The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved $250 million for the “Glaciers to Farms” program, an initiative led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help communities in glacier-dependent regions of Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Pakistan adapt to the growing impacts of climate change. The program aims to build resilient water and agriculture systems that can withstand the challenges posed by accelerated glacial melt. This GCF funding, mostly in the form of grants, will be complemented by $3.25 billion from ADB over the next decade to support projects identified by participating countries.
The investments will focus on improving irrigation efficiency, water storage, and watershed management to enhance agricultural productivity and mitigate the effects of droughts and floods caused by glacial retreat. ADB’s Director for Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development, Yasmin Siddiqi, highlighted the urgent need for scalable and science-based adaptation solutions. She emphasized that the program will shift the region from isolated projects toward systemic resilience that safeguards livelihoods and ecosystems for generations to come.
Covering nine ADB member countries—Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—the program targets regions heavily reliant on glacier-fed rivers for agriculture, domestic use, and hydropower. It will focus on four major basins—the Naryn and Pyanj in Central Asia, the Kura in the South Caucasus, and the Swat in Pakistan—spanning approximately 27 million hectares. These areas face growing threats from glacial melt, which endangers both ecosystem stability and economic security, particularly in agriculture-dependent communities.
Around 13 million people, including farmers and mountain populations, are expected to benefit directly from the program. It will enhance climate and glacier assessments to inform national development planning, strengthen early warning systems, and improve disaster preparedness for events such as glacial lake outburst floods and prolonged droughts. Beyond water and agriculture, the initiative will also introduce adaptive social protection and health services for vulnerable populations and help local banks better support agricultural enterprises, particularly those led by women.
According to Thomas Eriksson, GCF Director for Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East, the program represents a transformative effort to strengthen regional adaptation planning and cooperation. By improving data systems, coordination, and financing mechanisms, “Glaciers to Farms” will set a benchmark for long-term resilience in the region’s water and food systems. GCF’s approval at its 43rd Board Meeting underscores its commitment to supporting innovative, large-scale climate adaptation initiatives.
ADB continues to play a key role in promoting inclusive, sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with partners and member countries, the bank leverages financial innovation and collaborative programs to address complex development challenges, invest in infrastructure, and promote environmental sustainability.
