Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kyrgyz Republic

German Development Cooperation with the Kyrgyz Republic

Germany and Kyrgyzstan have interacted in the area of development cooperation since Kyrgyzstan gained its independence. The cooperation with Kyrgyzstan facilitates the implementation of the “Strategy of New Partnership with Central Asian Countries” initiated in 2007 in the context of the German EU Council Presidency, based on the Central Asian Concept of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Lasting for almost 20 years, German Development Cooperation with the Kyrgyz Republic noticeably contributes to the country’s development. Germany is among the largest donors in Kyrgyzstan beside the USA and Japan to provide support on bilateral basis. Germany is the largest donor out of all European Union member states. In addition, Germany extends substantial funds to co-finance programs of the United Nations, the European Union, the World Bank, ADB and EBRD.

The ultimate goal of the German development cooperation with the Kyrgyz Republic is poverty alleviation. The highest priority is given to political areas “Sustainable Economic Development” and “Health Reform”. In addition, Germany has implemented individual projects in the energy sector and launched new programms to promote the development of the youth sector. This approach corresponds with the National Development Strategy of Kyrgyzstan as a pilot country under the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.

Negotiations on development cooperation issues are held between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany every two years. Last negotiations were conducted in September 2011. They serve to maintain the political dialogue on important development topics, evaluate the existing cooperation, and determine key areas for cooperation in future.

Just in the course of government negotiations on bilateral development cooperation for 2011-2012, a grant in the amount of 26.0 million Euro was agreed. This will represent an input into addressing the impact of the economic and the financial crisis in general and the events of 2010 in particular. Development cooperation is accomplished through the programs of the German Development Bank KfW and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH . They are accompanied with programs of the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM) and the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) (national metrology institute providing scientific and technical services). Comprehensive activities of the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Senior Expert Service (SES), the dvv international (Institute for International Cooperation of the German Adult Education Association), the DGRV - Deutscher Genossenschafts- und Raiffeisenverband e. V. (German Cooperative and Raiffeisen Confederation), the DEUTSCHE WELLE AKADEMIE (DW-AKADEMIE; Deutsche Welle's international training institute), and small projects implemented by the German Embassy in Bishkek are an additional German contribution to the country’s development.

In addition to this support in the context of the bilateral cooperation, the Federal Government provides assistance in the framework of its regional and transboundary cooperation in Central Asia, e.g. in the area of legal reform, facilitation of economic development, facilitation of cooperation in the sphere of transboundary water resources management in Central Asia, prevention and mitigation of disasters, and primary education.