Guest blog from Sultonov Azamkhon (Poland), CYMG-supported delegate to the GEF-9 Regional Planning Workshop for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
I participated in the GEF-9 Regional Planning Workshop for Eastern Europe and Central Asia as a representative of the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP (CYMG) from Uzbekistan. The workshop brought together government representatives, civil society organizations, UN agencies and regional stakeholders to discuss GEF-9 priorities, financing, project-cycle reforms, the Small Grants Programme and opportunities for stronger stakeholder engagement.
My key reflection was the importance of ensuring meaningful youth and civil society participation from the early stages of national planning and project design. I also highlighted the need to improve accessibility for local and youth-led organizations, strengthen transparency and monitoring, and create clearer opportunities for CSOs to contribute to environmental decision-making.
The workshop was particularly valuable for strengthening regional connections and identifying opportunities for cross-border youth collaboration in Central Asia, including around shared ecosystems, water resources and climate-related challenges. As a CYMG representative from Uzbekistan, I look forward to bringing these regional perspectives into UNEP youth engagement and further connecting young people with environmental policy and financing processes.
