BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 26. United Nations’
support to Turkmenistan in disaster resilience is built around
three connected capabilities - risk knowledge, monitoring and
technology, and preparedness and action, Shombi Sharp, Deputy
Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), told
Trend.


"First, the ESCAP Risk and Resilience Portal provides a
practical entry point to help decision-makers understand where
hazards and climate-related stressors intersect with exposed people
and assets. This platform is vital for early-stage screening (where
to build), prioritization (what to retrofit first), and managing
cascading disruptions across sectors (for example, where transport,
energy, and water systems share common risk hotspots)."


According to Sharp, the portal supports authorities in
identifying vulnerable infrastructure and planning investments to
minimize potential damage and service disruptions.


"Second, our work on impact-based forecasting links weather data
with real-world consequences so that institutions can anticipate
likely impacts on people and their lives. This approach is
especially relevant to infrastructure operators and agencies
responsible for service continuity because it supports targeted
preparedness for critical nodes and corridors when risk conditions
rise."


He noted that this forecasting approach enables institutions to
prepare for specific impacts in advance, particularly in sectors
responsible for maintaining essential services.







"Third, the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway initiative
seeks to bridge the digital divide through regional cooperation.
This complements the Global Action Plan on Early Warnings for All
and its regional strategy, which emphasizes that early warning is
not only about detection and forecasting, but also about turning
warnings into early action through coordination, communication, and
universally available, affordable digital connectivity."


Sharp added that strengthening digital connectivity and
coordination mechanisms is key to ensuring that early warning
systems translate into timely and effective action on the
ground.


In January 2026, a delegation headed by Shombi Sharp, Deputy
Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, visited Turkmenistan as part of the
SPECA Economic Forum held on January 21-22 in Ashgabat. This event
was a key component of SPECA Week, organized under the United
Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia
(SPECA).