The Government of Kyrgyzstan and UNICEF agree on priorities for new five-year Country Programme of Cooperation

Bishkek, 25 May 2022 – Today the Government and UNICEF finalized the development of the new Government of Kyrgyzstan-UNICEF Country Programme for 2023-2027. The event was chaired by the Vice-Chair of the Cabinet of Ministers, Edil Baisalov, and by UNICEF Representative, Christine Jaulmes, and attended by high level government officials, government institutions, NGOs and UN agencies representatives. In total, around 50 key stakeholders renewed their commitment to cooperate for the realization of the rights of all children in Kyrgyzstan.  

The Government of Kyrgyzstan – UNICEF country programme is the articulation of concrete results for children to jointly achieve the vision that by 2030 every child survives, thrives, learns, lives in a safe environment and is protected from violence and poverty.

With an indicative five-year budget of about 42 million USD, the new country programme will focus on strengthening health, education, child protection and social policy for children.  The two key overarching priorities are the realization of the rights of children and adolescents with disabilities and the development and empowerment of the adolescents and young people. This framework was developed through an inclusive and participatory process involving extensive consultations with a wide range of stakeholders in the government, civil society and young people themselves.

The new UNICEF Country Programme is fully aligned with the 2040 National Development Strategy and the 2021–2026 National Development Programme. As an integral part of the 2023–2027 United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), the programme will contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to reducing inequities and exclusion. The Programme will support the Government in addressing the negative socioeconomic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the geopolitical crisis in the region on children.

“This is a concluding event of an extensive process of consultations, discussions, as well as research including the situation analysis on children with disabilities which I appreciate very much. We want this programme to be our joint guiding document. We also expect it to be live, flexible, to better serve emerging needs of the country, of our children for whom we all gather here.” said Edil Baisalov, the Vice-Chair of the Cabinet of Ministers.

 “Since UNICEF first established its presence in Kyrgyzstan in 1994, UNICEF has been committed to supporting the Government of Kyrgyzstan to fulfilling the rights of all children in the country. I strongly believe that the launch of the new country programme for 2023-2027 will further strengthen our partnership to improve the lives and prospects of every child and young person in Kyrgyzstan, as stipulated by the Convention on the Rights of the Child”, said Christine Jaulmes UNICEF Representative to Kyrgyzstan.

“UNICEF will continue to support the Government in strengthening systems that will allow children and adolescents, especially the most vulnerable, to grow up healthy and resilient, have equitable access to quality learning and skills, be protected from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect and extreme poverty, and live in a safe and sustainable environment.”