Executive Boards of six UN agencies visit Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek–In Kyrgyzstan on 9 May, representatives of the Executive Boards of UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS, UNICEF and WFP completed a week-long Joint Field Visit to analyse how United Nations’ organizations contribute to national development priorities.

The delegation of the Joint Field Visit of the Executive Boards with the UN Resident Coordinator and his team inaugurate the UN park in the city of Osch, Kyrgyzstan. Photo: UNCT Kyrgyzstan

The ambassadorial-level delegation composed of 21 members of the four Executive Boards representing 18 countries discussed strategies for cooperation between the UN system and national authorities, including the Parliament, Government and key ministries, development partners and civil society organizations. The delegates examined UN results in the regions of Batken, Jalal-Abad, Naryn and Osh. Delegates discussed local priorities with farmers, entrepreneurs, women and youth. Special focus was given to joint projects and delivering results together, since the UN in Kyrgyzstan is a self-nominated UN “Delivering as One” country since 2009.

“The example of the joint work of the UN system in Kyrgyz Republic demonstrates that when working together, UN agencies achieve great results for sustainable development,” said H.E. Mr. Mohamed Khaled Khiari, Ambassador of Tunisia and President of the UN Women Executive Board, who was accompanied by all four Board Vice-Presidents, from Croatia, Germany, Suriname and United Arab Emirates.

Executive Board members had an opportunity to assess the impact of UN joint work by supporting communities in tackling development issues. In Batken, they visited several peacebuilding project sites along the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, such as UNDP’s conflict-prevention projects and preventive actions. The project has recently evolved into a new joint initiative with UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, FAO and UN Women. In the Osh and Batken region, UN Women is working with 100 schools in total, reaching students from age 15-17 to enhance their understanding of gender equality and women’s rights. The initiative also involves trainings on effectively using scarce land resources to build successful livelihoods and social integration. Members also visited the School for Mothers in the Centre for Family Medicine supported by UNFPA and UNICEF, where women are taught about family planning, pregnancy, delivery and post-partum care.

Representatives of the UN Executive Boards visited the community kindergarten and centers for children with disabilities, supported by UNICEF, the secondary school in Kadamjai rayon where the UN World Food Organization project on school feeding was launched, as well as the Center for Family Medicine, where the family planning trainings are supported by UNFPA.Photo: UNCT Kyrgyzstan

Since 2010, the UN Peacebuilding Fund has invested a total of 30 million USD in Kyrgyzstan through UN AFP.

In Yrys Ayil Aimak, Suzak district in Jalal-Abad oblast, UNICEF and WFP joined with UNDP to support the local population gain greater access to services, through a drinking water supply system, Rehabilitation Centre as well as through the European-Commission-funded Single Window Centre, which is supported by UN Women, UNDP and other UN partners.

Through the Single Window Centre, municipal workers are better able to inform the population about the procedures and the provision of municipal and public services; provide advice and assistance to citizens in obtaining: municipal and public social protection, land and property registration, and construction permits. More than 650 people receive services in the centre every month—60 per cent of whom are women.

In Naryn, the joint programme that UN Women, FAO and WFP implemented on economically empowering rural women increased income opportunities and enhanced rural women’s participation.

“I would like to underline and appreciate the good relations existing between the UN system and the Kyrgyz Republic and the high degree of trust, openness, transparency and the joint strategic partnership for sustainable development,” said Zohrab Mnatsakayan Ambassador of Armenia to the UN Head of the Joint Field Visit delegation and President of the Executive Board of UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS.