Deadline: 13-Mar-2026
UNICEF is inviting Expressions of Interest from qualified Civil Society Organizations to integrate peace education competencies into the ongoing national education reform in the Kyrgyz Republic. The initiative focuses on developing and piloting curriculum materials, teacher training, and promoting social cohesion through education.
About
UNICEF is launching a call for Expressions of Interest to support the integration of peace education into Kyrgyzstan’s national education reform process. This project aims to empower young people by embedding competencies for peacebuilding, civic responsibility, resilience, and leadership within the national curriculum. The initiative focuses on strengthening the youth’s capacity to promote dialogue and unity in a socially diverse society.
Key Focus Areas
The initiative’s primary areas of focus include:
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Integration of Peace Education and Media Literacy: Embedding peace education and media literacy into the curriculum and teacher training modules.
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Curriculum Analysis: Analyzing the national curriculum to ensure alignment with UNESCO and UNICEF global frameworks on peace education and 21st-century skills.
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Development of Teaching Materials: Creating teaching and learning materials for both formal and informal education settings, ensuring they are gender-sensitive, inclusive, and disability-friendly.
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Teacher Training: Training teachers and master trainers on the new materials, using competency-based methodologies, inclusive pedagogies, and gender-sensitive approaches.
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Promotion of Civic Responsibility: Fostering youth leadership, social cohesion, and resilience against hate speech and social media manipulation.
National Education Reform in Kyrgyzstan
The Kyrgyz Republic is currently undergoing an education reform aimed at modernizing its general secondary education system. Key components of the reform include:
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Revisions to state education standards and subject curricula.
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Introduction of integrated subjects such as Civics and Natural Sciences (Grades 7-9).
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Transition to a 12-year education system.
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Revision of the Basic Curriculum Framework.
This reform process presents an opportunity to integrate peacebuilding and tolerance competencies into the curriculum, preparing youth to contribute to a peaceful and inclusive society.
Key Project Components
The selected Civil Society Organization (CSO) will lead efforts to:
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Curriculum Design: Establish a team of curriculum experts to develop contextualized modules for peace education and media literacy in Kyrgyz and Russian languages.
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Pilot Phase: Implement pilot programs across 20-30 schools in Jalal-Abad, Osh, Chui, and Issyk-Kul regions, targeting 58 schools. At least half of the schools will be multilingual.
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Teacher Preparation: Train at least two teachers per school on new materials, inclusive methodologies, and gender-sensitive teaching.
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Monitoring and Evaluation: Collect feedback from teachers, students, and local education authorities to assess the quality, usability, and relevance of the materials.
The final materials will be reviewed by the Ministry of Education and finalized for print and digital distribution.
Target Locations
The pilot will be conducted across ten project locations in Jalal-Abad, Osh, Chui, and Issyk-Kul regions, impacting 58 schools in total. At least half of the participating schools will be multilingual, ensuring broad inclusivity.
Budget and Funding
The initiative has an indicative budget of 150,000 USD, representing a strategic investment in peacebuilding through education reform. This funding will be used to support the development, piloting, and finalization of curriculum materials, teacher training, and project implementation.
FAQs
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Who is eligible to apply for this initiative?
The call is open to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) with experience in peace education, curriculum development, and teacher training. -
What is the scope of the pilot phase?
The pilot will involve 20-30 schools in four regions of Kyrgyzstan, impacting 58 schools. -
What languages will the teaching materials be available in?
The teaching and learning materials will be developed in Kyrgyz and Russian languages. -
How will teacher training be conducted?
At least two teachers from each participating school will be trained on the new materials, inclusive pedagogies, and gender-sensitive approaches. -
What is the role of the Ministry of Education in this project?
The Ministry of Education will provide technical consultation and feedback on the draft materials and officially review the final deliverables. -
What is the expected outcome of the pilot phase?
The pilot phase will assess the quality and usability of the teaching materials and ensure that gender equality and prevention of gender-based violence are fully integrated. -
How will the materials be disseminated?
Once finalized, the materials will be distributed in both print and digital formats for wider accessibility across schools in Kyrgyzstan.
Conclusion
This UNICEF initiative represents a significant investment in the future of the Kyrgyz Republic’s education system. By integrating peace education and media literacy into the national curriculum, the project aims to equip young people with the skills necessary to promote social cohesion, dialogue, and peacebuilding in a diverse and evolving society. The pilot phase will serve as the foundation for a long-term educational transformation that empowers the next generation of leaders and change-makers.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.