Kyrgyzstan

Since 2002, DVV International has been supporting adult learning and education (ALE) and lifelong learning in Kyrgyzstan. A country office was opened in Bishkek in 2012, which has also fulfilled the coordination function as a regional office since August 2018.

The existing provision of adult learning and education in Kyrgyzstan, especially in rural areas, is not sufficient to meet the need for relevant and easily accessible education for large parts of the adult population.

By offering courses for non-formal vocational and civic education, DVV International supports socially disadvantaged groups in Kyrgyzstan. The country office also supports the further development of ALE institutions in the areas of providing education, management and ensuring sustainability. It is also committed to improving the framework conditions of the education sector in Kyrgyzstan through policy advice and lobbying.

Main focus of work

• Improvement of educational offers: For socially disadvantaged groups such as the unemployed, prisoners, women and young people from rural areas, labour market-oriented and civil society training courses are offered in cooperation with ALE centres.
• Enhancing the capacity of ALE centres: Cooperation with ALE centres also includes the further training of educational and administrative staff, increasingly also in the context of digital offerings. Strengthening institutional sustainability and networking between partners is another priority.
• Strengthening of the Kyrgyz Adult Education Association: DVV International contributes to strengthening the Kyrgyz Adult Education Association and supports its role as stakeholder in ALE. Moreover, DVV International promotes collaboration between the association and other regional and international ALE networks.
• Promoting the national and international exchange of issues related to ALE: Through consultation, study tours and the organisation of roundtables and conferences in collaboration with national and international actors, DVV International contributes to the improvement of conditions in the education sector. In order to promote international exchanges, DVV International supports the participation of Kyrgyz adult educators as well as decision-makers at regional and international events. Lobbying and policy advice also supports the UNESCO World Conferences on Adult Education (CONFINTEA) process as well as the achievement and monitoring of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 4 (Quality Education).

Partners

DVV International's partners in Kyrgyzstan include both state and non-state actors State partners of DVV International are the State Prison System Administration and the Agency for Vocational Training at the Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment of the Kyrgyz Republic as well as the state universities of the cities of Bishkek and Osh. The non-governmental partners include the Kyrgyz Adult Education Association (KAEA) as well as the Association of Public Libraries and its member organisations, the Institute for Youth Development, Youth of Osh and the AIDS Foundation East West.