Bishkek, Feb. 7, 2024. /Kabar/. In a rapidly changing digital landscape, digital literacy and economic empowerment initiatives are key to shaping the future. The “Sanarip Insan” project, implemented with financial support from the European Union, the European Neighborhood Council and the Internet Society Kyrgyz Chapter (ISOC), is paving the way for inclusive growth and innovation in Central Asia.
Focusing on three key areas — e-commerce, digital tourism and digital agriculture - the “Sanarip Insan” aims to equip people with digital knowledge that can enhance their economic well-being and contribute to sustainable development.
"The main focus of the project is on the regions, and it seems to us that there are very few opportunities for digital skills in the regions, and even fewer opportunities open up for women and youth. We think that by developing their economic and digital opportunities, the regions will develop rapidly. As practice shows, if we want to achieve the best results, we need to invest in women. If we support women, we also help children, because in rural regions it is women who are more involved in the educational process," said Talant Sultanov, director and co-founder of ISOC Kyrgyz Chapter.
In accordance with the priorities of the Kyrgyz government on digitalization of all spheres of activity, the project is being implemented in close coordination with various ministries and departments. Joint efforts with the Ministry of Education have led to the development of digital educational materials, and partnership with the Ministry of Digital Development and the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy provides a comprehensive approach to digital empowerment.
"We have adapted MISTT, which tells in an accessible language how to use the Internet on a mobile phone for your own benefit. The GSMA Global Association has developed and published the MISTT handbook in 70 languages. But it was not in either Kyrgyz or Russian, we translated and adapted the manual. We closely coordinate our activities and goals with the Ministry of Digital Development. We were awarded a diploma for our contribution to the digitalization of the country. We are also working with the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy to inform the public and provide training sites. The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Migration has a mandate to create new jobs. Our project is working in this direction – we are helping to create new jobs, new economic opportunities," shared Talant Sultanov.
Samuel Doveri Vesterbye, Director of the independent think tank the European Neighborhood Council (ENC), highlighted the key role of ENC in the “Sanarip Insan” project and its broader goals in Central Asia. Samuel spoke about ENC's commitment to providing digital skills education among diverse communities, focusing on the empowerment of women and vulnerable groups in rural areas, as well as the importance of digital literacy in the context of an emerging economy, emphasizing the need for continued support for projects such as “Sanarip Insan”.
"The cooperation between ISOC and ENC has been very, very fruitful. Thanks to this project, we have the opportunity both to inform the European Union and to consult with it. We had the opportunity to meet with many civil society organizations, as well as educational institutions and government, both local and national in Kyrgyzstan. The prospects for further cooperation between us are very high. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ISOC and hope to continue this project, hopefully again with EU funding and maybe even extend it to other regions," Samuel said.
According to him, Kyrgyzstan has every chance to become the tourist capital of Central Asia, so digital tourism, as one of the components of the project, is considered one of the key ones. Recognizing the importance of sustainable development, the project aims to have a long-term impact beyond its duration. Initiatives such as startup contests and investments are aimed at developing entrepreneurship and creating new economic opportunities in the region.
Aziz Soltobaev, co-founder of ISOC Kyrgyz Chapter and coordinator of the “Sanarip Insan” project, emphasized the role of youth entrepreneurship, which can help improve economic well-being and create a social effect.
"Within the framework of the project, a startup competition for young people was held with a prize fund of 2.7 million soms (27,500 euros) to stimulate economic well-being. At the first stage, a total of 164 applications were submitted, 115 of them from women. 22 applications were submitted to the second stage of the competition, and 18 to the final. Applications were received from all 7 regions of Kyrgyzstan. 10 digital startups have received financial support - from 400,000 to 150,000 soms."
The project correlates with the policy pursued in Kyrgyzstan, where today youth policy is becoming the main lever of all areas of state policy, as President Sadyr Zhaparov emphasized and called for "investing in youth as a resource capital that can bring the country's development to a high level, open up new opportunities."
Talant Sultanov also highlighted the fruitful cooperation between ISOC KG and ENC, noting their shared commitment to advancing the digital agenda in Kyrgyzstan. Looking ahead, he expressed optimism about continuing cooperation and expanding the project to other regions in line with the growing demand for digital knowledge in Central Asia.
The project may have broader implications for digital integration in Central Asia. The project not only stimulates economic growth, but also promotes social cohesion and the empowerment of youth and women. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, sustained collaboration and investment in digital literacy will continue to be crucial to unlocking the full potential of Central Asian societies.
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