Improve indoor conditions of public buildings and reduce power cuts thanks to Swiss grant

Local news, 18.12.2020

The Government of Switzerland has allocated a grant in the amount of USD $2.66 million to improve the efficiency and quality of heating system in public buildings in Kyrgyzstan. 

Public hospital in Jalal-Abad oblast of Kyrgyzstan, where indoor conditions will be improved © the Heat Supply Improvement Project, 2020

Most of the public buildings in Kyrgyzstan were built 25-60 years ago. Today, old buildings do not have modern energy efficiency measures, which lead to significant heat losses and inefficient use of fuel resources. The Heat Supply Improvement Project aims to improve access to reliable and efficient heating services and to reduce energy consumption in public buildings in healthcare and education sectors in the regions of Chui, Naryn, Issyk-Kul, Talas, Batken, Osh and Jalal-Abad and in the cities of Bishkek and Osh.

The project will introduce innovative technologies during renovation works, such as isolation of walls, roofs and floors, replacement of windows and external doors, improvement of heating and ventilation systems, hot water supply and lighting, strengthening seismic resistance of buildings.

“The Swiss support will contribute to improve indoor conditions of selected hospitals, polyclinics, kindergartens and schools”, says the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic Véronique Hulmann. “Medical staff and patients, teachers and children, who spend most of their time in these buildings, will benefit from the project. The project will also demonstrate how energy consumption can be reduced and energy problems - such as winter power shortages - be addressed”.

The total budget of the Heat Supply Improvement Project financed by the World Bank and Switzerland amounts US $12.66 million. It has been implemented by ARIS since April 2019 in close partnership with the government of the Kyrgyz Republic.

For more information about the project, please visit the link.

Local news, 17.04.2020

Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and the risks to the food and agricultural sectors associated with it, the Swiss funded Bai-Alai Program will allocate more than 3.5 million soms (50 thousand Swiss francs) to support farmers in Osh oblast of Kyrgyzstan.

Humanitarian aid on the way to destination © Swiss funded Bai-Alai Program, 2020

The Bai-Alai Program is funded by the Government of Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Helvetas Kyrgyzstan in cooperation with Aga-Khan Foundation. 

Realizing the need to take urgent measures to maintain the functioning of the food supply chains to mitigate major shocks that can especially affect the poor and the most vulnerable segments of the population, it was decided to allocate 45 tons of barley seeds, 20 tons of sainfoin seeds and 33 tons of nitrogen fertilizer as an aid to 320 households in Alai and Chon-Alai districts. These funds will help to grow fodder crops on 224 hectares of land. 

In addition, the Bai-Alai program will provide farmers in these areas with 300 seed doses of highly productive cattle breeds (Aberdeen Angus, Simmental and Schwitz) and 100 liters of liquid nitrogen for 300 farmers. These artificial insemination tools will be given to local insemination technicians so that they can help the local population. 

The Bai-Alai program facilitates the growth of local and regional markets to improve living conditions of the people in Alai and Chon Alai districts.