PESHAWAR: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) conducted three-day training workshops for officials from various government departments and community members in Peshawar and Chitral districts to enhance their understanding of disaster risk reduction and response.

The objective of the training was to equip the participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively implement climate change adaptation measures outlined in the Climate Change Adaptation Action Plans (CCAPs) and the National Climate Change Policy.

The training, organised under the UNDP’s Glof-II Project, a joint initiative with the ministry of climate change and supported by the Green Climate Fund, focused on enhancing participants’ understanding of disaster risk reduction and response, particularly on Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (Glofs), and the impact of such disasters on women, children and differently-abled persons.

The participating community members were from the Glof-II Project valleys, and are active members of the project’s community-based disaster risk management committees.

Enhancing their understanding on climate-induced disasters (such as Glofs) through such trainings further ensured sustainable climate action and strengthened climate resilience.

The participants were briefed on climate change indicators and future projections specific to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan regions. Sanovia Kakar, section officer of the forest department, expressed her enthusiasm for the training, stating, “These trainings are integral for us at this point as they equip us with information on climate change considering our vulnerability and susceptibility to climate-induced disasters such as Glofs.”

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2023