Citizens of Naryn in the Kyrgyz Republic will enjoy improved wastewater services thanks to a joint €6.5 million investment by the EBRD, the Government of Switzerland and the European Union (EU) in the municipal water service infrastructure at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated the critical importance of high standards of hygiene and sanitation.

The Naryn financing package will include a 15-year EBRD loan of €2 million, a grant for capital investment and technical assistance of up to €3.5 million from the Government of Switzerland and a €1 million investment grant from the EU.

It will help address the consequences of decades of underinvestment in the municipal water and wastewater systems. The project will support the rehabilitation and extension of the main sewers, the purchase of operational and maintenance equipment and the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant in Naryn.

This will improve the city wastewater infrastructure resilience to climate change and public health challenges, optimise operating costs of the municipal water utility and increase the amount of citizens with regular access to wastewater services from 10,000 to 39,000 residents by 2024.

It builds on the successfully implemented previous phase of the project financed by a €2 million EBRD loan combined with a €3.6 million Swiss Government grant and mainly aimed at urgent repairs and the extension of the drinking water supply system in Naryn.

In addition, technical assistance of €1 million will be provided by the Government of Switzerland to help the Naryn water company implement the project, improve corporate practices and set up a stakeholder participation programme.

This humanitarian aid was transferred as part of the project “Emergency support to the livestock sector in Naryn and At-Bashy districts of Naryn oblast” supported by the Government of Switzerland and the Aga Khan Foundation in the Kyrgyz Republic.

The project in cooperation with local authorities provides support to more than 300 vulnerable farmer households of Naryn and At-Bashy districts of Naryn oblast. The farmers received 40 tons of barley seeds, 8 tons of sainfoin seeds and 10 tons of the ammophos fertilizer to grow fodder crops on 260 hectares and to support self-sustainability of farmers during the crisis period.

Since livestock is a key source of income in Naryn region, veterinarians of these areas have also been provided with personal protective equipment to allow safe working conditions. The equipment included 100 pieces of medical respiratory masks, 700 pairs of gloves and 100 pieces of protective goggles. This assistance was delivered through the Veterinary and Phytosanitary Safety Directorate of At-Bashy and Naryn districts.

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the socio-economic situation of farmers and the key response was to provide timely support during sowing season. These measures will allow people in vulnerable situation to continue working, safe vaccination of their livestock and support food security situation in the region.

During the delivery of humanitarian aid all sanitary precautionary measures were ensured.