82 students graduated successfully from advanced training course on water supply

An official ceremony of awarding graduation certificates to students of the Water Supply Advanced Training Program took place on May 15, 2025. The Program is implemented by the Kyrgyz Republic’s Community Development and Investment Agency (ARIS) in partnership with the Kyrgyz State Technical University (KSTU) named after Razzakov. This partnership is part of the Sustainable Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Development Project supported by the World Bank and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The aim of the Program is to develop professional competencies of water supply specialists and local self-governance bodies in rural municipalities. This is an important step towards ensuring the quality and sustainable access to safe water supply, thus influencing the living environment for people.

The event has been attended by Mr. Hugh Riddell, World Bank Country Manager; KSTU Rector Mr. Mirlan Chynybayev; Mr. Mars Naspekov, ARIS Executive Director; graduates of the Program as well as the specialists of the World Bank, ARIS, State Institution for Drinking Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal Development, KSTU etc.

Key features of the Program included

•          10 topics of training during two-week hybrid courses covering the theoretical courses, exercises and laboratory classes;

•          Master classes and dedicated workshops inviting lead specialists of the sector;

•          On-site training in water supply utilities;

•          Virtual courses lead by international specialists;

•          State-of-the-art equipment and digital platforms for training;

•          Focus on international standards of water supply management;

•          Graduation testing and collecting feedback from students to improve the training process.

The Program has demonstrated high efficiency – 129 students received training where 82 students graduated successfully and received official qualification certificates.

This Program has been designed as a significant contribution to the skills and capacity development for the sector specialists facilitating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals including access to safe drinking water, qualification development of water supply specialists at the grassroots level and infrastructural improvements in rural communities.  This is an investment in the future to create a new professional environment and next generation of water sector professionals.