Joint Strategic Coordination Committee Meeting 2025

Yntymak Ordo, 11 June at 3 PM

Excellency, Mr. Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers,
Honorable Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Distinguished Representatives of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic,
Esteemed colleagues from the United Nations system,

It is a privilege to open this third meeting of the Joint Strategic Coordination Committee on behalf of the United Nations family and its 27 agencies, funds and programs—an important milestone in our partnership and our shared commitment to sustainable development in Kyrgyzstan. In this spirit, we particularly look forward to today’s endorsement of the updated Joint Work Plans for 2025 which drive the implementation of the five-year strategic UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. 

I extend my sincere appreciation to all ministries, State agencies, partners, and UN colleagues for your leadership in identifying shared priorities and aligning our priorities with the Government’s national development policies and strategies.

Building on the momentum of the 2023 SDG Summit and the Pact for the Future adopted in 2024 by world leaders including President Japarov, the UN system in Kyrgyzstan focused in 2024 on advancing some of the six SDG accelerators identified by the UN Secretary-General. These are food systems, digital connectivity, education, jobs and social protection, and climate action. Overall, the UN implemented over 180 projects, programs, and initiatives across all four priority areas of the Cooperation Framework—delivering tangible results in social sectors, green economic development, climate resilience, and governance, peace and human rights. Guided by the principle of leaving no one behind, the UN provided contextualized policy expertise, capacity-building, and targeted technical support, amounting to USD 57.3 million, to support Kyrgyzstan in achieving its development ambitions and translating global commitments into inclusive and locally relevant action. 

A growing share of the work was implemented through joint programs that leverage shared capacities and coordinated planning, while also drawing on UN and global financing mechanisms such as the SDG Fund, the Peacebuilding Fund, and the UN Joint Program “Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”

Looking ahead, it is encouraging that Kyrgyzstan’s Second Voluntary National Review—to be presented at the High-Level Political Forum in July in New York—will highlight key priorities of the newly adopted 2030 National Development Strategy, including the renewed commitment to poverty reduction and sustainable development. These priorities are now firmly reflected in our Joint Work Plans, providing a strategic basis for targeted action and investment. At the same time, the UN Country Team remains committed to supporting Kyrgyzstan in advancing a strong normative agenda, grounded in the principles of the UN Charter.

However, these ambitions come at a time of fiscal constraint. Since 2023, global funding for UN development activities has declined by over 20 percent, and Kyrgyzstan is not immune to these trends. Additionally, most of the funding received by the UN system at country-level is now earmarked for specific themes or regions, limiting our flexibility. Core funding—the most adaptable form of support, allowing the UN to respond swiftly to Government priorities—has dropped significantly, from $10.1 million in 2024 to just $5.6 million in 2025. To remain effective, the UN will need to secure more predictable and unearmarked funding to support integrated solutions in agreed priority areas.

We therefore encourage the Government to continue its leadership in using the UN as a trusted multilateral platform for development cooperation and to advocate for flexible core funding in line with the 2024 Funding Compact, agreed by the General Assembly. In parallel, we are actively working to diversify financing sources—exploring Islamic finance, private capital, and scale up pooled funding mechanisms such as the proposed Conservation Trust Fund. These instruments aim to deliver strategic, predictable and flexible funding while promoting integrated action and reducing transaction costs. 

Dear participants,

With the new 2030 National Development Program, we have a new blueprint to guide our work. The UN Country Team in Kyrgyzstan is fully engaged in supporting the implementation of the Program through the current Cooperation Framework. Together, we will continue to identify priority areas, incorporate the outcomes of the VNR and NDC 3.0, and drive SDG acceleration—guided by the principle of leaving no one behind.

As we approach the 2026 evaluation of the current UNSDCF and begin preparations for the next Cooperation Framework beyond 2027, we will continue building on what works: joint programming, pooled funding, and all closely aligned with national priorities—delivering coherently, efficiently, and impactfully.

Thank you for your continued trust and collaboration.

Chon Rakhmat.