27 September, Bishkek – The Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic hosted the inauguration ceremony of the Master's programme on "Effective Governance and Anti-Corruption." This significant event brought together representatives from government institutions, international partners, and civil society, with the shared goal of preparing a new generation of professionals committed to combating corruption and improving governance in Kyrgyzstan.

The "Effective Governance and Anti-Corruption" programme aims to foster the long-term development of the capacity of civil servants and representatives of civil society, establishing a strong foundation for sustainable development and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 – promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions. The one-year Master's programme is designed to train highly qualified specialists in combating corruption and building transparent and accountable public institutions.

UNDP Resident Representative in Kyrgyzstan, Alexandra Solovieva, highlighted that the support for this initiative will contribute to the long-term development of both civil servants and civil society representatives in preventing corruption.

“We believe that this will create the conditions for enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public administration, ultimately benefiting the well-being and living standards of the people of Kyrgyzstan,” emphasized Ms. Solovieva.

The Rector of the Academy, Almazbek Akmataliev, noted: "This program is an important step towards a more transparent and accountable system of public administration. We are proud that it offers unique opportunities to train specialists who will be able to make a real contribution to combating corruption in our country. The master's program will allow students to study international legal norms, standards, legislation, and best practices in the field of anti-corruption compliance, anti-money laundering, and countering the financing of terrorism. Overall, it will provide a fundamental anti-corruption education, as well as a full range of knowledge and skills necessary to advance anti-corruption reforms in our country."

The first 25 applicants passed their entrance exams on 24 September and will begin their studies on 30 September. The programme is an evening, in-person format and is tuition-free for this academic year. The Master's programme on "Effective Governance and Anti-Corruption" was developed and launched as part of the UNDP project “Strengthening People-Centered Anti-Corruption and Accountability Efforts in the Kyrgyz Republic,” with financial support from the United States Department of State.

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About UNDP:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. UNDP's mission is to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. We help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships, and institutions so they can sustain their progress. 

Media Contacts: Nurzhan Alymkanova, Communications Specialist UNDP Kyrgyzstan, nurzhan.alymkanova@undp.org