Empowering Sustainable Living: Green Solutions for Housing Challenges in Kyrgyzstan

In Bishkek and Osh, rapid population growth has outpaced the government’s capacity to provide essential services such as housing, water, sanitation, healthcare, and education. Approximately 35% of the city's population consists of internal migrants who reside on the outskirts of the capital.

Compounding these challenges is Bishkek’s severe air pollution, which topped the World Air Quality Index between 2021 to 2023. The reliance on coal for indoor heating in low-income households has significantly contributed to hazardous Particulate Matter (PM) levels of 2.5m, and this worrying trend is creating a public health emergency.

Safe, sustainable, and affordable housing has been a topic of concern for many families living in homes that are far from being energy-efficient and climate-resilient, thus increasing vulnerability to health and environmental risks. By 2050, it is projected that around 200,000 people in Kyrgyzstan will migrate internally due to the impact of climate change, further straining urban infrastructure and exacerbating risks to migrants’ well-being.

In the face of an urgent need for sustainable and innovative solutions, the International Organization for Migration (IOM Kyrgyzstan) has launched a new project to develop standardized, pre-approved, cost-efficient, environmentally sustainable, and climate-resilient construction plans. These green renovation designs have been developed to improve the quality of housing and to enhance energy efficiency and combat air pollution.

Bermet Moldobaeva, Head of Office at the International Organization for Migration (IOM Kyrgyzstan), explained the significance of this ground-breaking project. “Unfortunately, not everyone builds energy-efficient houses, nor can everyone afford to hire an expensive architectural firm to design a house for them. The project’s ambition is to assist households in achieving energy-efficient homes and improving environmental standards in our towns and cities.”

The project began in 2023 with a working group meeting that brought together national partners from various ministries and city authorities to enhance communication and foster the inclusion of internal migrants in the environmental problem-solving process.

IOM Kyrgyzstan, together with the Union of Architects and the Non-Governmental Organization Unison Group, invited architects to create climate-resilient and earthquake-resistant home designs. Out of 16 submissions, a jury of experts selected the top three based on the design’s energy efficiency, sustainability and affordability.

The State Agency for Architecture, Construction and Housing, and Communal Services (Gosstroy) will make the selected designs publicly available, providing migrants and low-income families with the support needed to implement green construction practices and renovation initiatives for adequate housing while enabling them to contribute to national climate goals.

As part of the ongoing efforts, IOM Kyrgyzstan has begun the process of renovating 12 of the most vulnerable households, led by women in Bishkek and Osh. These green renovation pilot schemes aim to empower the women as role models within their communities.

“Living in this house with my three children has been a struggle. We did not have the resources to insulate it, and the winter is harsh here. The wind cuts through our bones, and my children suffer from constant illnesses. This land is all I have inherited from my mother, but we could never afford to build a better house. When I learned about the joint IOM Kyrgyzstan and Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Migration’s initiative, I felt a surge of hope. I applied immediately, hoping that they would consider my situation as a woman-led household. And they did!” - explains Nazira, one of the project’s beneficiaries in Bishkek.

Moving forward, the project will train Gosstroy’s regional offices on energy-efficient heating, safe water supply, and ventilation. Additionally, it will conduct awareness campaigns to promote sustainable practices.

The goal is that, through this novel and comprehensive approach to addressing housing challenges in Kyrgyzstan, the pilot project can be used as a template for other regions facing similar issues. Cross-cutting priorities to improve housing stock aims to achieve environmental sustainability equality, diversity, and inclusion as key enablers to address the needs of housing security to achieve a more sustainable future.