EU projects with the Kyrgyz Republic

European Union projects in the Kyrgyz Republic focus on Governance and Digital Transformation, Human Development, and Green and Climate Resilient Economy, in line with the priority areas of the Multiannual Indicative Programme for Kyrgyz Republic 2021-2027 and supports the implementation of the four regional Global Gateway priorities in the Kyrgyz Republic – the development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, Digital Connectivity, Critical Raw Material, as well as the Team Europe Initiative Water, Energy, Climate in Central Asia.  
FOCAL Sectors: 

Governance and Digital Transformation

The EU prioritizes Rule of Law and Governance in Kyrgyz Republic, focusing on digital transformation and legal frameworks to ensure a free and fair democracy.

The EU's priorities for 2021-2027 within the Governance and Digital Transformation are:

• Promoting the Rule of Law
• Improving good governance
• Building effective and non-discriminatory digitalization.

To advance judiciary and prosecution independence and to support Kyrgyzstan in its ambitious justice sector reform, the EU continues to address areas such as e-courts and e-probation. Other intervention areas are the development of digital policies such as a regulatory framework for data protection, e-services, e-governance and e-justice with legal and human rights safeguards in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Digitalisation Sector Reform Performance Contract-2    

EUR 20 million, 2026–2029 

Budget support and technical assistance to foster fair, inclusive and confident digital development across the country in alignment with the Digital Transformation Concept 2024-2028.
•    Constructive policy and social dialogue: Strengthened dialogue and cooperation among digital transformation stakeholders.
•    Improved policy performance and monitoring: Enhanced sector policy implementation, performance, and monitoring systems.
•    Stronger institutional capacity: Digital development duty bearers equipped with the capacities needed to advance and sustain an inclusive and fair digital transformation.
•    Reduced digital and geographic divides: Improved access to digital infrastructure, services, and opportunities across regions and population groups.
•    Enhanced digital data exchange: By 2029, at least 145 state and 12 municipal information systems, representing 90% of all information systems, are integrated and participating in digital data exchange.
•    More inclusive access to digital services: More than 1 million new users have registered for digital services since 2025.
•    Stronger data protection: Government-led IT audits are effectively implemented, at least 50% of IT-Audit measures to eliminate data protection violations are executed;
•    Improved government cybersecurity: Cybersecurity standards are approved, and at least 15% of state and municipal employees are trained and certified in cybersecurity.

Justice Sector Reform and Digitalisation in the Kyrgyz Republic 

EUR 8 million, 2026-2030

Support to advance people-centred justice through human rights-based digitalisation, institutional strengthening, and more inclusive, fair and accountable criminal justice systems. Implemented by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
• Criminal justice processes are more efficient, transparent and accountable through human rights-based digitalisation and strengthened institutions.
• Access to justice is broadened through more effective and inclusive criminal justice services.
• Human rights and gender-responsive approaches are integrated across justice sector policies, processes and services. 

Human Development

The EU supports education and skills development, including formal and non-formal primary and secondary education and access to education for all. In this framework, the priorities are:

• Supporting inclusive and equitable quality education, enabling more children to achieve Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics proficiency (STEAM) , eliminating gender-blindness in new materials, and involving children with disabilities in the learning process
• Advancing digital skills development enabling to increase the number of teachers and students trained in Information and Communication Technology skills (ICT)
• Developing media literacy, enabling systematic media literacy training for teachers and students
• Promoting green skills development, enabling green skills training for both teachers and students

The EU continues prioritizing gender equality, including ending violence against women and girls, promoting political participation, supporting youth empowerment and respecting human rights for minorities. Actions in this field include fight against discrimination, reducing the gap in employment rates, empowering CSOs and ensuring open media.

Education Sector Reform Performance Contract   

EUR 32 million, 2023-2026

Budget support and technical assistance to improve educational quality, promote gender equality and multilingual education, and implement the Education Development Strategy 2040.
•    Constructive policy and social dialogue: Strengthened dialogue and cooperation among education stakeholders.
•    Improved policy performance and monitoring: Enhanced sector policy implementation, performance, and monitoring systems.
•    Stronger institutional capacity: Education duty bearers equipped with the capacity to maintain inclusive and quality education.
•    Gender-responsive education: Gender stereotypes are reduced in new teaching and learning materials, while positive and balanced representations of girls and boys are promoted. All new educational standards, curricula, and teaching materials developed and approved between 2022 and 2026 are gender responsive.
•    Multilingual education: Multilingual education is integrated into pre-service teacher training. By 2026, at least 4 colleges and 6 higher education institutions (HEIs) across the country implement pre-service teacher training programmes for multilingual preschool and primary education.
•    Digital literacy: The quality of teaching and learning for digital literacy in schools is strengthened, with at least 24% of school teachers trained and certified in digital literacy during 2023–2024.
•    Media literacy: Media literacy is integrated into the new “Human and Society” subject standard for Grade 7. At least 30% of teachers teaching the subject are trained and certified during 2023–2025.
•    Green transition and sustainability: Green economy and climate change are integrated into the new “Natural Science” subject standard for Grade 5, with at least 15% of Natural Science teachers trained and certified during 2023–2025.
The support includes a EUR 2 million twinning project that provides expertise from the EU Member States to foster development of inclusive and equitable quality education as well as improvement of digital, media and green skills.
 

Support to the Human Rights Mechanisms in the Kyrgyz Republic 

EUR 3 million, 2025-2028

Support to strengthen human rights protection in the Kyrgyz Republic by increasing the effectiveness of the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) against torture and the Ombudsperson Institute. Implemented by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
• The National Preventive Mechanism is strengthened: its technical, analytical and communication capacities are enhanced to prevent torture and ill-treatment.
• The Ombudsperson Institute is strengthened: institutional and technical capacities are enhanced, including in line with the Paris Principles.
• Implementation of human rights commitments is supported: capacity to monitor and support the implementation of selected GSP+ relevant conventions is increased.
• Human rights protection is made more effective: stronger institutions and improved coordination contribute to better protection and promotion of human rights in the Kyrgyz Republic.
 

Action Now Results Now - Women and Youth organizations lead transformative actions to eliminate violence against women and girls in the Kyrgyz Republic 

EUR 2.5 million, 2025-2028

Support to strengthen human rights protection, combat gender-based violence and empower youth organisations and civil society in the Kyrgyz Republic. Implemented by the UN WOMEN.
• Women’s human rights organisations and civil society are empowered: organisations, social movements and other civil society actors strengthen their capacity and influence to prevent and end gender-based violence.
• Local action is strengthened: support reaches all 7 oblasts and 35 targeted communities and cities, involving 140 organisations and groups and engaging more than 1,400 local champions.
• Civil society networks are strengthened: wider engagement reaches more than 1,200 organisations and 6,000 actors across the 7 regions and 35 targeted communities.
• National-level engagement is strengthened: cooperation with more than 20 central-level institutions supports a stronger enabling environment for human rights and the prevention of gender-based violence.

Strong Youth, Strong Country 

EUR 1.8 million, 2025-2028

Support to empower young people and youth organisations with the skills, knowledge and opportunities to address youth-related issues, promote human rights, and advance inclusion and gender equality in the Kyrgyz Republic. Implemented by the UNCIEF. 
• Youth organisations are strengthened: youth-led and youth-focused organisations and movements develop their skills, networks and capacity to advocate for young people’s rights and priorities.
• Young people participate in decision-making: 1,000 adolescents and young people aged 14–25 are directly engaged, including youth leaders, volunteers and young people facing barriers linked to migration, ethnicity, disability or other vulnerabilities.
• School-based youth movements are established: 45 adolescent groups are created in schools across 5 target locations, engaging 540 adolescents aged 14–18.
• Digital literacy and online safety are promoted: young people gain practical skills to navigate digital spaces safely and participate in online civic engagement.
• Youth-led solutions and campaigns are supported: young people develop initiatives addressing issues affecting their communities, including through digital storytelling, U-Report, social media and youth-led campaigns.
• Youth networks and peer engagement are expanded: direct participants reach an estimated 20,000 young people aged 14–25 through peer-to-peer activities, with wider awareness-raising reaching approximately 2 million young people.
• Inclusion and gender equality are promoted: girl-led organisations, young people with disabilities and other underrepresented groups are supported to participate and develop solutions to challenges affecting young people.
 

Green and Climate Resilient Economy

The EU supports environmentally friendly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) allowing to create decent jobs and fostering growth, particularly among women and youth, and integrated water resource management and biodiversity protection in the Kyrgyz Republic. Main priorities in this field are:

• Supporting business development for innovative and green solutions
• Supporting the national authorities to defining and adopting green tools and incentives
• Supporting movements to combat climate and environmental change
• Promoting integrated water resource management

The EU intervention focuses on supporting SMEs in green areas such as sustainable energy, resource efficiency, waste recycling, circular economy, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Special attention is also given to enhancing the advocacy capacity of CSOs to promote the green economy at the national and local levels.

Water Sector Reform Performance Contract 

EUR 17 million, 2025-2028

Budget support and technical assistance to promote an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach, complementing current and forthcoming EFSD+ investments in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and irrigation.
• Groundwater resources are better monitored: the hydrogeological network is assessed and certified, including an inventory of 2,000 wells.
• Surface water monitoring is strengthened: the hydrological network is assessed and certified, with 10 hydrological posts modernised or newly established.
• Irrigation systems are digitalised: digital maps and a database covering 100% of irrigation systems are implemented.
• Water users are registered through digital systems: a Unified Water Information System (UWIS) is introduced, including a pilot e-database covering 100% of water users.
• Basin-level water management is strengthened: 5 Basin Organisations develop and implement Basin Plans and Action Plans, with corresponding budgets approved by the National Water and Land Council or the Cabinet of Ministers.

Support to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) 2025-2029

The EU is committed to strengthening the Kyrgyz civil society’s ability to reach, empower and represent local populations and protect their rights. 
By supporting CSOs as actors of governance, the EU promotes sustainable growth and social service delivery, as well as human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment, and fundamental freedoms in general. The EU's support to the Kyrgyz CSOs has contributed to tackling social discrimination, promoting freedom of expression, advancing digital skills among youth, women and local communities, and fostering socio-economic development in the regions.

Amplify: A Model for Civil Society Collaboration on Local to National Solutions in Kyrgyzstan

EUR 1.2 million, 2025-2028

The intervention supports innovative, evidence-based and civil society-led solutions to local development challenges, strengthening collaboration between civil society, public institutions, communities and other local actors.
• Stronger collaborative relationships: 60% of diverse civil society, community, and national actors report strengthened collaborative relationships at both local and national levels.
• Shared identification of challenges and opportunities: 60% of targeted civil society, community, and national actors identify shared challenges and opportunities for addressing local development challenges.
• Greater civic action: An increased proportion of civil society actors take action to address local development issues that matter to their communities.
• Improved access to evidence and learning: 60% of targeted CSOs/CBOs have increased access to relevant, high-quality evidence and learning, enabling them to effectively promote social cohesion, democratic values, and inclusive development.

EMPATY - Empowered Civil Society Organisations and Multi-stakeholder Partnerships for Active and Prosperous Civil Society and Young Generation in the Kyrgyz Republic 

EUR 1.1 million, 2026-2028 

The intervention supports the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in promoting inclusive dialogue and active citizen participation in the social and economic life of Kyrgyzstan, with a particular focus on young women and men in rural areas.
• Strengthened CSO capacities: CSOs strengthen their capacity to provide services and respond effectively to the socio-economic needs of young women and men.
• Entrepreneurship and community development: CSOs implement social and business-oriented community activities that create and promote entrepreneurial opportunities for young women and men.
• Inclusive policy and decision-making: Multi-stakeholder approaches and platforms promote inclusive participation in policy development and decision-making.
• Enhanced youth capacities: A dedicated capacity-building module strengthens employability, civic participation, and social responsibility among young people.
• Gender equality and women's empowerment: CSOs promote inclusive dialogue on gender equality and women's empowerment.
       

INCLUSION: Policy Dialogues for Inclusive Education and Employment Practices 

EUR 842 000, 2025-2028

The intervention aims to strengthen evidence-based policy modernisation and improve the delivery of quality, accessible education and employment-related public services for vulnerable adults and young people.
• Stronger evidence and data capacity: Strengthen CSO networks’ capacities in data collection, analysis, and evidence generation.
• Inclusive policy dialogue: Enhance CSOs’ capacity to facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues that support evidence-based policy development and modifications.
• Modernised policy frameworks: Support the development and adoption of framework policy documents on adult education and inclusion.
• Expanded CSO contribution to public services: Increase the contribution of CSOs to the provision of education and employment-related public services and opportunities for vulnerable adults and youth.

Pathways for Change - Enhancing Civic Space and Human Rights Protection in Kyrgyzstan

EUR 968 000, 2025-2028

The intervention aims to enhance Civil Society Organisations’ (CSOs’) contribution to evidence-based policy modernisation and to the delivery of quality, accessible education and employment-related public services for vulnerable adults and young people.
• Strengthened data and evidence capacity: CSO networks strengthen their capacity in data collection, analysis, and evidence generation.
• Enhanced multi-stakeholder dialogue: CSOs strengthen their capacity to facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues that support evidence-based policy development and reform.
• Improved policy frameworks: Framework policy documents on adult education and inclusion are developed and adopted.
• Expanded CSO role in public services: CSOs increase their contribution to the provision of accessible education and employment-related public services and opportunities for vulnerable adults and youth.
 

Youth Sail: Supporting civil society at promoting human rights and democracy in regions of Kyrgyz Republic 

EUR 780 000, 2026-2029

YOUTH SAIL aims to strengthen democratic resilience in the Kyrgyz Republic by building a locally rooted, rights-based environment in which young people and grassroots Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) — particularly women-led organisations and actors in underserved regions — have the knowledge, tools, and support structures to advance human rights and fundamental freedoms in practical, community-based ways.
Through a dual-track approach, the project strengthens the capacity of young human rights educators while supporting CSOs to become better equipped and more responsive. It seeks to expand access to human rights education, foster meaningful youth participation, and establish lasting networks and resources that can sustain learning and cooperation both online and offline.
• Strengthen youth human rights education: Build the human rights education competencies of young people, particularly young women from diverse regions across Kyrgyzstan, enabling them to design and lead peer-learning activities and local initiatives in their communities.
• Strengthen grassroots and women-led CSOs: Support grassroots and women-led CSOs to adopt rights-based approaches and enhance their organisational development, advocacy, and partnership capacities.
• Build sustainable networks and resources: Institutionalise knowledge-sharing and cooperation through a Kyrgyz Trainers’ Guild, a regional interface, a practical methodology book, and an open digital platform, helping sustain learning and collaboration beyond the project.