Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (November 7, 2012) - Representatives of key ministries and state agencies of Kyrgyzstan are trained in basics of integrated macro-and micro-simulations to identify key factors influencing progress toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Participants will study the economic model known as MAMS (Maquette for MDGs simulations), which allows sectoral assessment of necessary costs and various scenarios of micro-simulations, impacting poverty and inequality. After the training the participants will be able to use the MAMS model on their own and elaborate policy briefs for different options or scenarios of socio-economic development in their departments and agencies. Training takes place in Bishkek and will be completed in March 2013.
"Training is dedicated to mastering a useful, but complex tool for socio-economic analysis - an integrated package for macro / micro-economic simulations based on the MAMS model. It allows analysis of various options for economic, fiscal and social policies and monitoring their impact on achievement of MDGs in Kyrgyzstan. No other available analytical tool has the same qualities as this one. Another distinct feature of it is the composition of participants, including both representatives of government agencies and research organizations. This allows us to count on increase in sustainability of the training results and fruitful interaction of practitioners and researchers", - said one of the trainers, Roman Mogilevsky.
Representatives of leading Institutions of Higher Education of the country, and academic organizations (American University in Central Asia, the Academy of Management under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Institute of Economics under the National Academy of Sciences, etc.). This will ensure sustainability of the project, involvement of experts and scientific communities for long-term cooperation in training and re-training of experts in elaboration of development strategies and analysis of scenarios for socio-economic policies aimed at achieving MDGs.
"The model covers the entire economy and allows to prepare analytical materials for development of coherent macro-economic, social policies and strategies, correlation between macro-indicators and social indicators: it provides an opportunity to assess what is needed to achieve the set goals, to see if we know how much it will cost us and if we are able to achieve the goals in the set or desired timeframe, if we fund the development strategy properly, what the effect of the reforms may be, the impact on economic growth/decline, the impact on employment, how optimization of sectors can be done in terms of limited resources for maintenance of macroeconomic balance, the impact of growth/decline in public spending on achievement of results, etc." says Zina Batyrbekova, Head of Department for economic analysis and forecast under the Ministry of Economy and Anti-trust Policy.
Having adopted the Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000, Kyrgyzstan, like most of the international community, expressed its commitment and assumed obligations to address eight key socio-economic challenges. However, despite the economic and social progress, achievement of some of the goals related to primary education, healthcare and access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation, requires additional funding. In conditions of unstable economic growth, external risks, rising prices for food and raw materials, rapid decrease in demand for export products and others, it is necessary to be better prepared to predict and respond to risks in order to avoid negative impacts on human development. This requires strengthening analytical capacity of government officials in Kyrgyzstan in elaboration of development strategies and estimates of future costs for different scenarios of country development.
"In my opinion, these courses are very useful for socially-oriented governmental officials. For example, it can help predict the impact of a law on improvement or deterioration of the target groups on the stage of developing bills", - said Cholpon Kalmyrzaeva, Data collection and analysis department Head under the Ministry of Social Development of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Training is conducted in the framework of UN Economic and Social Affairs Dimension (UN-DESA/DPAD) intervention in cooperation with UNDP to strengthen the capacity of key ministries and agencies of Kyrgyzstan. This initiative has been implemented since 2009.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) works closely with people at all levels of society, helping to build nations that can withstand crisis, manage and maintain economic growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. Being present in 177 countries, we can offer a global perspective and deep understanding of local specificity to help create new opportunities and build viable nations.
