Kyrgyzstan became a member of the United Nations on March 2, 1992. The UN Permanent Mission in Kyrgyzstan was opened in 1993, shortly after the republic gained independence. Over the years, the UN representation in the Kyrgyz Republic has expanded and strengthened, and currently, numerous UN programs and agencies carry out diverse activities not only at the national level but also at the local level.
Six organizations within the UN system have their permanent representations in Kyrgyzstan: the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), while not a member of the UN system, participates in meetings of UN agency representatives in Kyrgyzstan, in thematic group work, conferences, and other events held in Kyrgyzstan under the auspices of the UN. The basis for partnership is a range of programs and projects implemented by IOM in Kyrgyzstan in close cooperation with several UN agencies accredited in the republic.
Regional representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (based in Tashkent), representatives of UNESCO, and the inter-republican advisor of the UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (based in Almaty) have conducted activities in Kyrgyzstan through their regional offices and participated in meetings of UN agency representatives as well as in other joint events.
In March 1993, the UNDP representation was opened in Bishkek. The first country program (1993-1996) focused on issues of governance and coordination of received aid, improving public administration, and supporting democratization processes. The work of the representation led to the establishment of the program "Foundations of Cooperation with the Country (1997-2000)."
