Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan)

Switzerland is involved in water management, good governance and sustainable economic development programmes in the three Central Asian states of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It encourages measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change and supports regional cooperation.

Central Asia covers the territory of five countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, which gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then, they have been developing at different speeds, although they face similar challenges, including reduced access to public decision-making and problems in establishing a diversified economy. Climate change will also have a significant impact on water supplies within the region. Switzerland is committed to peace, prosperity and social cohesion in Central Asia and supports projects to mitigate the impacts of climate change. It is guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under the UN 2030 Agenda.

Water infrastructure and climate change

Sustainable management of a precious commodity

Switzerland supports the Central Asian countries in taking joint, science-based action to advance climate-resilient, sustainable and inclusive approaches to managing scarce water resources. It is also essential that communities are protected from natural disasters and have access to drinking water and sewage systems. In order to achieve this, Switzerland supports sustainable planning, the use of river basins and national legislation that incorporates the principle of integrated water resources management (IWRM). It also promotes cross-border cooperation on water management and water diplomacy.

Water – A vital resource under threat

Good governance, human rights and public services

Inclusive good governance

The national and political contexts of the Central Asian states vary significantly. Switzerland therefore maintains a diversified good governance portfolio. In works to ensure that people in the three countries in which it is active have a stake in public decisions affecting them, are aware of their rights, and are able to express their opinions. Switzerland also helps local authorities to make their work more effective and transparent and assists ethnic minorities and other groups that are particularly vulnerable.

Advocacy and good governance

Sustainable economic development

Environmentally-friendly businesses and opportunities for all

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the Central Asian economies. Switzerland is helping the Central Asian countries to recover and build more resilient, inclusive economies. To this end, it is promoting reforms aimed at improving economic conditions, helping SMEs to create jobs, and establishing a responsible, inclusive and transparent financial sector. In addition, Switzerland supports training initiatives for workers in selected market sectors

Private Sector Development and financial services

Basic education and vocational skills development

Approach and partners

Switzerland has supported the reforms that have been under way in Central Asia since the early 1990s and is closely coordinating its activities with the project partners involved.

The Cooperation Strategy 2022–25 is being jointly implemented by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). 

Switzerland's key partners in Central Asia:

  • Local and international NGOs
  • Multilateral organisations such as the UNDP, development banks (EBRD, ADB) and the Bretton Woods institutions
  • Civil society organisations
  • National public and private sector partners

Links

Current projects

Object 1 – 12 of 25

Human Rights Grants Program Single Phase

01.10.2023 - 30.11.2025

The Human Rights grants program will support local and international organizations working in Tajikistan on acute Human Rights issues. The program will provide cofunding opportunities to selected projects related to child rights, freedom of press, human rights in custody, prevention of gender-based violence and the rights of migrants/refugees. 


Central Asia Arts and Culture Programme 2.0. (CAACP 2.0.)

01.07.2023 - 30.06.2027

The objective of the Central Asia Arts and Culture Programme (CAACP) is to foster the further development of a vibrant and open art and culture scene that contributes to preserving freedom of expression and enhancing social cohesion in the region. The CAACP offers cultural institutions and artists opportunities to create a platform that enables people, including left-behind groups, to address issues affecting their lives and contribute to positive social change.


Green Economy and Sustainable Private Sector Development

01.06.2023 - 31.05.2026

Project supports transition towards green economy, in particular in tourism and agriculture sectors. With the generous financial support provided by the Swiss and German Governments as well as the European Union (joined for the first time as co-donor), international implementing agency (GIZ) will address challenges in above sectors through improved policy framework in green economy and practices. Transforming economy towards sustainability will also create new and decent jobs.


Climate-sensitive Water Resources Management in Central Asia

01.06.2023 - 31.05.2027

The Climate Sensitive Water Resources Management in Central Asia project strengthens national and regional organisations responsible for water resource management in Central Asia to implement climate-sensitive integrated water resources management in a regionally coordinated manner. Switzerland will contribute to this initiative which is designed in the frame of the German led, GIZ implemented Green Central Asia High-Level Platform. 


Rural Communities’ Disaster Risks and Climate Change Resilience (Phase 2)

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2027

In the natural disasters prone Kyrgyzstan, most vulnerable are the rural communities. Within its periodic Country Strategic Plans, the UN World Food Programme strengthens their disaster risk reduction capacities and climate change resilience. Switzerland has been successfully supporting these endeavours in 2022, supporting resilience and food security of the most vulnerable communities and extends the support to the same direction for 2023-2027.


Improving Community Resilience through Sustainable Livelihoods in the Rasht Valley, Tajikistan

01.12.2022 - 30.11.2027

The contribution to the Aga Khan Foundation project aims at improving the resilience of livelihoods of the remote rural communities of Rasht valley, vulnerable to climate change. The local population will get equitable access to water and sanitation and childcare services. The population and particularly women will get income generation opportunities and engage in management, regeneration and protection of their natural resources while adopting disaster risk reduction measures and practices.


Contribution to non-state local governance actors

15.11.2022 - 31.12.2026

The project is a contribution to and a strategic partnership with the Coalition of three major non-state actors in the promotion and strengthening of local governance in Kyrgyzstan. They will be financially and technically capacitated and empowered to play their role in advancing local democracy and local governance for the benefit of people in Kyrgyzstan. The partnership builds on over 10 years of Swiss support in local governance in Kyrgyzstan as well as on ownership by the government.


Water Use Permits in Kyrgyzstan (WUP KG)

01.09.2022 - 30.06.2028

Excessive water use leads to the depletion and pollution of this vital resource. In a significant paradigm shift, the Kyrgyz authorities are planning to enhance the protection of water resources by promoting a rational use through strong regulatory functions. Switzerland is partnering with the Kyrgyz authorities in the establishment and the institutionalization of such functions, by supporting the introduction of a water use permitting system that will enable a proper supervision of quantity and quality parameters.


Effective management and prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases

01.07.2022 - 30.06.2026

Kyrgyzstan faces an increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases and there are significant gaps in the health system to manage them. The Primary Health Care system should deliver equitable care and prevent hospitalizations with non-communicable diseases’ complications. The project contributes to Improve health and quality of life of the rural population through replicating the model of primary health care strengthening and promoting healthy behaviour among people in southern regions and two big cities.


«Bai Alai» Small Business and Income Creation in Alai and Chon-Alai

01.06.2022 - 31.05.2024

Alai and Chon Alai are two of the poorest regions in Kyrgyzstan. The project aims at increasing economic inclusion of producing households through increased income and employment, with the focus on women and youth. During this exit phase (III) the project capitalizes and disseminates good practices in apiculture and cattle, and continues activities handicraft and tourism value chains, until phasing out in May 2024.


Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation Management

01.03.2022 - 28.02.2026

The project will allow people to use safe and affordable drinking water as well as equitable sanitation and hygiene thereby progressing towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 in Tajikistan. An integrated planning approach supports the building of the local and national capacities and strengthen the policy frameworks to enable sustainable Water Sanitation and Hygiene WASH services to the population of Eastern Khatlon and Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO).


Climate Resilient Integrated Water Resources Management in the Zarafshan River Basin in Uzbekistan

01.03.2022 - 30.04.2027

In Uzbekistan and across Central Asia, climate change has significant impacts on the availability of water resources. Building upon Switzerland’s engagement in the water sector reform in Uzbekistan, the program promotes climate resilient integrated water resources management in the Zarafshan River ZRB basin to enhance people’s livelihoods and to inform water sector reform processes and climate change policies at national and regional levels.

Object 1 – 12 of 25