Dushanbe, Apr 2 (IANS/RIA Novosti): The World Bank has approved a $14.85-million grant for Tajikistan to finance its environmental land management and rural livelihoods project, the international lender said Monday.

The grant aims to support more sustainable management of natural resources in the Central Asian republic and increase the resilience of communities to the impact of climate change, the World Bank said in a statement.

"Tajikistan is prone to natural disasters and it is assessed as the most vulnerable country to the impacts of future climate change in the Europe and Central Asia region," said Marsha Olive, World Bank country manager for Tajikistan.

"The project will help communities better understand how climate change may affect their land, water supply, livestock and crops.

"By using sustainable natural resource management practices that work well in Tajikistan, communities will have greater food security now and for the years to come."

The project's direct beneficiaries are expected to be at least 21,000 rural households or 126,000 people in selected project sites.