The World Bank has approved $121mn in financing for the Kyrgyz Republic's Water Supply and Sanitation Universal Access Program, marking the launch of a decade-long initiative to provide clean water and sanitation to citizens across the country.
The project is part of a broader $400mn programmatic approach, which will be rolled out in multiple phases. The first phase, supported by a coalition of international development partners, aims to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation for over 450,000 people in 126 rural villages and small towns in the Chui, Issyk-Kul, and Osh regions.
In addition to the World Bank’s contribution, co-financing for this phase includes a $50mn credit from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a $20mn credit from the OPEC Fund, a $9mn grant from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and a $3.75mn grant from AIIB.
“The World Bank is a long-standing partner of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic in supporting its vision of universal access to potable water and improved sanitation,” said Hugh Riddell, World Bank Group Country Manager. “Over the next decade, the program will provide access to clean water and sanitation to one million Kyrgyz citizens—directly improving quality of life, strengthening human capital, and boosting prosperity for generations to come.”
Most residents in the targeted regions will gain access to piped water through new household connections. In addition, 19,000 vulnerable people will gain access to better sanitation facilities, while improved hygiene conditions in schools and health clinics will directly benefit about 115,000 people—most of them children.
“This program exemplifies the power of partnership, as key international partners come together to support the Kyrgyz Government in implementing its transformative development initiative,” Odete Duarte Muximpua, World Bank Senior Water Supply and Sanitation Specialist and Project Task Team Leader, stressed the importance of collaboration.
The program will fund investments across three priority areas:
- Water Supply Systems: Construction and upgrading of water infrastructure using energy-efficient and climate-resilient technologies to expand reliable access to potable water.
- Sanitation Development: Deployment of decentralized and climate-resilient sanitation systems, particularly for schools, clinics, and vulnerable households, along with improvements in waste management.
- Performance-Based Service Improvements: Grants and vocational training to enhance the financial and operational performance of local water providers, with a focus on efficiency, accountability, and gender equity in the sector workforce.
The initiative will be implemented by the State Institution of Drinking Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry. The program will follow stringent international standards in procurement, financial management, and anti-corruption.
This new investment brings the World Bank’s total commitment in the Kyrgyz Republic to $1.2bn across 23 active projects, supporting a wide range of sectors from infrastructure to human capital development.
The Water Supply and Sanitation Universal Access Program is part of Kyrgyzstan’s broader vision to improve everyday life for its people and reflects the World Bank’s commitment to helping communities thrive through better access to basic services and opportunities.
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