Kyrgyzstan
Located in Central Asia between China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan the small mountainous country covers nearly 200,000 square kilometres and has a population of 5.2 million.
While Kyrgyzstan is rich in natural resources, it has a high potential for hydropower and large gold deposits, 40% of the population live below the poverty line. 70% of them live in rural areas. There has been a massive emigration of young people looking for a job, especially to neighboring countries like Russia.
Fifty-five percent of the population works in the agricultural sector. Some agricultural areas witness increasing soil salinisation as the result of improper irrigation techniques.
Like many Central Asian countries Kyrgyzstan’s citizens, especially in the rural areas, face acute water supply problems such as contamination and lack of access. Piped water supply has decreased compared to 2000. Water-borne diseases are common, increasing the poor health of the population. In rural areas, only 12% of the population has access to improved sanitation.
WECF is focusing its work on improving the living conditions of the rural population by spreading the use of ecological sanitation, organic agriculture and health education.
Kyrgyzstan has up till recently been one of the most stable democratic countries in Central Asia. However, during its first years of independence, the young republic has experienced many political shocks. In a short period of time, there have been two coups and bloody ethnic clashes that weakened economy and political structures that had been ineffective even before. After the peaceful Tulip Revolution that removed first Kyrgyz president Akaev in 2005, further peaceful demonstrations led to a new constitution and election of a new President and government by the parliament in 2006.
The second revolution took place in April 2010, when public upheaval lead to the fall down of the government and the escape of the president - who was accused of being corrupt and criminal – abroad. A new temporary government came in place but was not prepared to deal with large scale provoked violence, leading to ethnic clashes in the South of the country. Thousands of people suffered and died. Officials say up to 2.000 civilians may have been killed during the riots in one month period. Many women and girls suffered from sexual abuse, infrastructure has been destroyed and many people including many refugees still have to deal with lack of access to housing and safe drinking water supply.WECF is doing its best to contribute to stable sustainable environmental development in the country by supporting its local partner organisations in helping people in rural areas to rebuild a safe and sustainable livelihoods.
Related Projects
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Asbestos in Kyrgyzstan |
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Kyrgyzstan: Creating local capacity for improved rural living standards via sustainable energy and sanitation |
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Support of climate protection via sustainable energy by training and capacity building of local partner NGOs in Caucasus and Central Asia and networking between them |
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Kyrgyzstan - Decentralised and Sustainable Wastewater Management |
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Empowerment & Local Action (ELA) |
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Empowerment & Local Action (ELA) Kyrgyzstan |
"If women and men from different countries work together in respect and mutual understanding, we can eliminate poverty and protect our planet and its resources for the next generations to come." 
