Central Asia will face harsh effects of climate change as projections foresee temperature increase above the global average. Given population growth and expanding agricultural production, the demand for irrigation water will increase region-wide. Water availability could decline by 30–40 % by 2040. Given this scenario, the government of Kyrgyzstan has taken first steps towards mainstreaming the principles of a Green Economy across sectors. Irrigation in agriculture was selected as a suitable sector to analyze in detail the required steps to implement sustainability measures such as water saving technologies at scale. UNIQUE analyzed access points and requirements for international climate finance for mainstreaming green economy related measures with a special focus on efficient irrigation.

• Outline of an efficient irrigation approach under the framework of a Green Economy.
• Summary of regional climate change impacts and implications for irrigation.
• Overview of irrigation relevant policies and governance structures.
• Mapping of national and international investors in the space and their financing requirements.
• Identification of entry points for climate finance for efficient irrigation.
• Suggestion of mainstreaming scenarios for development cooperation.