Aral Sea GRIP supports communities of the most disaster-afflicted districts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan Bozataw, Chimbay, Karauyzak and Kegeyli to promote Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA), stimulate green investment and improve environmental sustainability. Aral Sea GRIP is financed by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and supported by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan (MEEPCC).

Objective 1 – Aral Sea Policy Development
The project will develop a green rehabilitation plan for agriculture in Karakalpakstan, focusing on disaster risk reduction, food security, and sustainable livelihoods.

Objective 2 – Human Security & Capacity Building
The project will address the needs of workers and small businesses in Karakalpakstan, particularly related to health, livelihoods, and disaster risk management.

Objective 3 – Climate Resilient Agri-business Promotion
The project will implement climate-resilient and agri-business models to strengthen Karakalpakstan’s agrarian economy of small green businesses in Karakalpakstan.

Objective 4 –Green & Climate Finance Mobilization
The project will assist government and banks in accessing green finance to support the development of small green businesses in Karakalpakstan.

The Republic of Karakalpakstan is a state within the Republic of Uzbekistan in the northwest of the country on the Amu Darya flatlands and southern shores of the Aral Sea. The climate is naturally arid, so the local population has long depended on water from the Amu Darya delta for irrigation in agriculture, and in the past – from the Aral Sea for fishing.

With the drying up of the Aral Sea and reduced inflows to the lower reaches of the river, the livelihoods of local populations are increasingly threatened, and numerous interconnected human security concerns have emerged.

– Through promotion of climate resilient agri-business models, the project will benefit rural farmers, rural and urban entrepreneurs in agriculture, including targeted support for youth, women, unemployed and disabled people.
– The project will work with residents of four selected districts: (1) Bozataw; (2) Chimbay; (3) Karauyzak; (4) Kegeyli.

Project Achievements (as of December 2024)

People reached:

– 17,000+ Youth, Women, and Farmers (57% women, 77% youth) enhanced awareness of climate change adaptation measures, including CSA, health, agri-business acceleration​

– 800+ trainees on CSA/ farm entrepreneurship

– ~4 million views of videos on clean air, water filtration, drip irrigation, mulching, windbreaks and bio pest management through social media dissemination, and millions more views and listens through TV and radio

– 40 unemployed participants in vocational training course on greenhouse & drip irrigation

– 16 women with disabilities trained & supported in home-based microgreen production

– 1 600+ registered to access consultations on CSA via Greenaral.uz – business development platform

Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices implemented:​

– 5 Climate-Resilient Agriculture business models developed: Wheat, Fruit, Karatal, Tree Nurseries​ andGreenhouses

– +800 ha installed with water-saving irrigation systems and windbreak on 7 CSA farms and Forest Enterprises

– ~21,800 trees – Apricot, Russian Olive, and Black Willow – planted in 32 km of windbreaks

Green and Sustainable Finance promoted: ​

– 15 financial institutions supported via capacity-building on green financing, ESG, and green business planning

– Technical Assistance delivered on Sustainable Finance and CSA Financing Facility

– $1 Billion+ mobilized for sustainable & green investment

Knowledge Products developed:

– Agriculture Sector in Uzbekistan and Karakalpakstan: Legal and Political Framework Review​

– Climate Resilient Green Growth Assessment

– Green Recovery Investment Analysis ​for CSA

– Capital Expenditure for Infrastructural Adaptation Measures ​

– Green Job Assessment​

– Risk Profile for Climate Resilience Capacity Development

– 4 Value Chain Analyses

– White Paper: “Policy recommendations on sustainable landscapes, climate smart agriculture, and forestry development in the Aral Sea region for human well-being”

– Infobrief: Building Climate Change Awareness and capacity in the Aral Sea region

– Infobrief: CSA Models for the Aral Sea Region