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Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan)

Switzerland supports regional and national water management programmes in the three Central Asian states of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Switzerland's support also focuses on public and health sector reforms and efforts to develop the private sector.

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As former Soviet republics, the Central Asian countries – Kazakh­stan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uz­bekistan – face similar challenges such as limited basic service delivery, insufficient economic diversification and job creation, low citizen’s participation in decision mak­ing and weak accountability of public institutions. In terms of economic development, political organisa­tion, environmental or security situation, Central Asia still remains a heterogeneous region. 

Switzerland is working to ensure a peaceful, social and economic transition and helping public and private institutions to provide effective services for all. It also promotes art, music and theatre, both traditional and modern.

All Swiss activities are carried out with special consideration to good governance, gender equality and social inclusion.

Swiss Bilateral ODA

2018

2019

2020*

mill. CHF

mill. CHF

mill. CHF

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

      

Bilateral development cooperation

0.87

0.62

–

Cooperation with Eastern Europe and Eurasia

25.61

23.01

25.40

Humanitarian aid

2.37

2.07

1.50

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO)

      

Economic Cooperation and Development

20.93

18.89

28.89

Human Security Division (HSD)

      

Conflict transformation and human rights

0.29

0.35

0.44

Total SDC/SECO/HSD

50.07

44.94

56.23

Other Federal Offices

      

Other FDFA Divisions (ASAF, AIO, aso)

0.02

–

..

Network of FDFA representations abroad

2.70

3.23

..

State Secretariat for Migration (SEM)

–

0.01

..

State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)

0.04

0.05

..

Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)

0.51

0.68

..

Total other Federal Offices

3.27

3.97

–

Cantons and municipalities

0.28

..

..

Total

53.62

48.91

56.23
Swiss government spending for development and cooperation for the current year and the past two years, broken down by institution.

* planned; total based on available data
 .. = figures not available | – = nil or amount < 5'000 CHF

Water

Water management is a central aspect of Switzerland's involvement in Central Asia. The region is coping with several challenges: Water is scarce, financial resources for new water-supply installations are missing and key water resources which are shared by different stakeholders – especially in the Fergana Valley – require regional coordination. In order to tackle water, energy, food and security-related challenges, Switzerland supports dialogue and cooperation in the region through its «Blue Diplomacy» approach. Under this approach, water resources are to be managed, protected and shared equitably among the Central Asian countries. Among other goals, Blue Diplomacy is also intended to contribute to peaceful coexistence and stability in the region. 

In addition to this regional approach, Switzerland also supports efforts undertaken in each country to improve access to drinking water in rural areas. It also supports disaster-risk reduction activities to mitigate the impact of natural disasters such as flooding, landslides and earthquakes.

Water – A vital resource under threat

Good governance

Public involvement in political processes is fundamental for the functioning of a democracy. Switzerland is supporting the efforts undertaken by Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to make political institutions at all levels more inclusive and thus ensure greater and more effective involvement of citizens in reform and decision-making processes. Switzerland is also helping to achieve an efficient and effective provision of basic public services, particularly for disadvantaged population groups. Systematic efforts are being made to fight corruption, for example by demanding greater accountability from the providers of public services and by encouraging citizens to inform themselves about the workings of government authorities.

Advocacy and Good Governance

Employment and economic development

To promote job growth and economic development, Switzerland's cooperation activities will support the further development of the private sector in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. This objective will be pursued in line with national economic priorities and related challenges and will also involve competitive micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The aim is to create decent jobs and achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth, which will ultimately help reduce poverty and emigration.

Private Sector Development and financial services

Basic education and vocational skills development

Health

Every human being has a fundamental right to the highest attainable standard of health.  Public health also has a direct impact on economic growth. Switzerland therefore supports health sector reforms in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, with a growing emphasis on bridging gaps between policymakers and citizens in order to find solutions that meet the high demand for good quality, efficient and affordable health services that are accessible to everyone.

Health – A prerequisite for development

Approach and partners

Switzerland has supported the reforms that have been under way in Central Asia since the early 1990s and is closely coordinating its activities with the project partners involved. 

The 2017–2021 Cooperation Strategy is being jointly implemented by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). 

Switzerland's key partners in Central Asia:

  • Development partners

  • Local and international NGOs

  • Multilateral organisations such as the UNDP, development banks (EBRD, ADB) and the Bretton Woods institutions

  • Civil society organisations

  • National partners

Current projects

Object 1 – 12 of 23

Health Facilities Autonomy

01.08.2020 - 31.07.2023

Strong management and leadership’s capacity of decision-makers and health managers is central for a successful health reform. The project strengthens the health management system by modernizing continuous skills development and by updating regulations towards a transparent and competency based appointment as well as performance assessment of health managers.

 

 

Kyrgyzstan Electoral Support Programme (KESP)

01.05.2020 - 31.12.2021

The programme aims at promoting fair, inclusive, transparent and peaceful elections in Kyrgyzstan by building technical capacities and expertise of key institutions responsible for administering elections and by empowering Kyrgyz citizens, including underrepresented groups like women, youth, ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities, to participate and exercise their electoral rights.

 

 

 

Civil Registry System Reform Project in Tajikistan (CRR)

01.01.2020 - 31.12.2023

SDC assists the Ministry of Justice in its efforts to replace the paper-based civil registry system with a more efficient electronic civil registry system. This new system and the planned outreach activities will help people across the country in obtaining their vital documents faster and in better quality from the civil registry offices; this will help them to protect and claim their rights in relation to schooling, alimonies,  migration, healthcare and even voting. Moreover, the new civil registry system will also help the government to better plan and monitor its services provided to the population including in the education, health and labor sector.

Public Services Improvement

01.05.2019 - 30.04.2023

To improve people's quality of life, municipalities have to deliver efficiently and effectively services such as safe drinking water, waste collection, cultural facilities in a socially inclusive and gender responsive manner. In rural Kyrgyzstan, their capacities still need to be improved in a sustainable way. To achieve this, the project will develop the municipalities' support system which shall then provide adequate counseling and training to those municipalities not only today but also in the long run. 

Budget Support to the health SWAp in the Kyrgyz Republic

01.05.2019 - 30.04.2022

Health sector reform is a priority of the Kyrgyz Government. Considerable improvements of the health status of the population were achieved in the last years. Yet, additional efforts have to be done to improve cost-effectiveness of the health system. The Kyrgyz Government approved its Health Strategy 2030, in view to strengthen primary health care, improve the quality of services and promote public health. The project will support the implementation of the Health Strategy by providing funding and technical assistance to the Government. 

ACTED Earthquake response in Chong-Alai region

01.07.2018 - 31.03.2019

To complement and complete the efforts supported by Switzerland in the immediate aftermath of earthquakes in remote Chong-Alai region in May 2017, the project's Phase 2 will provide shelter construction assistance to the remaining vulnerable earthquake-affected households that were unable to re-build their houses. The assistance will be in the form of distribution of construction materials to the remaining affected households and provision of technical assistance on affordable and replicable earthquake-safe construction techniques.

Tajikistan Water Supply and Sanitation Project

01.07.2018 - 30.06.2022

Through the support of the project 30‘000 women and men will have sustained access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities in three rural districts of Tajikistan thereby contributing to their better health and wellbeing. The project further supports the development of local and national authorities’ capacities and strengthen the policy frameworks in order to enable a more effective, inclusive and sustainable delivery of safe drinking water and sanitation services to the population.

"Bai Alai" Small Business and Income Creation in Alai and Chon-Alai

01.06.2018 - 31.05.2022

The remote Alai and Chon Alai disctricts of mountainous Southwest Kyrgyzstan are struck by a very high incidence of poverty, low levels of economic production and limited income generation opportunities. The project will increase economic inclusion of producing households by fostering development of local production in cattle, apiculture, tourism and handcraft sectors. Producers and entrepreneurs in these sectors will be linked to respective markets hence imporving their value chains. 

lntegrated Health and Habitat lmprovement in the Rasht Valley, Tajikistan

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2021

Through the project the population living in one of the poorest and fragile regions of Tajikistan (Rasht Valley) will gain access to basic social services (water and health). The interventions in the selected watersheds will empower the local communities enabling their active participation in decision-making and effective management of the resources. As a result, people in the project area will adopt healthier, more environmentally sustainable, and disaster-safer behaviours.

Integrated Health and Habitat Improvement (IHHI) Rasht Valley, Tajikistan

01.01.2018 - 31.12.2021

Rasht Valley is the most neglected and fragile region in Tajikistan - the poorest country of the former Soviet Union republics. The region marked by a sluggish transition and fragility patterns – remnants of the Civil War in the country. This project will improve quality of living conditions of Rasht Valley’s population by increasing access to better quality drinking water, sanitation and healthcare services, as well as strengthening resilience of communities to the impact of natural hazards.

Object 1 – 12 of 23

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Last update 03.01.2021