Energy-Induced Vulnerabilities in Kyrgyzstan

In 2024, UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic released the new National Human Development Report (NHDR), the culmination of a long-term, inclusive, and participatory analytical process. Far more than a standalone publication, the NHDR 2024 reflects sustained dialogue, evidence generation, and collaboration among government institutions, academia, civil society, independent experts, the private sector, UN agencies, and development partners. Together, these efforts have shaped a shared understanding of how energy systems, climate action, and human development intersect in the Kyrgyz context.

A distinctive feature of the NHDR 2024 is its strong empirical foundation. As part of the report’s preparation, UNDP conducted a dedicated household survey that generated unique, previously unavailable data on energy vulnerability and living conditions. The survey captured the everyday realities faced by households, including the specific challenges experienced by residents of new residential settlements in Chui and Jalal-Abad oblasts in accessing reliable, affordable, and clean energy. It also collected detailed information on household living standards, energy and fuel expenditures, heating practices, awareness and use of renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies, and perceptions of energy-related risks and opportunities.

The NHDR 2024 focuses on energy vulnerability and the human dimensions of the energy transition, examining how access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy can act as a powerful driver of well-being, resilience, and opportunity. The report shows that the Kyrgyz Republic has made remarkable progress in human development over recent decades, moving into the group of countries with high human development. Crucially, the analysis demonstrates that further improvements in the Human Development Index (HDI) are achievable by addressing energy-related constraints that continue to affect people’s lives—particularly in rural, mountainous, and peri-urban areas.