Iwlearn

Today, 4 June, we had yet another intense, but productive day at the GEF Assembly in Samarkand.

We kicked off the morning at the Plenary in the Grand Hall for the official Opening Ceremony. The session opened with a powerful film highlighting global environmental challenges and Uzbekistan’s vital role in international cooperation with the GEF. Following warm welcoming remarks from our hosts, the Government of Uzbekistan, and an inspiring opening address by the GEF, we were treated to a cultural performance and a moving theatrical piece titled Mother Nature.

Later in the afternoon, the focus shifted to action and regional collaboration during Roundtable 9. We gathered in the Diamond Room for a high-level discussion on nexus approaches to environmental challenges in Central Asia and their global scalability.

The highlight of the session was celebrating the official launch of the GEF-8 Central Asia Water Land Nexus (CAWLN) program’s implementation phase! The high-level panel featured insights from three Ministers representing CAWLN project countries and brought together key environmental leaders, including Claude Gascon (GEF CEO) and moderator Francesca Bernardini (Water Convention, UNECE).

Another exciting day at the GEF Assembly in Samarkand!

We started the morning strong with our learning station, "Strategies to Successfully Engage the Private Sector at the Global, National, and Local Level." The session delved into a critical question: What drives different stakeholders to engage, and how can we tailor strategies to meet their needs? We were thrilled to ground the discussion in practical, real-world experiences, drawing insights from initiatives like the Plastic Reboot IP (see photo!).

The momentum continued into the afternoon at the GEF Cryosphere project side event. This session was a powerful testament to collaboration, bringing together civil society, Indigenous Peoples, the GEF Secretariat, agencies, donors, and country representatives. It was an inspiring space for meaningful dialogue, knowledge exchange, and building the partnerships necessary to tackle our most urgent global environmental priorities.

Looking forward to what the rest of the Assembly brings!