UN RC Statement on the Anniversary of Development Cooperation, UNDP with the Kyrgyz Republic

22 November 2022

Excellency, Deputy Chair of the Cabinet of Ministers,

Dear Louise, UNDP Resident Representative, and colleagues from UNDP,

Ambassadors and representatives of the diplomatic corps,

Distinguished development partners,

Members of the UN Country Team,

Dear Friends,

It is my great pleasure to be with you tonight to mark the 30th Anniversary of the signing of the Assistance Agreement between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, and I would like to join His Excellency, the Deputy Chair of the Cabinet of Ministers, in his appreciation of UNDP’s important contribution as part of the UN System’s overall support to the development aspirations of the Government and the people of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Congratulations to you, dear Louise, and your fabulous team, in our own functions and as representatives of the many UNDP colleagues who have served in Kyrgyzstan over these last 30 years, for the numerous achievements and contributions, across sectors and segments of society, to alleviate poverty, strengthen the country’s effective governance and rule of law, promote an equitable society by focusing on gender equality and supporting vulnerable groups, and build a green and sustainable economy based on human creativity, innovation and digital technologies, to mention just a few areas.

This jubilant occasion takes place within the framework of this year’s  30th Anniversary of the Kyrgyz Republic’s membership in the United Nations, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our national and international partners for the long-term partnership and cooperation, which over the last 30 years has grown and deepened on the basis of trust, shared responsibility and a strong commitment to the values of the UN Charter and to achieve first the Millennium Development Goals and now the Sustainable Development Goals.

I am extremely proud to note that during these 30 years the UN family in the country with the current 26 UN entities has been supporting Kyrgyzstan in addressing the complexity of development challenges, which, more than ever, requires a strong and efficient collective UN system in full sync with priorities determined at the national level, cognizant of regional and global opportunities and challenges.

In this context, the UN Development System underwent very significant and comprehensive reforms in 2018 to enable the UN to become even more responsive to the needs of national governments and societies as they seek to consolidate their national development priorities and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in this Decade of Action.

With the UN reforms, UNDP’s technical leadership role has been further strengthened and focused in areas such as socioeconomic (green) development, digitalization, climate action, governance, and peace building. A strong UNDP that helps integrate the work and expertise of the specialized UN agencies, funds and programmes remains essential for effectiveness, delivery and contribution of the whole UN system – and UNDP in Kyrgyzstan under Louise’s leadership has done exactly this, and I am very grateful to her and her team for continuing to work in the spirit of the UN reforms and helping to amplify the UN’s effectiveness in supporting the Kyrgyzstan’s national development priorities.

In June this year, the United Nations and the Kyrgyz Government have signed the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, which is the key strategic document that guides the work of all UN development system entities in the Kyrgyz Republic over the next five years (2023 – 2027). The Framework has been developed through a series of consultations with the Government, private sector, civil society and international partners, and is fully aligned with the national development agenda.

This is our joint commitment to long term, sustainable development of the country, which complements the agility of the UN system to help respond in times of crises, including through the Emergency Response Plan we are currently implementing to cover the most pressing humanitarian needs of the affected population in Batken.

It also provides the framework for UN agencies working closely together in supporting the country in the implementation of its human rights commitments as well as other international agreements and commitments, including for example the outcome of the recently concluded global climate conference or the follow-up to the Transforming Education Summit convened by the Secretary-General in the margins of this year’s General Assembly.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, Kyrgyzstan faces unprecedented development challenges - the global context and events in the region have generated formidable challenges in terms of rising costs of living, increasing unemployment and growing poverty, with the effects of climate change potentially further exacerbating these challenges.

In this situation, as a UN System, we are stepping up to the challenge and accompany the country in exploring opportunities to bring the achievement of the SDGs back within reach.

UNDP will remain central in these endeavors – through research and policy support, and its focus on development finance, digitalization, and innovation as key components of a future-oriented and innovation-driven development cooperation in the priority areas identified as the basis of the UN system’s partnership with the Kyrgyz Government and the people.

I look forward to working with UNDP and the whole UN system on further deepening this partnership.

Thank you!