The 2005 Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance Annual Report

KYRGYZ REPUBLICTHE PURCHASE AND REARING OF LIVE-STOCK, PARTICULARLY BY WOMEN, IS SUP-PORTED THROUGH VARIOUS GROUP LOANSCHEMES OFFERED BY AKAM IN RURALPARTS OF THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC.AKAM’s microfinance activities in the Kyrgyz Republic haveprimarily been in the rural mountainous areas of the Osh andNaryn provinces. Beginning in the Alai and Chon Alai districtsthat border Tajikistan, the programme extended its operationsto areas adjoining the mountainous districts of Karasu and Uzgen.To complement the provision of mountain studies and entrepreneurshipat the University of Central Asia, microcredit activitieshave also been initiated in Naryn Province, which is at the heartof Tien-Shan mountain range.In less than three years, the microfinance programme has disbursedover US$ 4.6 million to 11,789 beneficiaries. Nearly half ofthem are women. These loans have financed agricultural inputs for28