In November – December 2019, the number of events related to water quality monitoring, preparation of the SDG National Voluntary Review as well as other events connected with  water sector and SDG 6 took place in Kyrgyzstan.

From October 14 till October 18, 2019 preparatory mission to the KGZ-Water III Project took place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) has been represented by Ms. Tea Törnroos, Head of International Affairs Unit, FinWaterWEI II Coordinator and Mr. Ari Mäkelä, Senior Technical Adviser.

Starting from the beginning of the next year in the framework of interinstitutional cooperation instrument (ICI), the State Agency of Environment Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic together with the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) plan to continue joint project activities (KGZ-Water).

In the framework of long-terms and stable cooperation between the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) and OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek under the FinWater WEI Programme, from June 17 till  June 20, 2019 the study tour to Finland has been organized by SYKE under support of OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek for the winners of contest that took place in autumn 2018 within the  Annual Aarhus Centers Meeting.

On May 22, 2019 the meeting of FinWaterWEI II (FWW) representative with UNIDO took place. UNIDO was represented by Ms. Nilgun Tas - Project Manager, Mr. Marat Usupov – Country Representative in the KR and Asel Duishenova – National Consultant.

On March, 27, 2019 the representatives of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland within the mission to Issyk-Kul province have visited Issyk-Kul Territorial Administration (IKTA) of the State Agency of Environment Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (SAEPF). In the structure of SAEPF, IKTA was one of the main partners of ICI projects implemented under the Programme for Finland’s Water Sector Support to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (FinWaterWEI II) under support of the Government of Finland.

On March 1, 2019 the Coordination Steering Committee on Implementation of International Environmental Projects, including ICI projects implemented by SAEPF and SYKE under the Programme for Finland’s Water Sector Support to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan (FinWaterWEI II) took place in Bishkek.

On February 15, 2019, the final on-hand training on ISEMWO (Information System of Environmental Monitoring of Water Objects) took place in Bishkek. ISEMWO was developed in the framework of ICI projects by CBI (Center for Business and Innovations) under expert support from the Finnish Environment Institute.

On December 25, 2018, the State Agency of Environment Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (SAEPF) and Agency on Hydrometeorology of the Ministry of Emergencies of the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzhydromet) have signed updated Liaison Protocol. The main goal of Protocol is ensuring of collaborative implementation of definite contiguous functions and effective cooperation related to development and improvement of environmental monitoring system.

On December 21, 2018, Environmental Laboratory of Issyk-Kul Territorial Administration of the State Agency of Environment Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic has obtained Accreditation certificate.

On December 11-12, 2018 in the framework of interinstitutional cooperation, the Environment Monitoring Unit of Issyk-Kul Territorial Administration of the State Agency of Environment Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (SAEPF) has received laboratory equipment (ultrasonicator) and the set of office equipment under ICI Projects’ support.

On September 26, 2018 the Сonference ‘Together towards Greater Water Security’ has been held in Bishkek. The main Conference’s goal was finalization of  results achieved under implementation of Programme for Finland’s Water Sector Support to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan  (FinWaterWEI II), as well as discussion of water sector development perspectives.

On September 19 - 20, 2018 in the framework of cooperation with Aarhus centers of Kyrgyzstan and OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, the Project representatives took part at the 2018 Annual Meeting of Aarhus Centers of Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.

From August 3 till August 24, 2018 Mr. Ari Mäkelä, Project manager were visiting Kyrgyzstan with mission. The main mission’s task was preparation, organization and conduction of Final project Board meeting, working meeting on review/updating of Liaison Protocol and Joint Water Quality Monitoring Programme, as well as implantation of other project’s activities in accordance with approved Work Plan.

On August 22, 2018 in Bishkek the final Project Board meeting for “Formation of decision-making system aimed at ecological and economic development of Issyk-Kul Lake’s territory, based on the results of environmental monitoring (KGZ-Water/Issyk-Kul)” took place in the conference-hall of the State Agency of Environment Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (SAEPF).

On August 9-10, 2018 Workshop on review of Liaison Protocol between the State Agency of Environment Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Agency on Hydrometeorology under the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic and Joint Water Quality Monitoring Programme took place under Project’s support.

On July 4^th in 1998 -  twenty years ago, for the first time I was fielded in Bishkek to work in Kyrgyz Ministry of the Environmental Protection for reasons of  ”Environmental Monitoring and Management Capacity Building”. So far, five different projects in cooperation between Finnish Environment Institute and the State Agency of Environment Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (including its precursors) have been carried out in 1998-2000 in Bishkek and Chui area, 2001-2002 in Osh and Jalal-Abad areas, 2004-2006 and 2011-2014 in Chui area, and 2015-2018 in Issyk-Kul area and partially in Naryn area (Son-Kul lake).

In June 2018, technical assistance in the form of electrical power generator for scientific and research vessel Moltur and motor for rescue boat has been rendered by the Project. Decision about technical support has been made by the Project Board on November 29, 2017.

From June 12 till June 15, 2018  the State Agency of Environment Protection and Forestry under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (SAEPF) and Agency on Hydrometeorology (Kyrgyzhydromet) under the Ministry of Emergencies Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic with  participation of the Finnish Environment Institute under the Project’s support has organized and conducted deep water monitoring of Issyk-Kul Lake.

On June 7, 2018 Round Table “Environment of Issyk-Kul Province and its importance for population wellbeing” took place in conference hall of Issyk-Kul District State Administration, Issyk-Kul Province (Oblast) of the Kyrgyz Republic.