LocationsBishkek, 19 March 2025 – The National Institute for Strategic Initiatives with the support of UNDP completed a cycle of trainings for civil servants on strategic foresight “Introduction to Foresight and Future Prospects Research”.
The training of three training modules is aimed at developing skills for long-term urban planning and sustainable management of urban processes to strengthen the human resource capacity of government agencies.
As part of the program, participants learned advanced methods for analyzing urban trends, forecasting future challenges and developing effective urban development scenarios. They learned how to apply innovative foresight approaches to improve the sustainability of the urban environment.
As the Deputy Director of the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Aidai Temikeeva noted: “The application of foresight technologies in public administration opens new horizons for strategic development. This training contributed to the formation of competencies necessary for making far-sighted and informed decisions aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens”.
Aidai Temikeeva, Deputy Director of the National Institute for Strategic Initiatives under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic
Training participants included staff from the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic, the State Agency for Public Service and Local Self-Governance, the I. Razzakov Kyrgyz State Technical University and the M. Ryskulbekov Kyrgyz Economic University.
The training also brought together representatives of key government and educational institutions in Kyrgyzstan, including the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the National Bank, the National Statistical Committee, the National Academy of Sciences, the Water Resources Service, the J. Abdrakhmanov Academy of Public Administration, as well as representatives of the mayor's offices of Bishkek, Osh, Kant, Karakol and Kara-Balta.
UNDP supports the development of professional competencies and practical skills in strategic foresight, as sustainable urban development plays a key role in economic growth, improving the quality of life and adapting to dynamically changing conditions. The use of foresight technologies allows government agencies to make informed decisions, minimize risks and create a comfortable environment for citizens.
Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative in Kyrgyzstan, emphasized the importance of innovation for accelerating sustainable development: “Forecasting the future is critical for optimizing and improving the effectiveness of public administration in the face of uncertainty. The development of the first practical guide on foresight technologies in Kyrgyzstan strengthens the capacity of public administration bodies in the field of urban development, and in the broader context of development and improving the well-being of the population”.
Participants of the training
The training was conducted by Elena Muzykina of the Centre for Postnormal Policy & Futures Studies of Kazakhstan, a certified futurologist, Doctor of Islamic Studies, PhD in Philosophy and an internationally recognized expert in the field of foresight.
Under her guidance, participants not only learned the key principles of foresight, but also gained practical skills to apply them in the context of urban planning.
“In the conditions of increasing uncertainty, research into the prospects of the future and foresight become not a luxury, but an everyday necessity for building long-term successful development strategies in all spheres of human activity”, - said the expert.
Thanks to the interactive format, the participants were able to critically assess the existing challenges and develop innovative solutions for urban development. At the end of the training the participants received certificates confirming the mastered knowledge and skills in the field of strategic forecasting, applicable both in the field of urbanism and other areas of sustainable development. The experience gained will be analyzed and recorded in the form of practical guidance on the application of foresight technologies in public administration for further scaling and strengthening of human resources at the national level.
