Life in Kyrgyzstan Data Users Workshop Highlights Data Use for Research
The Life in Kyrgyzstan (LiK) Data Users Workshop was held on October 8 as a pre-conference event to the 11th Annual Life in Kyrgyzstan Conference. The workshop was jointly organised by the Institute of Public Policy and Administration (IPPA) at the University of Central Asia (UCA), the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), and the International Security and Development Centre (ISDC).
The session was delivered by Dr Damir Esenaliev (IGZ and ISDC), Academic Coordinator of the LiK Study, and coordinated by Dr Ablay Dosmaganbetov, Research Fellow in Data Analytics at UCA. A total of participants representing research institutes, international organisations, and universities took part in the workshop.
The programme featured an overview of the LiK Panel Survey’s evolution and academic relevance since 2010, a presentation on the key features of the 7th wave of data collection conducted this year, and a discussion of recent academic studies based on LiK data.
A practical session, led by Daria Kasmamytova, Junior Researcher at ISDC, introduced participants to individual-level LiK data from 2010–2019 and guided them through hands-on exercises using the jamovi.org statistical platform.
The workshop contributed to strengthening data literacy and research capacity among participants working with longitudinal household survey data in Kyrgyzstan.
Meikinai Kuldanbaeva, Data Analyst at the TSI AUCA, shared her impressions:
“We gained a clear understanding of the LiK data collection process and promising research directions. It is now evident how we, as data specialists, can apply this important resource. For Kyrgyzstan, such data are a unique tool to advance socio-economic research in the region.”
The event underscored the growing interest and capacity among local researchers to use high-quality longitudinal data for evidence-based policymaking and academic research.
For more information on the Life in Kyrgyzstan Study, visit www.lifeinkyrgyzstan.org
Life in Kyrgyzstan Academic Seminar Engages Scholars in In-Depth Discussions
On 9 October 2025, the Life in Kyrgyzstan (LiK) Pre-Conference Academic Seminar was held at the University of Central Asia in Bishkek as part of the 11th Annual LiK Conference. The seminar was co-organised and moderated by Dr Damir Esenaliev (IGZ/ISDC).
The seminar created a dedicated space for authors to receive peer-style feedback on draft academic papers prior to the main conference. Unlike formal presentations, it emphasised collaborative discussion and constructive critique, aiming to strengthen papers for future submission or publication.
Five papers were presented and discussed:
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Chisato Tachibana (University of Tokyo) explored whether domestic violence laws influence gender attitudes and female labour force participation in Kyrgyzstan.
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Dr Kadyrbek Sultakeev (AUCA / Justus Liebig University Giessen) examined the role of livestock as wealth, identity, and honour in Kyrgyz society, offering an economic and anthropological perspective.
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Dr Bakhtytzhan Kurmanov (UCA) analysed whether hybrid democratic innovations, such as participatory budgeting, can function in autocratic contexts, drawing on cases from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
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Dr Damir Esenaliev (IGZ/ISDC) presented a study on the lived experiences of daughters given names in hope of sons, contributing to the understanding of gender dynamics in Central Asia.
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Dr Abdusame Tadjiev (IAMO) contributed his paper on institutional frameworks and farmers’ preferences in cotton production in Uzbekistan, focusing on risk and time preferences. Although unable to attend in person, Dr. Tadjiev shared written comments on other papers and received feedback on his own work.
The seminar concluded with reflections and a group discussion. Participants highlighted the importance of such a platform for providing meaningful feedback, fostering collaboration, and strengthening the academic community working with LiK data and broader social science research in Central Asia.
