UNDP implements specific conflict prevention interventions to directly address the causes of conflict and to integrate conflict prevention into all its programmes and projects.

 In 1999, in response to tensions in the Batken province, UNDP Kyrgyzstan launched a conflict prevention and peace-building initiative under its Democratic Governance Programme. This initiative developed, in 2003, into a separate Preventive Development Programme covering three southern provinces – Osh, Batken and Jalalabat. Under this programme, UNDP created ‘early warning reporting’ systems in the most conflict-prone areas, issued more than 30 analytical and situation reports on local conflict situations, facilitated the implementation of more than 80 community projects focused on addressing the root causes of conflicts, and trained more than 5,000 people to locally resolve disputes and achieve consensus on different issues. In cross-border communities along the Kyrgyz/Tajik border, UNDP also initiated conflict prevention and diversity-management training, which formed a basis for dialogue among communities from both sides of the border. Through the assistance of UNDP, these communities have moved beyond mutual accusations and claims and have begun building constructive dialogues on these sensitive issues.

In May 2006, UNDP embarked on a new programme called the Peace and Development Programme (PDP), which focuses on strengthening mechanisms and structures that contribute to social cohesion, tolerance and peace. The Peace and Development Programme, now a nationwide initiative, has built on lessons learned from previous programmes and works to bring together leaders from the central, regional and municipal levels, to identify common goals and establish peaceful ways of achieving these goals. PDP seeks to support the development of the national capacity to identify, understand and peacefully respond to conflicts and their root causes. PDP continues to build capacity and support national and local government and civil society partners. PDP is also currently engaged in a peace and development analysis process, which will help key actors to develop a common understanding of conflict situations and capacities for peace in Kyrgyzstan and will form the basis for the development of a national strategy for conflict prevention.