Strong Partnerships, Real Impact: UNDP and Japan in Action

July 31, 2025

A large group of people posing together outside a building on a sunny day. — Near the youth centre in Balykchy during the Japanese mission

UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic

Over the course of two days, on-29-30 July, Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative and Hideki Goda, Ambassador of Japan visited UNDP projects in Issyk-Kul oblast to witness firsthand how strategic partnerships are contributing to the enhancing of the socio-economic development, strengthening resilience, and empowering youth and communities.

A group of people seated at a table, focusing on a presentation, with laptops in front of them. — At the youth centre in Balykchy

UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic

The visit began at the Youth Centre in Balykchy, one of ten such centers established across the country with support from UNDP and the Government of Japan. Welcomed by local youth leaders and staff, the delegation saw how these centers are more than just learning spaces, they are launchpads for action.

Since 2020, over 4,000 young people have been trained in entrepreneurship, local governance, and conflict prevention, leading to the creation of 225 jobs and the mobilization of $325,000 in funding for youth-led initiatives. The Center exemplifies how local partnerships with the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy, and local municipalities are driving community development. The Center was able to build partnerships with different organizations, such as UN agencies, KOICA, JICA, and others.

Four individuals standing in an office, engaged in conversation. — At the youth centre in Balykchy

UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic

The next stop was Cholpon-Ata, where Japan’s support has enabled the deployment of an AI-powered early warning system that monitors glacial lake conditions in real-time to prevent catastrophic floods. In partnership with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the project constructed 1,663 meters of reinforced mudflow channels, installed two automated weather stations, and launched a multi-channel alert system that protects over 150 households in high-risk mountainous zones.

In 2024 alone, the Ministry successfully evacuated 490 people, and in 2025, that number rose to 950 people, following glacial lake outburst events. Local specialists highlighted how satellite data and digital tools are now saving lives in some of the most remote communities in Kyrgyzstan.

Three people sit around a table in a meeting room, discussing intently. — Hideki Goda, Ambassador of Japan, during his visit to Cholpon-Ata

UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic

On the second day of the visit to Issyk-Kul, Ambassador of Japan H.E. Hideki Goda and UNDP Resident Representative Alexandra Solovieva met with inspiring women entrepreneurs in Karakol who are redefining rural development through creativity, technology, and enterprise.

Supported by the Aid for Trade project, funded by the Government of Finland, and enabled by Japan’s strategic core contributions to UNDP, these women are driving real impact where it matters most at the community level.

At the meeting, Albina Alimova demonstrated how adventure tourism and e-commerce value chains are generating income in remote areas. Her work is not only raising service quality and creating jobs but also preserving Kyrgyzstan’s unique cultural identity.

Albina Alimova during her presentation

UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic

Nargiza Turbatova, founder of a creative workshop, showed how she turned the traditional Japanese knitting technique of amigurumi into a thriving business. Leveraging digital platforms, she now markets her handcrafted toys to customers far beyond her region.

A diverse group of eight individuals poses in a colorful craft shop, smiling together.

A person in a suit is reaching for a colorful plush toy on a display stand.

The delegation then visited Royal Gate, a flourishing eco-tourism camp founded by Asel, who transformed a modest guesthouse into a job-creating enterprise. With project support, she upgraded infrastructure, built local partnerships, and tripled revenue, all while creating sustainable livelihoods for youth and women.

As part of this broader initiative, 64 women and youth have received mentorship, 35 of them awarded business grants, while 89 participants gained new skills in financial literacy and marketing. Twenty-eight women-led businesses have successfully transitioned online, leading to a 17% increase in revenues, and 56 new jobs have been created, with 41 of them filled by women.

Group of six people posing outdoors with traditional yurts and mountains in the background.

A group of people engaged in a conversation outdoors near traditional yurts.

Group of people near traditional yurts on a pathway under a cloudy sky.

A group of people in business attire walking on a wooden path outside a building.

These stories are not just individual successes; they’re blueprints for inclusive rural growth. The visit also sparked forward-looking dialogue on how Japan and UNDP can scale up support for women-led MSMEs, eco-tourism, digital entrepreneurship, youth empowerment, and disaster risk management across Kyrgyzstan.