For last two weeks, an FAO – IFAD team was in Kyrgyzstan to simultaneously undertake three missions – Supervision and Implementation Support Mission of the Livestock and Market Development Programme, Phase 1 (LMDP I) and Phase 2 (LMDP II), and follow-up of the Access to Market Project (ATMP). The mission team included Anara Jumabayeva, Asyl Undeland, Aigerim Malik, Qais Aljoan, Mikael Kauttu, David Ward, Oliver Mundy and Nodar Mosashvili.
The IFAD country programme in Kyrgyzstan has over the last decade provided support to improved pasture management and animal health as a means to increasing the productivity of the livestock sector – the backbone of the rural economy. IFAD has financed 5 programmes and projects since 1995 with a total value of USD 133 million. Currently IFAD has three ongoing projects in Kyrgyzstan, the LMDP I and LMDP II for a total IFAD investment of USD 21 million in loans and USD 21 million in grants. To complement these projects, IFAD recently launched another project in support of the livestock value chain – the Access to Market Project totaling to USD 25 million of IFAD financing.
During the missions, the team members were split into small groups to visit the project areas across the country and meet with the project beneficiaries (members of Pasture Users’ Unions (PUU) and counterparts, i.e. veterinarians, pasture specialists, fiduciary experts, other technical experts and representatives of donor agencies. There were a number of meetings with the Government high officials, including the Vice-Prime Minister during the hand-over of community sub-projects. The mission was happy to receive high praise on projects implementation progress from the beneficiaries, local administrations, partner organizations and the Government.
The mission was very pleased to learn that the Association of the Kyrgyz Pasture Users’ Unions (Kyrgyz Jayity Association) received a Finalist ILC Award 2018 (second place) at the Global Land Forum (GLF) held at the end of September. The International Land Coalition (ILC) is a global alliance of civil society and intergovernmental organizations with over 200 members. ILC members are working hard to fight for a more just and equitable world. Every three years to recognize their efforts, the best global practices and successful experience are collected and nominated for award; this year, 164 applications were submitted.
The association supported by the LMDP is based on membership of 454 PUUs, providing them support with capacity building, advocacy and brining new knowledge. The successful experience of the community based pasture management in Kyrgyzstan raised a lot of interest and was widely discussed at the GLF.
