026 in Guliston, Sughd province, Republic of Tajikistan. The Forum was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the adoption of the Khujand Declaration on Eternal Friendship.

The EU–UNEP project implementation team, led by R. Moser, UNEP Programme Manager; Sh. Muminov, Project Leader and Deputy Director of SIC ICWC; and B. Gozhenko, Project Manager for Monitoring and Assessment, presented the results of project activities in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Representatives of the project’s grant recipient organizations — PA “Youth Group for Environmental Protection,” PA “Agency for Rural Community Development,” and PA “Safi” — participated in discussions and negotiations alongside the project implementation team.

During meetings with representatives of the United Nations and the European Union, the high-level project team demonstrated how the project connects climate and environmental solutions with efforts to strengthen trust, cooperation, and stability in the Ferghana Valley.

At a meeting with Kakha Imnadze, Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy, the project team presented the project’s activities and results in all three countries. The participants discussed the links between climate initiatives, social cohesion, and stability in the Ferghana Valley. Particular attention was given to the role of local communities in addressing shared climate and environmental challenges. According to K. Imnadze, such efforts contribute to implementing the goals of the Khujand Declaration on Eternal Friendship at the grassroots level.

The project’s experience generated considerable interest from K. Imnadze, who visited one of the project sites in Jabbar-Rasulov district, Sughd province, Tajikistan, the following day. Following the meeting and field visit, the project’s activities were highly appreciated, and a proposal was made to integrate the project’s results more closely into the activities of the Ferghana Peace Forum.

At a meeting with Mr. Eduards Stiprais, EU Special Representative for Central Asia, the project implementation team presented the results achieved to date and outlined upcoming activities. The meeting also highlighted the role of the European Union as a major donor supporting the project’s efforts to promote community engagement in addressing climate and environmental challenges.

Following discussions on the project’s results with UN and EU representatives, the implementation team drew the attention of international partners to initiatives undertaken by local communities. These initiatives give practical expression to the principles of the Khujand Declaration on Eternal Friendship, complementing intergovernmental dialogue with cooperation among communities across the Ferghana Valley to address shared climate and environmental challenges.