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Ashgabat, March 14 and 16, 2026 — The capital of Turkmenistan served as the final destination for an extensive national training series. Four specialized workshops titled “Strengthening the Role of Civil Society in the Context of Climate Change” were held at the stylish office of the “Hormat Yoly” Economic Society (widely known as the Women Economic Society — WES).

These meetings were a logical continuation of a regional tour that began in October 2025, covering Mary, Turkmenabat, Dashoguz, and Balkanabat.

The uniqueness of the Ashgabat phase lay in its targeted engagement with diverse social groups. The workshops focused on an inclusive approach—ensuring every voice is heard. The organizers conducted dedicated sessions for:

• The women’s community;
• Youth leaders;
• Persons with disabilities;
• Representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The events were organized by the Public Association Enterprise (PAE) “Tebigy Kuwwat” within the framework of a project funded by the European Union, in close cooperation with the “Hormat Yoly” ES and the Turkmenistan Representative Office of the GIZ Regional Program “Integrated Land Use in Central Asia taking into account Climate Change.”

Berkeli Atayev, Director of PAE “Tebigy Kuwwat” and representative of the Aarhus Centre in Turkmenistan, served as the workshop moderator. He opened the sessions by welcoming the participants, expressing gratitude for their time, and providing an overview of the challenges the country faces in the era of global warming.

The program featured in-depth expert presentations:

– Berkeli Atayev presented the report “Turkmenistan in the Era of Global Warming,” setting the context for all subsequent discussions.

– Meilis Rejepov, a specialist in Renewable Energy Sources (RES), discussed anthropogenic impacts on climate change and the prospects for transforming the renewable energy sector.

– Zakhira Begaliyeva (Advisor to the Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Director of the “ITeachMe” Foundation, Kazakhstan) joined via video link to present a unique perspective on the intersection of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and climate change, emphasizing the vital importance of protecting vulnerable groups.

– Ayna Atayeva, Project Manager, inspired participants with a presentation on the active involvement of youth and the civil sector in the environmental agenda.

– Gulnar Mergenova, Advisor for the GIZ Regional Program in Turkmenistan “Integrated Land Management with Climate Change in Central Asia” shared practical expertise on effective natural resource management under changing climatic conditions.

The venue—the Women Economic Society (WES)—was chosen intentionally to symbolize the continuity and the critical link between economic, social, and environmental aspects. Participants not only gained theoretical knowledge but also discussed specific mechanisms through which Turkmenistan’s civil society can influence the region’s climate resilience.

“Strengthening the role of civil society is not merely a slogan; it is the key to the survival of our ecosystems. In the face of increasing water scarcity and desertification, only through a genuine partnership between the state, international and public organizations, local communities, businesses, and active citizens can we implement climate-resilient management practices and preserve our natural wealth for future generations,” the organizers noted in their closing remarks.

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Berkeli Atayev.

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On February 5–6, 2026, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, hosted the 6th EU–Central Asia Civil Society Forum. Organized by UNOPS in partnership with the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) under the “EU Support to Civil Society in Central Asia” program, the event gathered over 200 participants, including 100 civil society representatives (approximately 20 from each Central Asian nation). The Forum’s history dates back to 2019, with previous sessions held in Tashkent (March 2023) and Almaty (January 2025). The Almaty forum was attended by 16 representatives from 15 Turkmen organizations; this year, Turkmenistan was represented by 15 participants.

Among the Turkmen delegation, nine individuals represented various NGOs: Tebigy Kuwwat, Aarhus Centre of Turkmenistan, the Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan, the Union of Economists of Turkmenistan, Junior Achievement Turkmenistan, Yenme, Taze Zaman (Turkmenabat), Ecodurmush (Dashoguz), Mashgala (Mary), and Mirasly Senet. The delegation also included representatives from the “Ynamly Durmush” business entity, Turkmengazaragatnashyk, an intern from the EU Delegation to Turkmenistan, a freelancer, and a student.A Platform for Strategic Dialogue.

The 6th Forum serves as a key annual platform for structured dialogue between civil society organizations (CSOs), the European Union, and development partners. This year’s session built directly upon the outcomes of the 2025 Forum and the official establishment of five regional Thematic Working Groups (TWGs):

– Digital Transformation

– Climate Change and Environmental Protection

– Youth Participation

– Governance and Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship

– Women’s Empowerment

The Forum advances the EU Strategy for Central Asia and the priorities of the Global Gateway Initiative (GGI), strengthening the role of CSOs in the region’s future.

Opening Remarks and High-Level Support. The session was opened by Mr. Vasyl Tolkachov, Project Manager of the “EU Fund for Civil Society in Central Asia,” who introduced Ms. Simonetta Siligato, Director of the UNOPS Multi-Country Office in Austria, as the moderator for the opening ceremony.

H.E. Mr. Eduards Stiprais, EU Special Representative for Central Asia, delivered the keynote address. He emphasized that a strong civil society is vital for building resilient nations and noted that the EU highly values these engagements. He specifically highlighted the Global Gateway initiative as a cornerstone of regional cooperation.

Ms. Saira Temirbekovna Yzakova, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic, welcomed participants and noted the importance of the Forum in improving connectivity across infrastructure sectors through the Global Gateway.H.E. Ms. Antje Grawe, UN Resident Coordinator, addressed the forum remotely. She thanked the organizers and praised the Kyrgyz government for hosting the event. While emphasizing the role of CSOs in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), she also expressed concern regarding recent legislative trends affecting civic space in Kyrgyzstan, calling for reforms to restore a favorable environment for civil society.

Mr. Johannes Baur, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, moderated a session on the Global Gateway.

Ms. Charlotte Adriaen (DG INTPA) detailed the Global Gateway Strategy, which aims to mobilize up to $300–400 billion in investments by 2027. Key priorities for Central Asia include digital connectivity, water, energy, climate change, and transport (including the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor). She mentioned Team Europe initiatives and major energy projects like Rogun and Kambar-Ata, stressing that the EU aims to “invest correctly” by listening to local communities and CSOs.

Mr. Andrea Rossi (EEAS) underscored the region’s geopolitical significance and the EU’s commitment to trade, green and digital transitions, transport, and security.

A session titled “Setting the Context: Central Asian Youth Perspectives,” moderated by Ms.Aizat Ruslanova (IDEA CA), featured representatives from Youth Advisory Councils (YAC):

• Vladislav Veber (Kazakhstan),
• Emira Seidenaliyeva (Kyrgyzstan),
• Firuz Okhunov (Tajikistan),
• Shukurgeldi Myradov (Turkmenistan)
• and Amirbek Salimov (Uzbekistan).

They concluded that regional stability requires investment in human capital and institutional partnerships.

In the afternoon, CSOs engaged in the technical task of developing regional recommendations. Key speakers from Turkmenistan included:

Climate Change and Environment: Berkeli Atayev (Director of PAE “Tebigy Kuwwat” and representative of Aarhus Centre of Turkmenistan) reported on major climate challenges and country-level recommendations.

Women’s Empowerment: Oksana Asadulina (Social Worker, NGO “Mashgala”) briefed on the status of women’s affairs.

Youth Engagement: Ayna Bayramova (Chair of “Junior Achievement Turkmenistan”) presented the national report.

Governance and Entrepreneurship: Yuri Aronsky (Chair of the “Union of Economists of Turkmenistan”) delivered the thematic presentation.

On the second day, a consolidated set of priority regional recommendations across all five thematic areas was approved.

Human Rights: Mr. Mikkel Schmidt Hansen (DIHR) discussed applying human rights and good governance principles within the Global Gateway framework.

The practical session on potential EU funding, moderated by Mr.Bolot Isakov, sparked high interest among the Forum attendees.

EU Funding: Ms. Snejana Popova (EU Delegation to Kazakhstan) and Mr. Stefano Corrado (EU Delegation to Kyrgyzstan) provided practical guidance on grant application procedures and current funding opportunities.

The last session of the Forum was about Small Grants.  Ms. Regina Kireyeva (UNOPS) announced a call for small grants under the “EU Fund for Civil Society in Central Asia” project. For 2026, $225,000 has been allocated to fund 15 applications (up to $15,000 each), with a deadline of February 15, 2026.

Each session was followed by a dedicated Q&A period.

In his closing remarks, Ms. Simonetta Siligato, Director of the UNOPS Multi-Country Office in Austria thanked all participants for their fruitful work, noting that the results would be instrumental in preparing for the 7th Forum and for the overall development of civil society in Central Asia.

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Berkeli Atayev.

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Ashgabat, January 9, 2026. At the initiative of the Public Association (PA) “Junior Achievement Turkmenistan,” a meeting was held bringing together 20 representatives from non-governmental organizations and socially-oriented economic societies to discuss the role of youth in the development of civil society.

The primary objective of the meeting was to prepare a national presentation for the upcoming 6th EU Central Asia Civil Society Forum, scheduled for February 5–6, 2026, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The Forum is a key component of the four-year project, “Support Fund for Civil Society in Central Asia,” implemented by UNOPS in partnership with the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) and with financial support from the European Union. A core task of the project is the formation of five Thematic Working Groups (TWGs), including one specifically dedicated to Youth Engagement.

Recognizing that youth-focused work is integrated into nearly every civil society organization, “Junior Achievement Turkmenistan” sought to consolidate efforts to address key challenges, thematic recommendations, and the strengths of current youth policy development.

“Our goal is to identify challenges common to the region and, more importantly, to define unique opportunities for cooperation that will allow young people to become full participants in the country’s socio-economic life,” the organizers noted.

A distinctive feature of the preparation for the Bishkek forum is the deep integration of various expert communities. According to the TWG guidelines, each group must include organizations from all five Central Asian countries. At the conclusion of the current stage, the findings of the five thematic groups will be synthesized into a single, unified national presentation for Turkmenistan. For instance, the Public Association Enterprise “Tebigy Kuwwat,” a member of the “Climate Change and the Environment” TWG, has already submitted its national presentation for the upcoming Forum.

The efforts to strengthen youth engagement discussed at this meeting represent just one of the five components of a comprehensive national report.

During the discussion, participants identified several key barriers facing modern youth:

• The Education-Labor Market Gap: The urgent need to adapt academic knowledge to the practical demands of the digital economy.
• Access to Resources in Regions: The necessity of expanding infrastructure to support youth self-actualization in rural areas.

Public organizations possess unique expert capital, which was utilized to form a package of concrete steps to elevate the role of youth. These include the establishment of permanent dialogue platforms between youth leaders and the business community, as well as the expansion of vocational guidance programs.

Special emphasis was placed on regional cooperation within Central Asia. Experts proposed several strategic initiatives:

• Joint Hubs for launching startups with a social impact.
• A Regional Volunteer Network.
• Knowledge Exchange in the fields of ecology, culture, and inclusion.
• A Unified Web Platform to serve as a hub for exchanging best practices among NGOs across Central Asian countries.

The meeting demonstrated that the youth of Turkmenistan are prepared not only to adopt international best practices but also to propose their own innovative solutions for the development of the entire region.

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Ayna Atayeva.

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On December 22—the date officially designated this year by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan as Energy Worker’s Day—a meeting was held at the Kazakh-German University (DKU), Almaty between Berkeli Atayev, Director of the “Tebigy Kuwwat” Enterprise of the Public Association “Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan” (NPST), and Alexey Kobzev, Head of the Master’s program in “Strategic Management of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency” and the Green Energy and Climate Change Lab. of the Center for Natural Resources and Sustainability at DKU.
The discussion focused on the prospects for academic cooperation regarding the energy transition to Renewable Energy Sources (RES). Key topics included data exchange and the involvement of specialists, undergraduate, and graduate students in environmental events hosted in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and across the Central Asian region.

The participants noted a burgeoning interest among Turkmen youth in pursuing Master’s degrees at DKU, particularly in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), a field of critical importance for Turkmenistan. It was highlighted that young environmentalists from the “Tebigy Kuwwat” Public Association Enterprise are currently successfully completing their second year of Master’s studies in the IWRM program.
Both Central Asian nations possess immense potential for developing a “Green Economy” and making significant contributions to energy sector sustainability with a minimal carbon footprint.

The partners exchanged warm holiday greetings for the upcoming New Year 2026. As a gesture of future cooperation, Mr. Kobzev presented Mr. Atayev with the latest issue of the “Qazaq Green” information and analytical magazine.

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Berkeli Atayev.

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On 23 December 2025 the 62nd meeting of the Board of Governors (BoG) of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) took place in Almaty. The meeting, held at the CARECeco headquarters, brought together all 13 members of the Board, as well as the Executive Director, Batyr Mammedov (elected in May of this year), and Secretary Ayrailym Shulgauova. The session was also attended by Oleg Pechenyuk, Chairman of the CAREC Public Advisory Council (PAC).

The Chairman of the Board, Sino Tohir Tohirzoda, opened the meeting with welcoming remarks, after which a quorum was established and the agenda was approved. Key items for consideration included:

• A progress report on instructions issued by the Executive Director following the 60th and 61st BoG meetings;
• Approval of the “CAREC Development Strategy for 2026-2030”;
• Technical and financial reports on CAREC’s activities for 2025;
• Preparations for the upcoming Central Asian Conference on Climate Change (CACCC-2026);
• Reporting presentations from the directors of CAREC country branches;
• The appointment of a BoG representative to oversee the selection of an auditing firm for CAREC’s financial audit;
• Discussions regarding the terms of office for several Board members and other miscellaneous business.

Executive Director Batyr Mamedov presented the finalized “CAREC Development Strategy for 2026-2030”. The document is built around five key priorities, notably the fourth priority: “Strengthening Partnerships with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and environmental security.” The Board members unanimously approved and adopted the strategic document.

The reports delivered by the CAREC team demonstrated a clear growth dynamic, both in terms of economic and financial performance and the expansion of partnership cooperation. The country directors particularly emphasized the increasing interaction between CAREC branches and government bodies, non-profit organizations, and business structures. Discussions highlighted the progress of ongoing initiatives and the prospects for new environmental projects being co-developed with strategic government agencies and international donor organizations.

Berkeli Atayev, Director of the ‘Tebigy Kuwwat’ Public Association Enterprise and a member of the Board of Governors representing the civil sector, noted that the CAREC branch in Turkmenistan has significantly expanded its cooperation with CSOs over the past two years. He highlighted successful initiatives such as facilitating civil sector participation in national and regional forums, the Central Asian Leadership Programme for Young Environmentalists (CALP), and supporting young NGO representatives in pursuing Master’s degrees at the Kazakh-German University (DKU).

“Cooperation with the civil sector is a vital component of CAREC, as our organizational and legal structure aligns with that of a civil society organization. Consequently, this area has always received, and will continue to receive, significant attention. While the current the Concept of interaction between CAREC and civil society organizations in Central Asia 2020-2025 is nearing its conclusion, the new CAREC Strategy for 2026-2030 provides detailed frameworks for continued engagement with Central Asian CSOs,” – Mr. Atayev added. He also expressed a desire to see Board members more deeply involved in CAREC’s operations and representing the Centre at national, regional, and international levels.

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Berkeli Atayev.

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Ashgabat, December 20, 2025. At the very heart of the city, within the doors of the Delegation of the European Union to Turkmenistan, a true winter fairy tale came to life today. For the third consecutive year, the EU Delegation welcomed book lovers, families, and holiday enthusiasts to its now-cherished tradition: the Christmas Book Fair. Notably, at the invitation of the organizers, the event was attended by representatives of several public organizations, including “Tebigy Kuwwat,” the Aarhus Centre of Turkmenistan, the Nature Preserving Society of Turkmenistan (NPST), and the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan (NRCST).

A Tangible Connection with Books. In an era of digital technology and endless social media scrolling, this celebration set an ambitious and noble goal: to bring “living” paper books back into fashion. “We want to remind everyone of the incredible pleasure of holding a new book, smelling the printer’s ink, and turning the pages. This is not just about literacy; it is a culture of genuine interaction,” the organizers noted.

“For us, this project is more than just a cultural event; it is an opportunity to show that a book is one’s best friend and mentor. Seeing children’s eyes light up when they receive their first big book confirms that the tradition of family reading in Turkmenistan is alive and thriving. For the third year running, we have created this space of trust and knowledge,” emphasized Aygul Byashimova.

The impressions of the guests confirmed that the younger generation has not lost interest in physical pages and reading. Aylar, a visitor and mother of two children, shared: “We came for books but ended up in a real Christmas movie! The children loved Santa’s post—they spent half an hour carefully writing every word of their letters. I even found a rare classic edition I’d been looking for. A huge thanks to organazers for such a warm welcome and delicious tea!”

Books, Souvenirs, and the Spirit of Christmas. For one day, the entire EU Delegation office in Turkmenistan was transformed into a cozy European quarter. Small book stalls featured rare editions, classics, and children’s and foreign literature, while local artisans displayed unique handmade souvenirs. The atmosphere was enhanced by a hospitable food court, where every guest was greeted with warming tea, aromatic coffee, and gourmet snacks. The air was filled with the scent of pine needles and home-baked treats, creating the feeling of a family holiday.

The true stars of the event were the books, Santa Claus, the letters, and a surprise flashmob. The heart of the event was undoubtedly Santa’s Express Mail, where the queue of people eager to send their most cherished wishes remained long until evening. Children and adults alike enthusiastically entrusted their dreams to paper.

Santa Claus himself ensured there wasn’t a dull moment. Countless smiles were captured at the festive photo zone, and an impromptu, energetic dance by Santa brought everyone to their feet, turning the fair into a true festival of joy.

Arslan, a student and book enthusiast, remarked: “In the age of smartphones, you sometimes forget how cool it is to just sit with a paper book in a cozy atmosphere. The flashmob with Santa was a total game-changer! It was very fun and, most importantly, sincere. It’s great that Ashgabat has such venues for live interaction.”

The third EU Christmas Book Fair in Turkmenistan once again proved that a book is the best reason to bring people together. This Saturday, the Delegation office became a place where people didn’t just buy gifts but exchanged warmth, emotions, and a love for reading. Despite the chilly weather, the atmosphere of celebration and community kept everyone warm. It was particularly heartening to see so many children and young people interested in books. As the event drew to a close, guests left not only with bags full of books and souvenirs but also with that special “afterglow” of a miracle that only happens at Christmas.

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Ayna Atayeva.