Agencies

Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica) Kyrgyz Republic Office

Brief information about KOICA

KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) was established in 1991 to deliver the task of implementing Korea’s grant aid programs and promoting international cooperation. Its mission is to address global development issues by pursuing global harmony and facilitating the sustainable socio-economic development of our partner countries, aiming to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life.

KOICA operates 47 country offices around the globe. KOICA is now serving as a development cooperation platform by entering into partnerships with a wide array of stakeholders, including government ministries, public institutions, civil society, business, and academia. It is forging global networks through launching joint projects with UN development agencies to strengthen Korea’s national standing on the global stage.

WHAT WE DO IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

KOICA has been actively supporting the Kyrgyz Republic in many areas to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in accordance with the ODA support strategies of KOICA and the Korean government. In line with the development strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic and key areas of cooperation established in the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for 2021-2025 by the Korean government which are Public Administration, Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries, Environment, and Health/Hygiene, KOICA identified prioritized sectors and new initiatives for 2021-2025 as following:

1. Effective and Participatory Digital Public Administration
2. Inclusive and sustainable rural development
3. Creating a safe, healthy, and green society.

1. PROJECTS

1. 1. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION  

With the aim to contribute to the establishment of effective, transparent governance by the Kyrgyz government, KOICA provides phase-based, systematic assistance tailored to the needs of the Kyrgyz government for the establishment of the base for digital government and sectoral expansion of digitization.

1 Modernization and Capacity Development of Advanced Administrative Information Sharing and Interoperability System (TUNDUK) (2020-2025 / $5M)

Objective: To optimize public functions and services provided to citizens, increase management efficiency within government agencies, and implement full-scale electronic interoperability in the public administration system

Local partner: Ministry of Digital Development of the Kyrgyz Republic, State Agency “Tunduk”

2 Establishment of a security operations center (SOC) in the Kyrgyz Republic (2021-2025 / $5M)

Objective: To strengthen the state of cybersecurity by creating a cyber-incidents Security Operation Center (SOC) in the national center for responding to computer incidents

Local partner: State Committee of National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic

3 Digitalization of the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of the Kyrgyz Republic (2023-2027 / $8.5M)

Objective: To enhance efficiency and transparency of the parliamentary legislative activities through digitalization and strengthen the effectiveness and accountability of the parliamentary function through parliament capacity-building programs

Local partner: Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of the Kyrgyz Republic

4 PLANNED: Capacity Building of National Informatization for Digital Transformation in the Kyrgyz Republic (2024-2027 / $7M)

5 COMPLETED:

• The Election Management Capacity Building of the Kyrgyz Republic (2014-2016/ $6.98M)
• Establishment of Land Information System (LIS) in the Kyrgyz Republic (2015-2017/ $5M)
• Establishing an e-NID System in the Kyrgyz Republic (2016-2017/ $7.46M)

Improvement of fire safety of the population by strengthening the capacity of the Fire and Rescue Services in the Kyrgyz Republic (2019-2024 / $7.7M)

1.2. AGRICULTURE

KOICA promotes comprehensive development in rural areas by improving agricultural productivity, expanding agricultural infrastructure, producing high-value-added agricultural products, and establishing legal systems and capacity building for human resources.

1. Integrated Rural Development Project (IRDP) in Kyrgyz Republic (2021-2025 / $8.8M)

Objective: To create an enabling socio-economic environment, enhance household income of smallholder producers, and improve governance in rural development

Local partner: Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic

2. Enhancing Animal Products' Food Safety by Establishing the Comprehensive Smart Animal Identification and Traceability System in the Kyrgyz Republic (2022-2026 / $5.5M)

Objective: To strengthen the safety of animal products in the Kyrgyz Republic by operating the comprehensive smart animal product identification and traceability system

Local partner: Veterinary Service of the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic

3. Genetic Improvement of Cattle and Artificial Insemination Capacity Building in Kyrgyz Republic (2023-2027 / $7.5M)

Objective: To contribute to the improvement of the productivity of cattle in the Kyrgyz Republic through the rehabilitation of the Kyrgyz Science and Research Institute of Livestock and Pastures and the re-establishment of the institutional cattle breeding program for genetic improvement and technical trainings

Local partner: Kyrgyz Research Institute of Animal Husbandry and Pastures of the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic

4. PLANNED: Strengthening the Value Chain of Agricultural Products through Supporting the Establishment of a Post-harvest Management System in the Kyrgyz Republic (2024-2027 / $6M)

5. COMPLETED:

• My Village Project in the Kyrgyz Republic (2019-2022/ $3.5M)
• Supporting the implementation of organic agriculture policies and increasing the capacity of farmers in the Kyrgyz Republic (2019-2023/ $5M)

1.3. ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

KOICA supports the establishment of strategies and policies for the environment and climate change in Kyrgyzstan aimed to support the low-carbon transition and the increased response capability to climate change.

1. Development of a National centralized AMI system for Improving the Energy system of the Kyrgyz Republic (2023-2026 / $10.5M)

Objective: To increase the efficiency of the power distribution system and reduce the high power-line loss rate in the Kyrgyz Republic

Local partner: Ministry of Energy of the Kyrgyz Republic, National Energy Holding Company OJSC

2. Electric Vehicle Transition Project for Public Service Fleet to Realize Green Mobility in the Kyrgyz Republic (2024-2027 / $11M)

Objective: To provide electric vehicles and charging facilities to public institutions and implement infrastructure to respond to climate change and to establish an implementation plan and strengthen the capacity of the Kyrgyz side for the transition to electric vehicles to public institutions]

Local partner: Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, "Kyrgyzpochtasy" OJSC

2. WORLD FRIENDS KOREA (WFK, Volunteer Program)

KOICA operates a two-year overseas volunteer program which dispatches volunteers to over 50 fields, including education, healthcare, ICT, administration policies, development of farming and fishing villages, and etc. On average, 1,600 volunteers per year serve across the world. As part of the World Friends Program, KOICA also dispatches experts and advisors to partner countries to provide policy advice and share knowledge in administration, education, healthcare, agriculture, and other fields.

An average of 15 Korean volunteers and advisors are dispatched yearly across Kyrgyzstan to contribute in the fields of education, public administration, computer science, health, and youth development.

3. KOICA FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM  "CIAT" 

The Fellowship Program CIAT (Capacity Improvement & Advancement for Tomorrow) is one of KOICA’s main projects to support partner countries secure human resources for their development. The primary objective is to share important technical skills and knowledge as well as to build capacities for sustainable socio-economic development. The trainings are classified as country-specific, regional, and global and the period ranges from short to long-term, including the Scholarship Program (SP) for master’s and doctoral degrees.

Since 1993, about 1,000 government officials from Kyrgyzstan have participated in the Fellowship Program in such sectors as public administration, environment, industry & energy, agricultural development and others.