Statement by the UNRC in the Kyrgyz Republic, Ms. Antje Grawe at the Opening of the National Development Forum 2025

It is a great honor to open this year’s National Development Forum alongside the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, and to speak on behalf of the United Nations system in the Kyrgyz Republic, strongly represented here today in full force.

I would like to start by congratulating the Presidential Administration for convening this year’s Forum, organized for the first time fully under  the Government’s leadership. By now an annual tradition, it is testimony to Kyrgyzstan’s strong ownership of its development agenda and its openness for dialogue with partners alike, both essential to achieving the ambitions of the National Development Programme 2030 (NPD).

I would also like to commend the Government for the vision put forward in the National Development Programme. It is a bold and ambitious Programme which reflects the Government’s strong commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Agenda 2030. As United Nations, we particularly welcome that it places people at the heart of national progress, recognizing that sustainable development relies on investments in human potential and the vision that every person can both contribute to and benefit from the country’s development.

I would also like to recognize the Government’s efforts to engage multiple stakeholders in a consultative manner in the development of both the Programme and its Action Plan, involving all of Government as well as civil society, academia, the private sector, and the international community.

The United Nations system had the privilege of accompanying the Government in the development of the Programme, providing analytical inputs and global experience — from aligning SDG indicators and targets to integrating the outcomes and recommendations of Kyrgyzstan’s 2025 Voluntary National Review into the Action Plan, to providing a social sector financing analysis and facilitating the incorporation of relevant climate adaptation and mitigation measures derived from the recently adopted Updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) into the National Development Programme.

Distinguished Participants,

The NDP 2030 builds on the notable progress Kyrgyzstan has achieved in recent years — progress that was also captured in that second Voluntary National Review, the country’s stock-take of its advancement toward the SDGs, presented at the High-Level Political Forum in New York earlier this year.

It highlighted important gains: poverty reduction, stronger social services, improvements in digitalization and governance, and progress on gender equality. It also reaffirmed the national ambition to be among the thirty top-performing countries in SDG achievement by 2030, an objective reflected in the National Development Programme, together with the goal to reach upper-middle-income status by 2030.

Dear Colleagues,

Meeting that ambition requires continued focus on several interconnected areas that are central to translating the NDP 2030 into tangible results for the country´s 7 million people.  Allow me to highlight four of them:

First, Kyrgyzstan’s path towards poverty and inequality eradication and future prosperity rests on strong and inclusive social systems — education, health and social protection that reach and empower all.  Going forward, efforts will need to concentrate on expanding social-welfare coverage for vulnerable groups, including for children and women, and making systems more responsive to shocks to ensure better protection in times of crisis, among other.

Second, investment in human capital development as a key driver for the successful implementation of the NPD is essential.

With nearly half of the population under 25, equipping young women and men with the skills, opportunities, and voice to contribute is critical.  Investing in youth, gender equality, and inclusion is therefore both a social and an economic imperative. The Government’s commitment to improving learning outcomes is clearly reflected in the UN-supported Altyn Kazyk education reform program, which seeks to build a more competitive and skilled workforce. The upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, where Kyrgyzstan will host a side event on human capital development, will offer an important platform to advance investments in education and other key dimensions of human development. Building on this momentum, the United Nations, together with the Government and partners, will convene a national dialogue to follow-up to the Summit to embed human capital development systematically in the 2030 Programme’s Action Plan and enable focused efforts.

Third, climate resilience stands as a defining pillar of the people-centered 2030 National Development Programme, recognizing that protecting people’s lives, livelihoods and the environment including the country’s rich biodiversity is crucial for the country’s long term development.

The recent adoption of Kyrgyzstan’s third generation of Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement is a major milestone in this regard. Developed in close partnership with the UN system, these NDC 3.0 targets guide both mitigation and adaptation efforts through 2035.

The United Nations will continue to support their realization through improved climate data and services, early-warning and anticipatory action, and community-based initiatives that build resilience and protect livelihoods — particularly in mountain regions most vulnerable to climate impacts, and in support of the Government’s mountain agenda. 

Fourth, a green economy transition is vital for people-centered development, as it connects environmental sustainability with better livelihoods and long-term economic resilience. In partnership with the Government, the United Nations is supporting a national just transition pathway — including sectoral job-impact assessments in energy, heating, and transport; reskilling and apprenticeships for women and youth; and support for Small and Medium Size Enterprises and cooperatives to integrate them into green value chains.

Yet, progress in all these areas requires several broader enablers that can translate ambition into results for people. These include:

First, demographic dynamics are shaping Kyrgyzstan’s development path. Investing in gender-responsive education, youth skills, employability, and human-centered migration management is essential for sustained growth and social stability.

Second, inclusive governance, civic space and ensuring human rights for all are other critical enablers. Transparent institutions, evidence-based policymaking, civic participation and freedom of the media foster trust and ensure that policies reflect the needs and aspirations of all citizens. The United Nations continues to support efforts to strengthen public administration, improve data systems, and advance broader institutional capacities for participatory and accountable decision-making. We also support the Government in meeting its international human rights commitments with the aim of ensuring that human rights and the benefits of development are enjoyed by every person in the Kyrgyz Republic, irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, age, religion, political opinion, disability or other status.

Third, private-sector-led growth will be central to driving competitiveness and prosperity. A dynamic private sector can create decent work, innovation, and economic diversification — providing the foundation for long-term prosperity and fiscal sustainability. Fostering entrepreneurship, and strengthening the business environment conducive to private domestic and foreign investments will be essential to transform economic potential into tangible opportunities for people.

Finally, partnerships — for knowledge transfer and financing.  Achieving the ambition of the NDP 2030 requires strong and inclusive partnerships across society and with international partners alike. These partnerships also need to generate adequate and predictable financing. This means mobilizing domestic resources alongside international support, and exploring innovative and sustainable finance mechanisms, including Debt-for-Development mechanisms, to expand fiscal space for sustainable development. As the UN system stands ready to assist the Government in identifying such instruments and leveraging partnerships,  I wish to invite Kyrgyzstan’s development partners to join the Government’s call in this regard.

Excellencies, colleagues,

To support Kyrgyzstan in implementing the NDP 2030, the United Nations will continue bringing together its technical expertise, international experience, and convening power — all grounded in global norms and standards — helping connect national priorities with the partnerships, evidence, and capacities needed to turn ambition into results for people. In this context, we also stand ready to continue engaging in making donor coordination stronger - and government led - including through the Development Partners Coordination Council, which I co-chair together with my colleague from the ADB, to help ensure that all partners work together behind one national vision.

And it also means alignment of our updated Joint Work Plans with the National Development Program 2030 and its Action Plan. Equally the next UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2028–2032 will be guided by this premise.

Your Excellency, colleagues,

The National Development Programme 2030 reflects a shared vision of an inclusive, green, and resilient Kyrgyzstan.

We look forward to working with the Government and the people of Kyrgyzstan in turning this vision into tangible progress for every person.

Thank you!