The three organizations will allocate in total up to USD 340’000 to provide shelter assistance to highly vulnerable earthquake-affected households in Chong Alai district of Osh oblast, to train local masons on affordable para-seismic construction norms and techniques, as well as to provide legal assistance to help the affected households claim their housing, land and property rights and access affordable and reliable insurance. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation will contribute CHF 240’000, the Aga Khan Foundation will contribute USD 50’000 and Helvetas the amount of CHF 40’000.

“The Swiss contribution to the reconstruction of houses is an expression of Switzerland’s solidarity towards the population of Chong Alai. The joint effort places victims at the center of our engagement in a spirit of neutrality, independence and impartiality”, said the Ambassador of Switzerland René Holenstein. 

The work will be implemented by the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) in Kyrgyzstan and the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme (MSDSP) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, District Department of Architecture and Jekendi Ayil Okmotu. 

For reference:

On 3^rd and 5^th May, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake and a 5.8-magnitude earthquake occurred in northern Tajikistan followed by several aftershocks. The earthquakes reverberated in several villages in Chong-Alai district of Kyrgyzstan, with a magnitude of 4 to 6. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan reported that 1,000 houses, 3 hospitals, 1 primary health care centre and 1 school had been affected by the earthquake with damages of various intensities. 

The Government of Switzerland provides assistance for the development of the Kyrgyz Republic and supports projects in areas such as health, private sector development, public sector reform, and infrastructure. 

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private, non-denominational, not-for-profit agencies that aim to improve living conditions and opportunities for people without regard to their particular religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. AKF has been active in the Kyrgyz Republic for more than two decades. For more information on AKF and AKDN, please visit: www.akdn.org. 

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation is a development organization anchored in Switzerland. Helvetas started its activities in Kyrgyzstan in November 1994, and today organization is running 8 projects in Kyrgyzstan. Our organization is always ready to support and develop relationship with local and international partners. For more information, please visit our website at www.kyrgyzstan.helvetas.org

The memorandum of understanding foresees cooperation and commitment to promote the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda and its goal 16 aiming at the creation of peaceful, just and strong institutions, to support the implementation of the Strategy of Development of the Jogorku Kenesh in line with the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic.  

“Switzerland's rich experience with democratic governance can serve as a basis for exchange and collaboration between our two countries. I am very glad to announce that Switzerland has responded favorably to the request of the Kyrgyz Parliament to assist in strengthening parliamentary democracy and improving citizens’ engagement in decision-making processes,” – said Ambassador Holenstein.

With financial support of Switzerland, UNDP will implement a ten-year prospective project “Strong and Inclusive Parliamentary Democracy”, primarily aimed at further enhancing parliamentary democracy in the Kyrgyz Republic by making it more inclusive, accountable and responsive to the needs of the citizens. The first phase of the project foresees close collaboration and expert support to the activities of three parliamentary committees, namely the committee on constitutional legislation, state structure and judicial legal affairs, the committee on social affairs, education, science, culture and healthcare as well as the committee on finance and budget.

In addition, the project will work actively on enhancing capacity of Public Councils and will launch a special Civic Action Fund to provide citizens with an opportunity to participate in the decision- and policy-making process, ensure effective monitoring and influencing the performance of parliamentary and state accountability institutions. This will allow citizens to hold the Parliament and government accountable and benefit from a more accessible, effective and responsive government.

Contact information:

Aigul Baiburaeva, UNDP Policy Advisor, tel.: 0312 394140 (ext. 152), email:  aigul.baiburaeva@undp.org

Elena Zakirova, Program Officer of the Embassy of Switzerland, tel. 0312 301036, email: elena.zakirova@eda.admin.ch

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The Government of Switzerland provides assistance for the development of the Kyrgyz Republic and supports projects in areas such as health, private sector development, public sector reform, and infrastructure.