In recognition of the importance of environment in the national context, UNDP has prioritized energy and sustainable development (ESD) with two underlying objectives: to advocate (with national) partners for a coherent and strategic vision on sustainable development; and to generate an increasing volume of grant funding for this sector to address critical national needs.
In 2005, the UNDP launched its first full-fledged five-year Environment Programme, with the goal of including sustainable development principles into national strategies and policies. Thus, by 2008 the programme has:
- persuaded the government to include Environmental Security component in the Country Development Strategy (CDS) for 2007-2011 as a development priority; and
- developed the Concept of the Kyrgyz Republic’s Transition to Sustainable Development.
Since 2007, the programme has been working with the Parliament on the clarification of the Fish Moratorium, a draft law on Renewable Energy Sources, and draft Environmental Code and legislation in the area of wastes management. The Environmental Code is now adopted by the Parliament.
UNDP enhances institutional capacity to increase the mobilization of funding from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and other donors. Thus, Kyrgyzstan has already participated in environmental initiatives such as Regional Environment Action Plan and Central Asian Initiative on Sustainable Land Management, Intergovernmental Commission on Sustainable Development and Environmental Security and is planning to partake in other regional and global strategies and plans. In 2008, the programme launched two projects supported by GEF, i.e., “Increasing Energy Efficiency in Buildings” and “Capacity Building for Improved National Financing of Global Environmental Management in Kyrgyzstan.”
Since 2007, the GEF/UNDP Demonstrating Sustainable Mountain Pasture Management in the Suusamyr Valley, Kyrgyzstan Project is creating the opportunities for sustainable pasture management reducing land degradation. The improved management system will be introduced through pilot actions.
In 2008, improvment of fishery biodiversity through strengthening policy and regulatory framework became one of the programme priorities. Now, UNDP helps develop a biodiversity friendly regime in Issyk-Kul Lake, which is aimed at conserving the endemic fish species, by providing opportunities for sustainable alternative livelihoods for the local fishery-dependent communities.
Acknowledging the role of civil society in national dialogue and information sharing, UNDP supports the engagement of civil society in the implementation of national and regional environmental action plans and sustainable development strategies through the digital Environmental Information Network for Central Asia and Russia (CARNet), which provides an online platform for exchanging information and experiences.
UNDP helps the government access financial resources for environmental projects by restructuring the country’s external debt through new financial schemes such as the Debt for Sustainable Development Swap mechanism and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol.
In 2006, the UNDP, in conjunction with the State Agency for Environmental Protection and Forestry, prepared the Kyrgyzstan Environmental Assessment for the donors’ Joint Country Support Strategy (JCSS). The assessment marked a change in the way donors have approached environmental factors when providing development assistance to the country. For the first time ever, the donors’ strategy was able to take into account the fundamental linkages between environmental and socioeconomic issues. This analytical work will serve not only to enhance the countrywide efficiency of aid-provision by increasing coordination, but will also help mobilize more resources from current and potential donors for further development.