OECD Development Pathways
Social Protection System Review of Kyrgyzstan
Please cite this publication as:
OECD (2018), Social Protection System Review of Kyrgyzstan , OECD Development Pathways, OECD Publishing, Paris.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264302273-en
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ISBN: 978-92-64-30226-6 (print) - 978-92-64-30227-3 (pdf) - 978-92-64-30244-0 (HTML) - 978-92-64-30243-3 (epub)
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264302273-en
Series: OECD Development Pathways
ISSN: 2308-734X (print) - 2308-7358 (online)
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Foreword
Kyrgyzstan has taken huge strides since gaining independence in 1991. Having embarked upon a rapid transition to a market economy, it has been equally bold in developing the political and social institutions of a modern democratic state. Although progress has not always been smooth, recent elections have demonstrated the growing stability of Kygyzstans political system, while its economy has shown great resilience in recent years.
Social protection has played a key role in Kyrgyzstans transition. The Government of Kyrgyzstan (GoK) has not only maintained the sizeable social insurance system that existed prior to independence but has also introduced several new social assistance and labour market policies. Social protection is the largest component of public spending, accounting for more than expenditure on health and education combined.
However, social protection provision must continue to adapt to meet a number of emerging challenges, including pervasive informality, high rates of labour migration and unemployment and the prospect of rapid growth in the elderly population. Income poverty and broader measures of deprivation have fallen dramatically since the early 2000s but remain high. The pension system achieves near-universal coverage among the elderly population but at great cost; its long-term sustainability is in doubt.
This Social Protection System Review explores ways by which social protection in Kyrgystan can be enhanced through a systemic approach. The GoK has committed to systematising social protection in recent social protection strategies; this Review intends to support the GoK in realising its new vision by presenting a broad vision of the sector and improving the evidence base needed for reforms to establish a coherent, sustainable and effective set of programmes.
The Review is the result of a collaboration between the OECD and senior government officials, researchers and civil society representatives in Kyrgyzstan. It has also received considerable support from development partners in the country. The recommendations it includes were jointly produced by the OECD and its many collaborators in this initiative. The Review is supported by the EU Social Protection Systems Programme, co-financed by the European Union, the OECD and the Government of Finland.
Mario Pezzini
Director of the Development
Centre and Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Development
OECD
Isakunova Taalaikul Bazarkulovna
Minister of Labour and Social Development
Government of Kyrgyzstan
Acknowledgements
The Social Protection System Review of Kyrgyzstan was prepared by the Social Cohesion Unit of the OECD Development Centre as part of the European Union Social Protection Systems Programme.
The team was led by Alexandre Kolev, Head of the Social Cohesion Unit, under the guidance of Mario Pezzini, Director of the OECD Development Centre and Special Advisor to the OECD Secretary-General on Development and Naoko Ueda, Deputy-Director of the OECD Development Centre. The report was drafted by Riku Elovainio, Alexander Pick and Caroline Tassot, drawing from a background paper prepared by the Economic Policy Research Institute in collaboration with CASE Kyrgyzstan. Justina La provided assistance at every stage.
The report was reviewed by Bert Brys (OECD) and Jrgen Hohmann from the European Commission. It also benefited from valuable inputs and comments from Robert Brudzynski (European Union Delegation, Kyrgyzstan), Zhypara Rysbekova (Ministry of Labour and Social Development), Gulsana Turusbekova (UNICEF Kyrgyzstan), Volodymyr Kuzminskyi, Roza Rayapova (both from the European Union programme in Kyrgyzstan), Irina Lushakova and Roman Mogilevsky (CASE Kyrgyzstan); and Sharifbek Sohibnazar (World Food Programme Kyrgyzstan).
The review and the recommendations it contains benefited considerably from comments received in a Recommendations Workshop held in Bishkek on 14 March 2018. Participants included Gulzina Boobekova, Cholpon Egeshova, Yulia Kalinichenko, Cholpon Kalmyrzaeva, N Kenenbaeva, Aina Koshmolova, Almagul Mamasaipova, Aina Mambetova, Gulmira Mamyrkanova, Roman Mogilevskyi, Roza Rayapova, Samat Sartbaev, Elmira Shishkaraeva, Sharifbek Sohibnazarov, Elmira Suyumbaeva, Aikol Turganbaeva and Gulsana Turusbekova.
The OECD Development Centres publication team, led by Delphine Grandrieux, produced the publication. The cover was designed by Aida Buenda.
The European Union Social Protection Systems Programme is co-financed by the European Union, the OECD and the Government of Finland.
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union and Finland. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the OECD and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the Government of Finland.
Abbreviations and acronyms
ADB
Asian Development Bank
ADP
Additional drug package
ART
Antiretroviral therapy
DALY
Disability-Adjusted Life Years
DBR
Disability boards of review
DHS
Demographic and Health Survey
DTP3
Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis
EEU
Eurasian Economic Union