In Uzbekistan, the land tells a story.

Water is scarce. Soils are under pressure. Ecosystems are changing. And across sectors—from agriculture to cities—the effects are interconnected.

Over the past decades, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has worked alongside the country to respond to these challenges—supporting 30 national projects and dozens of regional initiatives, mobilizing nearly $800 million in cofinancing.

But the real story is not the scale of investment. It is what happens next: Do these efforts lead to lasting change?