Kyrgyzstan
A large proportion of inhabitants of Kyrgyzstan, mostly mountain dwellers, are on the verge of extreme poverty, and aside from farming, there are virtually no other forms of employment. The government of Kyrgyzstan, with the support of many partners, has been undertaking several initiatives to enhance economic development, however, it lacks the technical capacity, expertise and knowledge to implement a programme for improved production, processing and marketing of high-value mountain products.
The government has therefore requested the assistance from FAO to address the critical need of building institutional capacity (at national, district and local levels) to identify and develop viable income-generating small-scale enterprises for poor inhabitants of mountain areas in the country.
In response to the country request, the Technical Cooperation Project of FAO developed a proposal aimed to achieve institutional capacity through a training programme based on Market Analysis and Development (MA&D) approach, a participatory planning process for development of small-scale enterprises based on natural resources, developed by FAO.
The TCP is implemented by the National Centre for Development of Mountain Regions of Kyrgyzstan with support from three FAO Technical Services (the Forest Conservation Service, the Foresty Policy and Institutions Service and the Agricultural Management, Marketing and Finance Service). The National Centre is also being assisted by RDC-Elet (a national NGO with expertise in community development) for the implementation of project field activities.
The primary objective of the project is to assist the Government of Kyrgyzstan in building the institutional capacity at national, regional and local levels to develop and establish viable small-scale enterprises in mountain communities in order to provide them with income-generating activities that contribute to improved livelihoods and create incentives for sustainable development of mountain areas in Kyrgyzstan.
The project will be implemented from May 2005 to October 2007.
For additional information on mountain development and watershed management please click here