The University of Central Asia presented the Country Strategy for the GEF Small Grants Program in Kyrgyzstan
The University of Central Asia (UCA) presented the Country Strategy for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme to representatives of government institutions, the academic community, and international and national organisations working in the fields of biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management.
The purpose of the meeting was to present the key elements of the GEF SGP Country Strategy, including the strategic context, priority ecosystems and landscapes, types of supported projects, and principles of social inclusion. Participants discussed the document and provided final comments and recommendations from stakeholders prior to its completion and official approval.
The programme also featured thematic scientific presentations focusing on climatic, hydrological, and socio-ecological processes in the Inner Tien Shan. These studies provide the scientific basis for the Strategy’s priority areas and highlight the importance of integrating academic knowledge into the practice of sustainable natural resource management.
Irina Talkambaeva from the GEF Small Grants Programme highlighted the importance of cooperation with the University of Central Asia:
“We have been working with the University of Central Asia and Maksim Kulikov’s team for some time now — this is already our second partnership. In 2020–2021, UCA developed the Small Grants Programme Country Strategy for Operational Phase 7, and today the University is supporting the preparation of the Strategy for Operational Phase 8. This phase covers the period from 2024 to 2028, and it is on the basis of the strategy developed by UCA that the Small Grants Programme will be implemented in Kyrgyzstan.”
According to her, the Strategy defines key thematic areas and types of initiatives eligible for support under the Small Grants Programme, including the establishment of micro-reserves, conservation of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, urban solutions and greening, addressing climate change and pasture degradation, as well as sustainable management of forests, water resources, and waste.
The development of the GEF SGP Operational Phase 8 Country Strategy with the participation of the University of Central Asia underscores the role of academic institutions in shaping scientifically grounded and inclusive approaches to sustainable development and environmental protection in Kyrgyzstan.
Maksim Kulikov, Project Manager for the development of the Strategy, emphasised that the work was focused on producing a coherent and scientifically robust document that reflects Kyrgyzstan’s priorities for the new programming period:
“As part of the project, consultations with key stakeholders, expert and coordination meetings, field visits to priority landscapes and protected areas, as well as analyses of national strategies and scientific and climate data were conducted. The final Strategy reflects agreed priorities, project types, and partnerships, and ensures alignment with national and global frameworks.”
