The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) and the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) have announced the launch of a new interdisciplinary project, "Overcoming Shocks and Transformations in Rural Communities: An Evolutionary Resilience Perspective in Central Asia (CARe)", which officially started on February 1, 2025.
This five-year project (2025–2029), funded by the Volkswagen Foundation through the Change! Fellowships and Research Groups initiative, aims to explore the resilience of rural communities in the face of climate change, land degradation, water scarcity, and socio-economic challenges.
Project Objectives — The primary goal of CARe is to identify the factors that enable some communities to successfully adapt to these challenges while others struggle.
Key tasks of the project include:
- Examining the concept of evolutionary resilience in rural communities across Central Asia.
- Conducting a comprehensive analysis of factors affecting the adaptive capacity of residents in the Fergana Valley, including climate change, water scarcity, economic and social risks.
- Developing scientifically grounded recommendations for relevant agencies, the academic community, and local partners..
To implement the project, IAMO has established a research group led by Dr. Nodir Djanibekov, with team members Dr. Barchinai Kimsanova and Dr. Atabek Umirbekov. The team will work closely with CAREC.
The project will focus on key research questions concerning the interaction between shocks and social structures, the role of governance, social cohesion, and adaptation mechanisms. Special attention will be given to strategies for enhancing resilience in the face of rapid environmental change.
To assess resilience, the project team will integrate interdisciplinary scientific knowledge and mixed research methods, including household-level studies, expert interviews, climate analysis, and case studies of rural communities in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The project's findings will contribute to the development of strategies and recommendations aimed at strengthening the resilience of rural communities in Central Asia in response to contemporary challenges.
Project website:
https://www.iamo.de/en/research/research-projects/details/care
For more information:
Nodir Djanibekov – Deputy Head of the Agricultural Policy Department, Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies: djanibekov(at)iamo.de
Irina Yugay – Acting Project Manager of CAREC Water Initiatives Support Program, wisspecialist@carececo.org