Additional ADB financing set to expand water supply, sanitation coverage in Kyrgyzstan
The additional financing from ADB will empower the government to continue rolling out its water program under the Kyrgyz Republic's National Development Strategy, 2018–2040, Kazinform News Agency learnt from the ADB’s press service.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $32.35 million of additional financing for a rural water supply and sanitation development program in northern Kyrgyz Republic that is already performing well.
The additional financing will empower the government to continue rolling out its water program under the Kyrgyz Republic's National Development Strategy, 2018–2040—which aims to provide drinking water to 95% of the country's settlements and extend centralized water supply to more than 2 million rural residents.
Using a results-based approach, the additional financing will help to scale up the successful intervention in centrally located Naryn Province—raising the initial target of 64,000 people reached 100,000.
“When the project team visits the sites, we are met with overwhelming gratitude from the villagers,” said ADB Principal Urban Development Specialist Heeyoung Hong. “The elderly and children no longer have to trek miles and endure long waits for water, especially in the freezing cold of winter. The success of the ongoing program shows the profoundly positive impact that well-targeted development financing, perfectly aligned with the government’s program, can have on people.”
Climate change considerations are integrated throughout the program's design and targets. This includes piloting household sanitation solutions that are resilient to climate change and disasters. The program will fund climate risk assessments of potential potable water sources and deploy campaigns to help raise awareness among local residents on the importance of saving water.
“While the Kyrgyz Republic has abundant water, it is not distributed evenly—especially to villages across Naryn province,” said ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov. “With climate change accelerating the pace of glacial melt, the availability of water in the glacier-dependent province faces a serious threat. This additional support will help build infrastructure that can withstand the impacts of climate change—ensuring that the Kyrgyz people in these low-income and rural areas have access to safe and reliable water and sanitation services.”
The financing comprises a $27 million concessional loan and a $5.35 million grant from the Asian Development Fund, which provides grants to ADB’s poorest and most vulnerable developing member countries. The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic is also contributing another $6.45 million in this round of financing.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the partnership between ADB and the Kyrgyz Republic—a cooperation spanning more than 217 projects and technical assistance in key economic sectors. Since the Kyrgyz Republic joined ADB in 1994, the bank has committed public sector loans, grants, and technical assistance totaling $2.6 billion to the country.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.
