Sustainable Development

The "Justice Monitoring – Strengthening Civil Society in Promoting Human Rights in Kyrgyzstan" project, funded by the European Union, aims to strengthen the role of civil society in monitoring and protecting human rights in Kyrgyzstan, with a particular focus on gender equality, environmental safety, and personal data protection. Creation and support of a public consultation platform and other digital tools to increase transparency and monitor gender equality, environmental safety, and personal data protection.

The European Union-funded project "Cross-Border Multilateral Dialogue for Tolerance and Peace in Central Asia" aims to promote multilateral cross-border dialogue and cooperation between Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan to promote tolerance, mutual understanding, and the prevention of radicalization, raise awareness of the roots of violent extremism and the importance of good mutual understanding, and build the capacity of local civil society in the border areas of the three countries. The project was implemented by a consortium led by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in collaboration with three national partners: the BIOM Environmental Movement (Kyrgyzstan), the Yuksalish National Movement (Uzbekistan), and the Gender and Development Public Organization (Tajikistan).

A joint project of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the Environmental Movement "BIOM," implemented with EU support. The project's goal is to strengthen the role and improve the capacity of Public Councils of government bodies in the decision-making system for reforming the education system, as well as to increase the transparency of reforms for our society.

Piloting the "School Day" approach during the teaching practicum at pedagogical institutes in Kyrgyzstan (Arabaev KSU, Naryn State University, and Osh State University); reviewing and revising physical education and wellness standards based on a competency- and graduate-oriented approach, principles of sustainable development and life safety, and developing teaching materials for master's programs.

Preparation of sections on education and the environment, as well as the incorporation of an environmental component into other sections of the Government's plan for implementing the Program. Under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy of the Kyrgyz Republic, with the participation of ministries, agencies, and representatives of the civil sector.

In 2013, the Environmental Movement 'BIOM' actively participated in developing regional sustainable-development programs for the Naryn, Talas, Issyk-Kul, Batken, and Jalal-Abad regions of Kyrgyzstan, focused on environmental aspects and education.

The main goal of Phase 1 of the project is to align and improve higher pedagogical education standards taking into account developed school-subject standards and teacher requirements, as part of a competency-based approach set by the National Education Program Model. Phase 2 of the project focuses on developing a draft teaching and methodological manual for training teachers in natural science specializations (natural sciences, chemistry, biology, physics, geography) as well as the pedagogical specialization (primary education), taking into account a competency-oriented graduate model, intercultural principles, and sustainable development.

Preparation of strategic documents to present Kyrgyzstan's position at the Rio+20 World Conference on Sustainable Development. Preparation of the document "Prospects for a 'Green' Economy in the Kyrgyz Republic." In partnership with the UNDP program.
Brief description of the activities of the Environmental Movement "BIOM" in 2011-2012:
From 2011 to 2012, the Environmental Movement "BIOM" actively cooperated with the UNDP program and participated in preparing strategic documents to present Kyrgyzstan's position at the Rio+20 World Conference on Sustainable Development. As part of this activity, the organization developed an important document titled "Prospects for a 'Green' Economy in the Kyrgyz Republic." This work represented a joint effort to define and promote the country's position in sustainable development and the green economy on the world stage.

One of the results of Kyrgyzstan's active participation in global trade systems is the growing risk that products and goods manufactured worldwide without regard for environmental risks will enter our homes. Kyrgyzstan has a weak system of product safety control and customs inspection. As a result, the country's local market is not protected from a large number of dangerous food products, as well as consumer goods. This is especially true of dangerous tableware containing toxic substances, children's toys, and food products containing harmful additives. The main goal of this project is to increase the protection of vulnerable groups from environmental risks through a public information campaign and by discussing special measures with procurement managers at public institutions and Members of Parliament regarding the application of environmental safety and protection aspects.

The TACIS environmental video library was converted to DVD format for wider distribution among interested groups. The process of preparing the electronic video library was supported by UNEP.

Over the past 5 years, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has worked to reform education in the Kyrgyz Republic. A great deal of work has been devoted to developing new education standards aimed at creating an education program, improving it, and focusing on the needs and individual characteristics of the student. A certain amount of work is planned to create a suitable educational environment for children with special needs. The project's main goal is to incorporate issues of sustainable development, energy-use efficiency, and adaptation to climate change into new-generation school education standards. To achieve this goal, project activities are carried out in the following areas: strengthening the position of education for sustainable development in national policy; participation in incorporating sustainable-development education into high-level national documents; participation in developing new education standards; incorporating issues of sustainable development, energy efficiency, and adaptation to climate change into new-generation school education standards; participation in the process of retraining teachers on new education standards.

The main goal of this project: to increase the local population's capacity for adaptation and mitigation of climate change and awareness of the importance of preserving biological diversity through training and outreach among staff of local public health organizations in seven regions of Kyrgyzstan. The project's main idea is to conduct a joint information and education campaign on climate change, biodiversity conservation, and public health. The project provides for training and outreach activities among staff of 140 regional health committees, 980 medical and obstetric stations, and 150 representatives of 52 local sanitary and epidemiological control centers.

The project "Education for Sustainable Development" was launched in 2008 with support from UNESCO, with the goal of developing and disseminating a special manual for university teachers. This manual aims to introduce the principles of sustainable development into the educational process, providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to participate in building a sustainable future.

As part of the project, which ran from 2007 to 2009, support was provided to the Central Asian Youth Network for a Favorable Environment. This network brought together youth organizations from various Central Asian countries and worked on environmental protection and sustainable development in the region.

The project "Environment: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow" was implemented with support from UNESCO and aimed to study and analyze changes in the environment over time. The project's main goal was to assess long-term environmental changes and identify their impact on biodiversity and human life.

In 2005, the 1st National Conference was held in Kyrgyzstan, titled "Education for Sustainable Development: Assessing Capacity, Looking to the Future." This conference was organized to discuss and assess the capacity of education for sustainable development in Kyrgyzstan and to develop a strategy for the future in this area.

In 2005, a program for the introduction of sustainable environmental management technologies was developed and launched in Kyrgyzstan. This program included educational programs such as "Agriculture and SD" and "Sustainable Tourism," aimed at popularizing and introducing practices that promote a more sustainable use of natural resources.

Organization of a series of information campaigns, "Life Creates the Conditions for Life," as part of the Central Asian GEF/WB project for the conservation of the biodiversity of the Western Tien Shan; publication of a manual for teachers, "In the Workshop of the Subject 'Ecology.'"

In 2002, the project "Summer Camp for Teachers 'School of Sustainable Development'" was launched with support from the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia. As part of the project, a manual for teachers was published, aimed at teaching teachers the principles of sustainable development.

A project to build the capacity of schools and local communities to preserve Kyrgyzstan's biodiversity through training seminars, the publication of information materials, and the creation of micro-reserves of wildlife on school grounds. As part of the project, a network of 25 schools from various regions of Kyrgyzstan was created, working in the field of environmental education and education for sustainable development, and a bulletin was published. The project is implemented jointly with the NGO "Field Studies Council" (United Kingdom) with support from the Darwin Initiative Fund. As part of the project, a network of schools and NGOs from various regions of Kyrgyzstan, "For the Conservation of Biodiversity and Sustainable Development," was created.

Since 2001, the Environmental Movement 'BIOM' has actively conducted information campaigns aimed at drawing public attention to environmental issues and encouraging participation in solving environmental problems. The campaigns are aimed at raising citizens' awareness, activating public dialogue, and promoting sustainable environmental development.

The project "Eco-School — 21st Century" was launched with support from the Soros Foundation-Kyrgyzstan. The project was aimed at engaging schoolchildren in the city's environmental problems and holding environmental campaigns, including the greening of school grounds and park areas. As part of the project, trainings and lessons were held in several cities of Kyrgyzstan.

The project "Eco-School — 2000," supported by the Soros Foundation-Kyrgyzstan. As part of the project, training lessons were held aimed at engaging schoolchildren with environmental issues, as well as environmental campaigns to green school grounds.

Since 2000, information campaigns on sustainable development have been conducted, as well as educational courses and programs for school teachers, university lecturers, local government employees, and other professional groups.

Participation in organizing and holding the German-Central Asian Forum "The Young Generation and the Challenges of Shaping Environmental Awareness." As part of the combined group "Youth Vector of Kyrgyzstan," with support from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a common strategy for shaping environmental awareness among young people in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan was discussed. Connections were established with organizations working on environmental education issues in these countries, and information exchange was established. The Forum's work was widely covered in the media, which also took part in its proceedings.

The goal of the project "Support for the Network of Environmental Organizations in the Regions and Districts of Kyrgyzstan" was to provide information and methodological support to the network of district eco-groups and organizations in Kyrgyzstan.

An environmental video library was organized with TACIS support. It includes more than 60 videotapes containing original environmental films, cartoons, and other materials, and a library collection of over 1,500 publications was also formed, which is actively used by students, BIOM members, and other environmental organizations.