Kyrgyzstan Strengthens Social Cohesion through Youth Empowerment
Bishkek, 15 April 2026 - The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and the United Nations in Kyrgyzstan have launched a new Peacebuilding Fund (PBF)-funded project, “Empowering Youth to Build Relationships for Social Cohesion,” to strengthen social cohesion and promote sustainable peace across the country.
The project is jointly implemented by UNICEF, UNFPA and UNESCO in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic, and the National Agency for Religious Affairs and Interethnic Relations under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The initiative will support adolescents and young people in building peacebuilding, critical thinking and media and information literacy skills. It will also promote youth-led engagement, intergenerational dialogue and community-based efforts to strengthen trust and inclusion.
“Promoting media and information literacy and peacebuilding competencies directly contributes to the development of skills in critical analysis of information, resilience to disinformation, and responsible behavior in the digital environment among young people. This is an important foundation for preventing the spread of hate speech and fostering a culture of peaceful dialogue,” noted Nadira Dzhusupbekova, Deputy Minister of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The launch event brought together representatives of government institutions, the United Nations, civil society, youth organizations and development partners. Discussions highlighted challenges affecting social cohesion, including disinformation, hate speech and the limited participation of young people in decision-making.
“As efforts continue to promote social cohesion and trust, this initiative places young people at the centre of the solution—equipping them with the skills, platforms and partnerships needed to build more inclusive, resilient and peaceful communities in the Kyrgyz Republic,” said Samman Jung Thapa, UNICEF Representative to the Kyrgyz Republic.
The Peacebuilding Fund–supported project will be implemented over a 36-month period across Jalal-Abad, Issyk-Kul, Osh and Chui regions.
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