Aga Khan Development Network Representation for the Kyrgyz Republic

Founded and guided by His Highness the Aga Khan, Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) brings together a number of international development agencies, institutions and programs that work primarily in Central and South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. AKDN focuses on health, education, culture, rural development, institution-building and the promotion of economic development, particularly of mountain regions and is dedicated to improving living conditions and opportunities for the poor, without regard to their faith, origin or gender. 

Social Development (http://www.akdn.org/kyrgyz_republic_social.asp) 

Education

The University of Central Asia (UCA) (www.ucentralasia.org ) was founded in 2000 by the governments of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, and His Highness the Aga Khan to promote the socio-economic development of Central Asia, especially its mountain communities. The Treaty and Charter establishing this secular and private University were signed by the Presidents, ratified by the respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations. 

UCA will offer an internationally recognized standard of education and develop knowledgeable, skilled and creative graduates who will contribute ideas and innovations to tackle the regions socio-economic and cultural challenges. 
UCA is constructing campuses in: Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic; Tekeli, Kazakhstan; and Khorog, Tajikistan. Each will provide state of the art classrooms, laboratories and libraries, residential and sport facilities to over 750 students, faculty and staff with an integrated role for information technology. Once construction is complete, UCA will launch undergraduate and graduate programmes. 

The School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) (http://www.ucentralasia.org/spce.htm) is UCA's first operational educational programme, offering professional and vocational education to improve employment and income generating opportunities for adults and youth. Established in 2006, SPCE Naryn has enrolled some 4,000 learners in English, accounting, IT, tourism, entrepreneurship and apprenticeship-based vocational programme focused on construction. A new three-storey building is being constructed in Naryn with adjacent vocational training facilities to strengthen SPCE's capacity to provide educational services to the community.

Other major academic programmes offered by UCA are: 

The Aga Khan Humanities Project (AKHP)
AKHP is a partnership with 9 Kyrgyz universities and lyceums, engaging some 30 instructors and 2,000 students. The courses are supported by eight original textbooks produced through an intellectual collaboration of regional and international scholars. The Project has an office in Osh.

UCA's Research Programme ranges from natural resource management to Central Asian musical traditions in mountain environments. The Programme is developing a large data archive that will be made available to researchers. UCA is also home to the Swiss government's National Center for Competency in Research for Central Asia.

The Central Asian Faculty Development Programme (CAFDP) (http://www.ucentralasia.org/cafdp.htm) offers aspiring scholars from the region the opportunity to pursue doctoral studies at international universities to ensure that scholars from Central Asia with top international academic credentials are represented in the faculty. Current partners include: National University of Singapore, German Academic Exchange Services, University of Hong Kong, Asian Institute of Technology, University of Bern, University of Cambridge, University of Exeter and University of Alberta.

A part of Aga Khan Education Services (http://www.akdn.org/akes.asp), the Aga Khan School (AKS) (http://www.agakhanschools.org/kyrgyz/aksosh/default.asp) in Osh was established in 2002; currently 550 students in grades 5 to 11 study the Kyrgyz National Curriculum taught in both Russian and English mediums. Special emphasis is placed on the instruction of the Kyrgyz language, cultivating knowledge and appreciation of the country's rich heritage.

AKS offers multidisciplinary education and has acquired expertise in the subjects of English, IT, Economics, and Humanities.
German language has been integrated into the curriculum with the support of German Embassy. The schools extra-curricular clubs facilitate the development of student talent and critical thinking. There is a strong focus on action-research and teacher training; AKS has integrated child-centered methodologies and innovative evaluation techniques. These capacities have enabled 100% of graduates over the past 3 years to receive admission to local and international universities.  

As a regional centre of excellence the school supports in-house professional development for government school teachers, extends access of its Learning Resource Center to the public, and annually awards scholarships to grade 10 students from remote areas. In 2008 AKS was recognized as "The Best Private School "in Osh.

In Kyrgyzstan, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) (http://www.akdn.org/akf.asp ) works with its local partner, the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme (MSDSP KG), to improve the socio-economic status of remote and mountainous communities. Recognizing the inter-connectedness of development challenges in these communities, MSDSP KG employs an area-based approach in Osh and Naryn Oblasts where complementary interventions in education, health, and rural development converge and are implemented in partnership with government authorities, community organizations, and local civil society groups. 

In education, MSDSP KG focuses on developing and promoting early childhood development (ECD) models which enhance access, affordability, and quality of programmes and learning opportunities for young children. Since 2005, it has introduced two innovations which have influenced the country's ‘Pre-School Law' and increased access to kindergartens: 1) a shift system that doubles capacity in ECD programmes and reduces costs for parents 2) school or home-based satellite kindergartens, linked to the central counterparts, which enable children in remote areas to benefit from ECD programmes. 
To date, MSDSP KG has applied this low-cost sustainable model in 29 central and 55 satellite Kindergartens in Osh and Naryn. In the Osh districts the model has increased access to ECD programmes from 300 children in 2005 (when the programme started) to more than 3,000 in 2009. With the support of its partners, it has written and published 25 Kyrgyz language children's books and helped village communities establish mini-libraries. 

Health 
To improve healthcare conditions, MSDSP KG is raising awareness and promoting preventative measures for dealing with malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, communicable diseases, safe water, sanitation, and maternal health. MSDSP KG has trained over 400 volunteers to serve as Community Health Promoters and formed 47 Village Health Committees. It has helped to establish 150 kitchen gardens that supply vitamin-rich vegetables to nearly 1,000 beneficiaries addressing the nutritional deficiencies that are common amongst remote communities living in high altitude regions.

Rural Development
MSDSP KG works with community-based interest groups that meet and collectively prioritize their development needs. Through dialogue MSDSP KG engages in a range of activities to increase capacity for managing natural resources, augmenting diversified crop production, increasing production and productivity of livestock, and creating opportunities for alternative livelihoods.  
Over 120 infrastructure projects including irrigation canals, link roads, public baths, kindergartens and primary schools have been established through partnerships with local government, communities and other development organizations since 2003. In total, MSDSP KG's rural development activities target more than 100,000 beneficiaries living in high mountainous areas. 

Civil Society Program
Since 2006, AKDN's Civil Society Programme (CSP) has been integral in the development of the country's civil society institutions to promote the ethics of participation, pluralism, non-discrimination, and integrity.

To achieve this, CSP provides grants and technical assistance to CSOs, that implement projects to improve the image and relationships with government and businesses, enhance civic education, and improve overall capacity. The CSP also sponsors a national working group which focuses on the development of legislation to create a more enabling environment for CSOs. As a result, the Social Contracting Law has been signed by the President, and other legislation is being considered. 
 
In 2008, the country's first civic education curriculum targeting post-secondary students was developed and has since been successfully piloted in eight leading universities. Once approved, it will be offered as an elective course for Kyrgyzstan's university students. 

MicroCredit 

Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM) (http://www.akdn.org/akam.asp ) which is part of AKDN provides access to a wider range of financial services to reduce poverty, diminish vulnerability and alleviate economic and social exclusion. Its programs range from village lending cooperatives to self standing microfinance banks in South and Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East. 

AKAM is the sole shareholder of the First MicroCredit Company (FMCC), which was established in 2006 in Kyrgyzstan. It provides loans for agriculture, animal husbandry, small businesses, housing, education and emergency relief to low-income populations living in remote mountainous regions. With its headquarters in Osh city FMCC has eight branches in Alay, Chong-Alay, Karasuu, Naryn, Osh and Uzgen with plans to establish two more branches.

In 2008 and 2009 FMCC provided earthquake victims with 10.7M KGS in subsidized loans to rebuild their homes and livelihoods. As of August 2009 FMCC has served 12,000 clients (40% women), employs 145 local staff and maintains a portfolio of 395.6M KGS.

Economic Development (http://www.akdn.org/kyrgyz_republic_economic.asp)

Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) (http://www.akdn.org/akfed.asp ) is dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship and building economically sound enterprises. For more than 50 years, it has made investments and operated companies in Africa, South and Central Asia.

Financial Services 
AKFED is the founder and lead shareholder of the Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank (KICB) (www.kicb.net) , which was established in 2001 with a paid-in share capital of US$ 7M, initially the largest in the country. Its primary focus was on the corporate sector and on medium and long-term financing that would contribute to the growth of the banking industry whilst stimulating entrepreneurial activity. In 2005, KICB began retail banking operations and has since been providing retail loans, mortgages, and small and medium enterprise loans. 

At the end of 2008, its total credit portfolio exceeded US$ 60M with over 2,800 clients. To date, KICB has 15 branches, including regional branches in Osh, Jalalabat, Naryn Karakol, Kochkor-Ata and Uzgen. By the end of 2010, KICB plans to extend its network to almost every major regional city. 

In 2009, KICB was granted principal membership within Visa International and began offering international VISA cards. The bank will also finalize agreements for 3 credit lines totaling US$ 25M to support its lending activities. Moreover, over the next two years, KICB's shareholders intend to increase the Bank's share capital to US$ 25M. This will allow KICB to increase investment in its infrastructure, attract additional financing, and strengthen institutional capacity in order to facilitate its continued growth. KICB already features one of the most advanced IT systems in Central Asia, resulting in a robust platform to support a wide variety of retail banking products as well as accommodate an increasing volume of business transactions.

KICB continues to support the development of Kyrgyzstan by building human capacity in the financial sector through its Training Center, which has graduated 50 students over the last two years. Furthermore, the Bank has undertaken unique Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, such as introducing a "window loan" aimed at energy conservation and a "student loan" geared towards increasing access to education

Cultural Development (http://www.akdn.org/kyrgyz_republic_cultural.asp)

The Aga Khan Music Initiative in Central Asia (AKMICA) (http://www.akdn.org/aktc_music.asp) of Aga Khan Trust for Culture (http://www.akdn.org/aktc.asp ) was established in 2000. AKMICA aims to revitalize and transmit Central Asian musical traditions by supporting musical talent, cultivating new pedagogy, documenting and disseminating Central Asian music, and stimulating interest in the region's music worldwide. 

Centre Ustat-Shakirt was established in Bishkek in 2005 under AKMICA's Tradition-Bearer program. The Centre has branches in the seven oblasts of Kyrgyzstan. 30 teachers and 200 students study traditional Kyrgyz music instruments and history. At the Centre's workshop master luthiers train apprentices in crafting high-quality instruments. The center has partnered with the Swiss Development Office and the Kyrgyz Ministry of Culture in a number of nationwide projects.

Musicians of Centre Ustat-Shakirt have been particularly active in the Music Initiative's Touring Program as a part of Ensemble Tengir-Too which has presented Kyrgyz traditional music worldwide.

A six-volume CD-DVD anthology of traditional Central Asian musical traditions has been produced in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution.