devinitorg/iati-policy-markers huggingface dataset:
Investment Climate Improvement Program - Subprogram 2 The Investment Climate Improvement Program, approved by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2008, follows a programmatic approach and envisages three subprograms to assist the government in creating conditions for sustainable economic growth and employment-generating investments.  Subprogram 1, implemented in 2007-2008, included a policy-based grant, a project grant supporting the development of information technology systems for effective implementation of reforms, and a TA grant to help prepare subprogram 2. Preparation and implementation of subprogram 2 has also benefited from and reinforced other interventions.  The reforms supported under subprogram 2 build on the achievements made under subprogram 1 despite difficult political and external conditions. They address binding constraints to private sector development and diversification in the areas of business regulation and taxation, access to finance, worker skills development, and public-private partnerships (PPPs). The relevance of these constraints has been confirmed through recent studies and surveys, which explain some deviations from the constraints originally identified in 2008. Subprogram 2 is effectively gender mainstreamed to maximize benefits to women. The reform agenda that remains after subprogram 2 will be addressed under subprogram 3.
 
Subprogram 2 complements the efforts of (i) ADB and other development partners to strengthen physical infrastructure and improve access to finance; and (ii) the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to rebuild fiscal buffers and safeguard monetary stability, which are important for a healthy business and investment climate. 

Improving the investment climate for the private sector is critical for the government's economic growth policies.  Subprogram 2 contributes toward this end. The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic emphasizes improving the business climate.  ADB's country operations business plan for the Kyrgyz Republic identifies subprogram 2 as a means of broadening the Kyrgyz economy and its private sector.
Climate-Resilient Agricultural Value Chain Development Project The proposed project will enhance food security, within households and nationally, through resilient, climate-adaptive horticultural value chains. The project will assist participating financial institutions (PFIs) to provide better-structured loan products to small and medium-sized agribusiness enterprises. This will improve processing and storage capacity and reduce post-harvest handling and storage losses by establishing modern and efficient processing, storage, and refrigerated facilities.
Second Investment Climate Improvement Program (Subprogram 2) The Second ICIP aims to improve the investment climate for the private sector in the Kyrgyz Republic.  It supports increasing access to finance, enabling private participation in infrastructure, diversifying export products and markets, encouraging diversified foreign direct investment, improving skills to match market needs, increasing transparency in government, and reducing the costs of doing business.
Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Transport Corridor I (Bishkek-Torugart Road) Project 3 The CAREC Corridor 1 (Bishkek-Torugart Road) Project 3 (the project) will help the government improve the 60-km section from At Beit to Torugart at the People's Republic of China (PRC) border. Together with the ongoing improvement works in the other sections, it will enable all weather road travel between Bishkek and Kashi. Aside from the economic benefits of higher speeds and reliability, the better road geometry and protective structures resulting from the improvement will reduce the accidental toxic spill risk and material run-off from vehicles. These reductions will benefit the ecosystem of Chatyr Kul lake--a wetland of international significance and protected under the Ramsar convention. 

The project will also strengthen infrastructure management skills of government staff engaged in the road sector. This is an essential and natural complement to the capital investment. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided technical assistance for institutional strengthening and capacity building totaling nearly $6 million between 1996 and 2010. The World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development have more assistance programmed for 2011. These are short and one-off interventions. The project, in contract, supports a long-term, results oriented program of learning and development for government staff. It will result in better informed staff, equipped to champion strategies for reducing life cycle costs and improving user cost recovery.
Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Transport Corridor I (Bishkek-Torugart Road) Project 2 The CAREC Transport Corridor I (Bishkek-Torugart Road) Project II will continue the rehabilitation work on the section from km 439 to km 476, next to Project I.  It will also help the design of remaining sections of the thoroughfare to be completed and the transport sector masterplan to be implemented on time. These would help the government to continue working towards the corridor improvement target of 2013, and the national goals set out in the country development strategy (2007-2010). Additionally, in the longer term, it would contribute to the realization of the CAREC vision. 

It has 2 components: The physical component includes rehabilitating 75km of the Bishkek-Torugart Road and constructing a facility for managing international (cross border) passenger and freight movements to and from the PRC. The non-physical component is for implementing the human resource development measures recommended in the transport sector masterplan being prepared under Grant 0123-KGZ.
Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Transport Corridor I (Bishkek-Torugart Road) Project 3 - Additional Financing The additional financing of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Corridor 1 (Bishkek-Torugart Road) Project 3 will cover the cost overruns that have resulted in a funding gap for the project whose rationale remains valid and physical progress on-track. The project, by improving the last 60 kilometers (km) bottleneck section of the CAREC Corridor 1 (Bishkek-Torugart Road), will contribute to fostering regional trade between the Kyrgyz Republic and the People's Republic of China (PRC) and higher mobility for people in Naryn Province where poverty is widespread. It will also help increase sustainability of the national road network by training staff on infrastructure management.
COVID-19: Pandemic Emergency Project An emergency assistance loan and grant using streamlined procedures and the one ADB approach is an appropriate modality to respond to the COVID-19 crisis in the Kyrgyz Republic. ADB?s 2004 Disaster and Emergency Assistance Policy permits the use of emergency assistance loans and grants in response to health emergencies. The eligibility criteria for emergency assistance have been met as (i) the government has made an official request to ADB for assistance, (ii) the potential impact on economic, social, and governance needs and priorities have been identified, (iii) the event involves significant economic dislocation and the EAL addresses immediate needs (iv) the proposed emergency assistance addresses immediate needs, (v) the UN has not signaled substantial  security risks to staff, and (vi) local and development partners are sharing the response burden. The project is aligned with the following impact: Mitigate the impact of COVID-19 outbreak in Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz National Contingency Action Plan).  The project will have the following outcome: management of persons exposed with COVID-19 improved.
Enhancing climate-resilient ground water management approaches The proposed sixth subgrant, Activity 6: Enhancing Climate-Resilient Ground Water Management Approaches, will reinvigorate on-farm ground water management approaches and improve service efficiency of the Water Resources Service (WRS), the executing agency (EA) of Activity 6. It is the same EA that is implementing the ongoing project L3746/G0632 Climate Change and Disaster-Resilient Water Resources Sector Project (the linked project). Due to significant decline of water resources, water from irrigation systems have become insufficient and its scarcity is exacerbated by climate change impacts. A decrease in summer precipitation by 10% and an increase in air temperature by 5C will increase crop water requirements by 15-20%, higher evaporation rates from surface water (especially during summer), and soil moisture depletion, which can lead to drought-like conditions. Shifts in the seasonal cropping season and increases in water use for agriculture may lead to crop failure when irrigation water demand is unmet due to changes in the amount of streamflow. Farmers at the lower end of irrigation schemes are experiencing frequent water shortages, affecting agricultural livelihoods. Because of the water scarcity, previously irrigated land becomes saline and inadequate, reducing agricultural productivity and causing displacement of rural population. A solution to address this shortage is to use ground water as an alternative reliable water source. The proposed project will increase climate and disaster resilience, water productivity and income of agricultural communities in four districts (Aravan, Nookat, Leilek and Panfilov) and contribute to addressing rural poverty. While the linked project focuses on surface water irrigation schemes, Activity 6 will enhance water availability by introducing sustainable use of groundwater resources and improved water efficiency on farms.
Skills for Inclusive Growth Sector Development Program The program is aligned with the following impact: government strategies to achieve inclusive growth through improved workforce skills and productivity in the country's key economic sectors, specifically the National Sustainable Development Strategy, 2013-2017; Education Development Strategy, 2012-2020; and the new Regional Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic 2018-2022.   The program will have the following outcome: an established market-responsive, entrepreneurial, and inclusive TVET system. The program includes three outputs: (i) TVET governance and finance strengthened, (ii) teaching quality and learning environments improved, and (iii) cooperation with industry increased and entrepreneurship skills developed.
Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Transport Corridor 1 (Bishkek-Torugart Road) Project 1 The 500 kilometer (km) Bishkek-Torugart road is part of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Corridor 1 linking the Kyrgyz Republic with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and other Central Asian countries. The Torugart post is a major border control and customs facility between the Kyrgyz Republic and the PRC. The road condition is poor; border-crossing facilities and procedures are outdated and inefficient, and they obstruct international traffic and trade. Improved road and customs infrastructure will remove the obstruction and open up this corridor for wider regional trade and economic cooperation. It will reduce travel and transit times from the current 3 to 4 days to 2 days. 

Improvement of the Bishkek-Torugart road will be implemented in three phases and includes (i) improving 488 km of the Bishkek-Torugart road in the Kyrgyz Republic and the 20 km Bishkek bypass road, (ii) modernizing infrastructure and facilities at the Kyrgyz Republic-PRC border crossing at Torugart, and (iii) policy and institutional support in the road subsector. The Project 1 outputs are (i) an improved 39-km road section from Km 400 to Km 439 of the Bishkek-Torugart road, (ii) modernized customs infrastructure at the Kyrgyz Republic-PRC border crossing at Torugart, (iii) a transport sector master plan for 2010-2025, and (iv) a fully operational Bishkek-Torugart Road Corridor Management Department (BTRMCD).
Investment Climate Improvement Program (Subprogram 1) To support sustainable economic growth by promoting private sector development.  Specifically, it was agreed that it would include three main components:  (i) reducing regulatory burden and compliance cost; (ii) improving SME access to credit and leasing products; and (iii) developing policy and regulatory framework for public-private parnerships (PPP).
Almaty-Bishkek Economic Corridor Regional Improvement of Border Services Project Readiness Activity 4, through the engagement of project management consultants and a design firm, will support the preparation of the detailed engineering design (DED) of the project facilities, procurement documents, and due diligence documents of the ensuing Almaty-Bishkek Economic Corridor Regional Improvement of Border Services Project (ABEC RIBS). This will enhance project readiness and improve the executing agency's capacity to implement the ensuing project.
Promoting Economic Diversification Program (Subprogram 2) The program continues to support the implementation of reforms in the National Development Strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2018-2040 (NDS 2040) and its overarching objective of gradually diversifying the Kyrgyz economy away from an over-reliance on gold production and exports (about 6%-10% of gross domestic product each year) and remittance-led consumption (about 30% of GDP). The program is a continuation of past reform support efforts from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to the Government of Kyrgyz Republic on trade and investment competitiveness, small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development, infrastructure development (including through public-private partnerships), and industry-based skills development. While the Kyrgyz Republic is still recovering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak that began in March 2020 and the severe economic and employment contraction and fiscal difficulties that was already underway, this program helps the government stay on the reform course, by (i) insulating the originally planned and needed medium-term reform efforts from the current crisis effects, (ii) while adding urgent reforms to improve the fiscal management (and buffers) and social protection mechanisms that have now been agreed to be crucial enablers of the original medium-term reform agenda.
Second Vocational Education and Skills Development Project The project seeks to improve the quality and relevance of, and equitable access to and effectiveness of, the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system in the Kyrgyz Republic. Quality and relevance of the TVET system will be improved through modernization of the training methodology, teaching and learning environments, and training delivery. Equitable access will be improved through the introduction of an innovative skills development fund to provide training in response to urgent labor market needs, and for targeting specific geographic areas or specific groups to provide them with employable skills, such as out-of-school youths, ethnic minorities, and the disabled. The project also includes support to rural primary vocational schools outside of Bishkek and Osh, and better access for physically disabled students and for women. The effectiveness of the TVET system will be improved by strengthening TVET governance and management nationally and within the schools.
Rural Financial Inclusion for Women Project CJSC FINCA Bank decided not to proceed with the project due to impact of COVID-19 on the Kyrgyzstan economy and their ample liquidity.
School Education Reform Sector Development Program The program is aligned with the following impact: Human capital that contributes to the country's development and economic growth strengthened. The program will have the following outcome: the ability of the school education system to prepare graduates with subject knowledge and competencies improved. Program and project components both support the following three outputs: Output 1: Quality and relevance of curricula with priority on interdisciplinary approaches improved. The policy-based program component under tranche one supported the government to (i) revise the state standard of general school education, and (ii) set up a regulatory framework for curriculum development. Under tranche two, the program will (iii) approve and roll out new 12-year subject curricula. The project component will help to (i) strengthen the capacity of MES staff and experts on textbook assessment, (ii) build the capacity of the curriculum developers (both institutions and individual experts), (iii) design and implement a step-by-step model for curriculum development review and approval, and (iv) revise the curricula for grades 612. Output 2: Quality of teaching improved. Under tranche one, the policy-based program component supported the government to (i) revise the teacher salary structure and increase teacher salaries; (ii) approve teacher professional standards; and (iii) revise pedagogical university education standards. Under tranche two, the program will (i) incorporate incentives into the teacher salary structure for better performance and continuous professional development, (ii) reform the INSETT system to allow universities to deliver INSETT, and (iii) introduce a fast-track teacher qualification program in universities to bring mid-career professionals into teaching. The project component will (i) help to upgrade pedagogical programs in universities to meet the revised standards and establish international partnerships, (ii) launch INSETT school management and instructional leadership training programs, and (iii) train 10,000 teachers to implement the revised curriculum in schools with a focus on language and STEM.Output 3: Network of Innovative schools strengthened. The policy-based program component supported the government to (i) expand the network of innovative school clusters nationwide (under tranche one); and (ii) provide innovative schools with a special status giving them administrative, academic, and financial autonomy (under tranche two). The project will (i) rehabilitate 23 innovative schools and KAE; (ii) upgrade the STEM and information and communication technology equipment of 23 new and 30 innovative schools, and provide laboratory equipment to 220 cluster schools; (iii) design and implement a training program on school management, instructional leadership, and communication for the school principals and deputy principals of innovative schools; and (iv) train innovative schools and district education managers on effective networking.
Emergency Assistance for Recovery and Reconstruction The Emergency Assistance for Recovery and Reconstruction (EARR) will (i) rebuild damaged houses and improve essential public and community infrastructure, and (ii) restore the country's immediate fiscal capacity to meet the sharp rise in incremental costs arising from the April and June 2010 conflicts. This will in turn help the Kyrgyz Republic with reconciliation efforts and restoration of normalcy. The impact of the EARR is economic recovery and social reconciliation. The EARR's outcome is maintenance of essential public expenditures and rebuilding of critical social and public infrastructure assets in areas affected by the community violence.
Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Corridor 3 (Bishkek-Osh Road) Improvement Project, Phase 4 The project will improve national and regional connectivity by reconstructing and rehabilitating an estimated 120 km of crucial road sections between Bishkek and Osh, and will include road safety measures such as road signs, lane markings, street lighting, parking areas, bus stops, crash barriers, and sidewalks. The impact of the project will be enhanced regional connectivity and trade via CAREC Corridor 3. The outcome will be improved efficiency and safer movement of goods and people on the Bishkek-Osh road. The project outputs will be (i) 52.5 km of rehabilitated road from Bishkek to Kara Balta, (ii) 67 km of rehabilitated road from Madaniyat to Jalalabad, (iii) strengthened road asset management system, and (iv) improved road safety.
Naryn Program Readiness Activity 2 will support ADBs ongoing Naryn Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Development Program (the Naryn Program), which uses the results-based lending (RBL) modality, in the following areas: (i) component 1: recruitment of the independent verification agent (IVA) for the Naryn Program to validate the disbursement linked indicators (DLIs), and (ii) component 2: capacity development of the Naryn Programs executing and implementing agencies to support the overall program implementation and to achieve the program results framework. A consulting firm will be recruited for the IVA, while individual consultants will be engaged for the component 2 (implementation support to the Naryn Program). Activity 2 will also finance the consulting services of an independent external auditor to carry out the Naryn Program audit.
Osh-Plotina Water Treatment Plant Chlorine Neutralization Unit The first activity under the facility will support the physical upgrade of the chlorine neutralization unit at the Osh-Plotina WTP, completed in September 2016 under the Emergency Assistance for Recovery and Reconstruction project. The unit will be upgraded to a higher international standard and provide 400,000 people with access to safe and reliable water supply. The activity will improve the development impact and sustainability of the project.
Climate-Resilient Agricultural Value Chain Development Project The proposed project will enhance food security, within households and nationally, through resilient, climate-adaptive horticultural value chains. The project will assist participating financial institutions (PFIs) to provide better-structured loan products to small and medium-sized agribusiness enterprises—including aggregators, collectors, processors, and export enterprises—for horticulture products, including apple, apricot, cucumber, garlic, onion, pear, and potato. This will improve processing and storage capacity and reduce post-harvest handling and storage losses by establishing modern and efficient processing, storage, and refrigerated facilities. The project will also (i) establish contract farming arrangements between farmers and processors and/or exporters, (ii) promote climate-adaptive agronomic techniques and product-handling practices to reduce food losses, (iii) train women enterprise owners and/or managers in business management and entrepreneurship, (iv) implement measures to facilitate cross-border trade for the Kyrgyz Republic’s agricultural produce, (v) build the institutional capacity and governance of PFIs, and (vi) promote private sector participation. This will increase profitability for horticultural producers and agribusiness enterprises and strengthen market linkages to increase national food security.
Vocational Education and Skills Development The Project assists the government in reforming the primary vocational education (PVE) system and increasing skill training opportunities for adults and out of school youth. the Project has four components: (i) consolidation of PVE system; (ii) improving teaching and learning environments; (iii) modernization of curriculum and assessment and development of learning materials, and (iv) human resource development.