The United Nations Development Programme, working in partnership with national and local self-government authorities, has been advancing regional development, improving the investment climate, and expanding meaningful youth participation in the Kyrgyz Republic. In 2025, UNDP-supported initiatives contributed to the establishment and strengthening of sustainable mechanisms across investment planning, youth infrastructure, entrepreneurship, the creative economy, trade facilitation, and risk governance, reinforcing long-term institutional capacity at the regional level.
These initiatives were implemented across twenty localities in seven regions, reaching areas home to more than 1.28 million young people. Through established regional and municipal platforms, between 12,000 and 25,000 young people are now engaged annually in development programmes, entrepreneurial activities, and civic initiatives, significantly expanding access to opportunities beyond major urban centers.
Beyond increased geographic coverage, the most notable outcome has been a qualitative shift in local development governance. Regional Investment Councils and youth centres have evolved into durable platforms that bring together public institutions, the private sector, and young people. These platforms support youth policy implementation, business development, social initiatives, and preventive risk monitoring, demonstrating strong national ownership and sustainability of the institutional solutions introduced.
Progress has been driven by close cooperation with regional and local authorities, national agencies, and investment and business development bodies. Support from the Russia–UNDP Trust Fund for Development played a catalytic role by enabling the establishment of institutional mechanisms and leveraging significant national and municipal resources. High levels of co-financing from partners reflect strong commitment to sustaining and scaling achieved results, while the initiatives directly align with government priorities in crisis response, youth policy, investment climate improvement, digital skills, and the creative economy.
Regional Investment Councils are now operational in six regions, serving as permanent platforms for dialogue between the public and private sectors. Dedicated secretariats support systematic investment planning, project facilitation, and public-private partnership development. In Batken region, collaboration between regional institutions contributed to the preparation of investment agreements exceeding USD 2 billion, while councils in other regions supported the development and launch of major infrastructure and investment projects with a combined value exceeding USD 300 million and KGS 2.2 billion in 2025 alone.
The establishment of eight youth centres has significantly expanded youth participation in regional socio-economic development. Integrated into local self-government systems, these centres support youth entrepreneurship, volunteering, and social innovation. Substantial co-financing by local authorities demonstrates long-term sustainability, while capacity-building efforts have supported more than 140 youth organizations and strengthened peer learning and youth-led initiatives nationwide.
Support to the creative economy has focused on diversifying regional economies and strengthening territorial branding. Analytical assessments in multiple cities enabled a shift from research to implementation, resulting in new platforms and creative laboratories that promote tourism, cultural expression, and local identity. These initiatives contribute to expanding economic opportunities through intangible assets and building sustainable foundations for cultural and tourism sector growth.
Trade facilitation efforts strengthened the development of the National Export Programme “Made in Kyrgyzstan” by integrating regional and border-area assessments into national planning. Capacity-building support enhanced the ability of trade and business institutions to work with international marketplaces, improving market access opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises and reinforcing export readiness at the regional level.
Risk monitoring formed a core element of the integrated regional development approach, with analytical studies examining climate-related, economic, and social risks affecting vulnerable groups. Updated monitoring tools and reporting systems were embedded into routine management processes of local administrations, improving data comparability across regions and enabling more proactive and informed planning.
Overall, these initiatives reflect a shift from short-term interventions toward sustainable, institutionally embedded governance solutions. Strong engagement from national and municipal partners indicates readiness to sustain and scale results, contributing to enhanced regional resilience, improved territorial governance, and expanded opportunities for young people across the Kyrgyz Republic.
