Countries and Regions

	Table of Contents
p. 11 of 20 BACK | NEXT I. Country Performance Assessment II. Country Operational Strategy III. Sector Strategies A. Agriculture and Rural Development B. Infrastructure C. Social Infrastructure and Environment D. Governance Dimensions of ADB Operations E. Gender Dimensions of ADB Operations F. Private Sector Operations IV. Regional Cooperation V. Donor Activities and Aid Coordination VI. Cofinancing and Catalyzing External Resources VII. ADB’s Operational Program VIII. Economic and Sector Work Program IX. Local Cost Financing

Country Assistance Plans - Kyrgyz Republic : III. Sector Strategies

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C. Social Infrastructure and Environment

1. Social Infrastructure

32. The education sector needs reorientation and restructuring in order to meet the new requirements of an emerging market economy and to function in a more effective and efficient way. An education sector master plan formulated with the assistance of ADB formed the basis for a wide-ranging education sector development program (ESDP) financed by ADB in 1997. The ESDP aims at enhancing overall sector efficiency and sustainability by introducing income generation and cost recovery mechanisms, encouraging private education, rationalizing staffing, strengthening planning and management capacities, and developing school based finance management. In the basic education sub-sector, educational quality issues are addressed by the ESDP that supports the development of new curricula and textbooks, teacher education, and school facilities and equipment improvement. The focus of ADB assistance will gradually shift to post-basic education with the preparation of a skills and entrepreneurship development project during the current year. Through its technical assistance program and planned support for a Third Education Project, ADB will continue supporting the Government’s effort to shape its educational reforms and strengthen its educational administration.

33. The COS recognizes that reforms are needed to reorient the social security system and the delivery of social services to become more efficient, equitable, and sustainable. Emphasis needs to be placed on reducing poverty and unemployment, supporting decentralized social policy development, and better targeting the vulnerable groups. As stated in para. 22, the project mix for the years 2000-2003 indicates a greater focus on social concerns, with increased attention to reducing poverty and improving the quality of life. The difficulties experienced by the economy have resulted in seriously deteriorating health and nutrition status of mothers and small children. In this regard, the proposed Community-based Early Child Development Project, which is programmed for 2001, requires special mention. This core poverty intervention will focus on mothers and children under eight and entails an integrated set of service-delivery packages with development, and not mere survival, as the desired outcome.

2. Environment

34. The operational strategy for the Kyrgyz Republic states the importance of sound management of natural resources and protection of the environment as an important element for sustainable growth. It envisages, however, ADB assistance in this regard to be focused more on addressing environmental concerns related to the projects that ADB supports in sectors such as agriculture and infrastructure. ADB extended technical assistance in December 1997 to strengthen the Government’s capacity for environmental monitoring and management and will follow this up in the current year with further technical assistance in this area. ADB assistance is planned in 2003 for a project that will address the long-standing problem of radioactive and other hazardous tailings from several abandoned uranium mines and processing facilities at different locations in the country. The processing of the project is conditional on the requirement that all uranium processing facilities in the country be permanently closed down.

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