Kyrgyzstan

Joint Programming: State of play - Steps have been taken in 2016 by the EU Delegation and Member States to elaborate a joint programming roadmap. A formal joint programming document, including a joint analysis and reponse, is yet to be developed.

Challenges and opportunities for Joint Programming in the country

Opportunities:

• New National Strategy: Kyrgyz National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSSD) 2018-2022, reflecting the SDGs.
• Regional Seminar in Tashkent: 12-14 July 2017 (EU and Member States)
• Current role of the EUD as co-chair of the Development Partners Coordination Council for the term of 2019 (see policy dialogue)
• 16 sector working group coordinating EU MS and other development partners' activities.

Challenges:

• Concern of the EU+ Development Partners about visibility; joi nt programming should allow for EU MS programmes to continue to have their own visibility

Roles of EU+ Development Partners

The EU+ Development Partners present in Kyrgyzstan are France, Germany, the UK and Switzerland. Some EU MS based in embassies in Kazakhstan (i.e. Finland) could be interested to engage in the JP process in Kyrgyzstan. Switzerland and KfW give priority to the health sector while the EUD concentrates its efforts in the education sector.

Political situation in Kyrgyzstan

Sooronbai Jeenbekov became Kyrgyzstan's fifth president after winning more than 54% of the vote in the October 2017 election to replace outgoing leader Almazbek Atambayev. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe described the election as "competitive", but said that "pressure on voters and vote-buying remain a concern".

Policy dialogue

Policy dialogue through the Development Partners Coordination Council (DPCC), including the EUD, the UK and Germany (KfW): semi-annual meetings of a government-development partners' Cooperation Council chaired by the Prime Minister.

Joint implementation initiatives

• Cooperation EUD/GIZ leading a consortia implementing two of the EU’s flagship programmes in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia, the Rule of Law programme and CADAP 6.

• Cooperation EUD/UK/Switzerland through a World Bank administered Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Public Financial Management (PFM) capacity building.

• Cooperation EUD/KfW/EIB on a Food and Agriculture Value Chain programme that will provide financing for SMEs in the rural sector.

• Implementation of the EU-funded Rule of Law Platform with the support of French and German expertise.