On August 6, 2025, the final conference titled “Green Renovation, Internal Migration and Air Quality: Solutions for a Sustainable Future of Kyrgyzstan” was held in Bishkek.
The event marked the concluding stage of a two-year effort to implement sustainable building solutions into state programs for energy efficiency and climate resilience of housing. This was done within the framework of the project “Promoting the Engagement of Internal Migrants in Green Renovation in Kyrgyzstan”, implemented by the UNISON Public Foundation with the support of the Development Fund of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The conference was attended by representatives of government agencies, international organizations, civil society, the private sector, academic institutions, and youth organizations.
The main goal of the project was to promote the involvement of internal migrants in the Government of Kyrgyzstan’s green renovation initiatives.
The project covered the cities of Bishkek and Osh, as well as seven regions of the country: Batken, Chui, Naryn, Jalal-Abad, Osh, Talas, and Issyk-Kul. Its main objective was to promote the integration of internal migrants into green renovation processes and sustainable housing construction. Since its launch in October 2023, the project has achieved significant results.
One of the key areas of focus was the development of climate-resilient architectural solutions: a national competition for architectural designs of energy-efficient low-rise residential buildings was held among architects, resulting in three winners who developed architectural projects.
All projects are publicly available on the UNISON Group website at the following link: https://www.unisongroup.org/ru/arhitekturnye-proekty
Special attention in the project was given to women-headed households. In Bishkek and Osh, technical audits were conducted in 48 such homes, of which 12 (10 in Bishkek and 2 in Osh) were selected for ecological renovation. Renovation works included replacing windows and doors with energy-efficient alternatives, insulating facades and roofs, and implementing engineering solutions to reduce heat loss. This significantly reduced heating costs and improved the quality of life for residents. Moreover, private construction companies actively participated by installing wiring, ventilation systems, and expanding living spaces at their own expense.
In addition, special training sessions were organized for women participating in the project, where they gained knowledge and practical skills in managing energy-efficient housing. A total of 45 female activists were trained under the project, along with 140 representatives of local administrations, technical specialists, and municipal employees.
An important component of the project was the communication campaign: more than 119,000 social media users became familiar with the project materials, including podcasts, videos, and publications available in both Russian and Kyrgyz. This ensured broad audience coverage and raised public awareness about sustainable construction.
The project also contributed to the development of public-private partnerships. Training events were organized for small and medium-sized businesses, representatives of relevant ministries, and members of the JIA Business Association. These meetings discussed practical aspects of implementing energy-efficient solutions and the potential for their commercial application. Recommendations were developed for the further use of green building standards and the expansion of their implementation in Kyrgyzstan.
The main achievement of the project was not only the improvement of housing conditions for vulnerable groups of the population, especially women and internal migrants, but also the promotion of a sustainable approach to energy efficiency nationwide. Thanks to gender integration, active involvement of women at all stages of implementation, and professional support from the private sector, the project made a significant contribution to the sustainable development of Kyrgyzstan.
The final conference provided participants with an opportunity to discuss the project’s achievements, share experiences, and present plans for the further development of green renovation in the republic.
