International Cooperation

Managing Glacier Loss and Water Security (M-GLOW) Project

The Government of Tajikistan, with financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is implementing the Managing Glacier Loss and Water Security (M-GLOW) Project. The project aims to enhance Tajikistan's resilience to natural disasters by mitigating the impacts of cryosphere-related hazards and strengthening national capacity for disaster risk management, in alignment with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period 2019–2030.

The project supports the establishment of a unified system for monitoring and early warning of cryosphere-related hazards at the Agency for Hydrometeorology of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan. It is structured around three key outputs:

Output 1: Digital Systems for Cryosphere and Hazard Warning Established

This output focuses on the modernization and digitalization of Agency for Hydrometeorology of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan`s monitoring infrastructure. Key activities include:

•        Modernization of one snow and avalanche monitoring station and four associated posts with telemetry systems, enabling automatic near real-time observations to support early warning;

•        Piloting advanced technologies including remote sensing and machine learning to assess glacier loss and glacial lakes;

•        Provision of an advanced data management and analytical system for cryosphere monitoring, including digitization of historic glacier data, updating of asset management databases, and integration of global weather prediction products through partnerships with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and relevant European institutions.

Output 2: Cryosphere-Related Staff Upskilled

This output strengthens the capacity of Agency for Hydrometeorology of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan`s technical and professional staff responsible for cryosphere monitoring and assessment. Activities include:

•        Training at least 20 technical staff (30% women) in modern monitoring techniques including glacier mass balance assessment, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and avalanche prediction;

•        Enhancing the skills of at least 20 staff (50% women) in cryosphere data and information management systems;

•        Developing operational skills of at least 5 professional staff (40% women) in the use of the cryosphere analytical system. Open-source technologies will be utilized to ensure system sustainability, and an equipment calibration and maintenance laboratory will be established at Agency for Hydrometeorology of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Output 3: Community-Focused Early Warning System Improved

This output targets six villages in Navobod jamoat, Shugnan District, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO).

Activities include:

•        Preparation of a digitized, gender-sensitive community hazard risk map using remote sensing and earth observation technologies;

•        Development of a gender-responsive community action plan addressing impacts of glacier melt, heavy snowfall, avalanches, GLOFs, and other cryosphere hazards, with a particular focus on women, children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups;

•        Conducting training, demonstrations, practice drills, focus group discussions, and workshops for knowledge sharing on cryosphere hazard risks. Implementation of this output is coordinated with the Committee on Emergency Situations and Civil Defense.

Address: The Project Implementation Group is located on the first floor of the building of the Agency for Hydrometeorology of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.

Contact Information:

Project Director: Ismatov Muhammad

Email: tajmglow@gmail.com

Phone: +992 981114491