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 116

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.


Adaptive and Resilient Communities in their Habitat Project (ARCH)

01.09.2022 - 31.08.2032

The project aims at supporting the remote mountainous communities of Pamirs and authorities in developing resilient habitat and improving people's livelihoods in Tajikistan. This will be achieved through reducing vulnerabilities to natural hazards while strengthening participative disaster risk governance as well as joint definition and implementation of relevant risk reduction measures.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Tajikistan
Climate change and environment
Employment & economic development
Disaster risk reduction DRR
Employment creation

01.09.2022 - 31.08.2032


CHF  6’600’000



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.


Medical Education Reform

01.09.2021 - 31.08.2024

The project is improving the quality of health services through well-trained health professionals. The exit phase will strengthen professional associations, modernize nursing education and establish an independent competency assessment centre. The Ministry of Health and Social Development delegated the competency development and assessment role to the Professional Associations, which are the key partners to implement the project’s interventions.


Access to Justice project in Tajikistan

01.07.2021 - 31.07.2025

This exit phase of the Access to Justice (A2J) in Tajikistan will solidify the free public legal aid system to vulnerable individuals with respect to their legal claims (e.g. child allowances, spouse support etc.). It will also entirely transmit the aid system to the state budget and to the institutional management by the Ministry of Justice of Tajikistan in order to achieve full financial sustainability of access to Justice for the most vulnerable ones.


Weather, water and climate services for resilient rural livelihoods and wellbeing in Tajikistan Project (WWCS)

01.06.2021 - 31.05.2025

The project is providing efficient weather, water and climate services for the rural population of Tajikistan, especially those highly vulnerable to climate change, and it will contribute to the improvement of their livelihoods and resilience. As a result, people in the project area will use accurate/timely forecasts and improve agricultural productivity, hence guarantee food security, effectively manage irrigation water and reduce vulnerability to hazards.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Tajikistan
Climate change and environment
Agriculture & food security
Meteorological services
Disaster risk reduction DRR
Household food security

01.06.2021 - 31.05.2025


CHF  3’100’000



Cryospheric Observation and Modelling for improved Adaptation in Central Asia (CROMO-ADAPT)

01.04.2021 - 31.12.2025

Climate change in Central Asia mountain regions will have significant impacts on water availability and occurrence of natural hazards. This project strengthens the glacier, snow and permafrost monitoring systems and capacities in Central Asia, develops user-oriented climate information services, and supports the planning of adaptation measures to increase resilience to climate change. The project builds on Swiss expertise in monitoring and adaptation in alpine water and disaster risk management.


Sustainable Economic Development: ph. 02

01.03.2021 - 31.05.2023

In the southern provinces of Kyrgyzstan, many households are still excluded from economic activities and depend on remittances. The current Covid-19 pandemic further weakens these families. The project will improve the quality of agricultural products and develop new market opportunities to increase the resilience of target groups. Best practices from phase 1 will be scaled up to other regions.

Object 1 – 12 of 116