IGZ Co-Hosts the Life in Kyrgyzstan Conference 2025

28.10.2025

Dr Damir Esenaliev presented the evolution of the LiK Study, including the findings from the 7th wave of data. Photo: University of Central Asia.

On 10–11 October 2025, the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ), together with the University of Central Asia (UCA) and ISDC – International Security and Development Center, successfully organized the Life in Kyrgyzstan (LiK) Conference. The event was supported by valued partners including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), American University of Central Asia (AUCA), UNFPA, and the World Bank.

Now in its 11th edition, the LiK Conference brought together researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners to discuss the latest findings on social and economic life in Kyrgyzstan and the broader region. The two-day programme featured a dynamic mix of plenary and parallel sessions, highlighting empirical research, methodological innovation, and policy dialogue.

The opening plenary reflected on the evolution of the LiK Survey and its contribution to shaping research and policy agendas. A dedicated session showcased results from the seventh wave of LiK data collection, revealing major social and economic trends since 2010. Another policy session focused on Kyrgyzstan’s recent economic developments and featured insights from government representatives and academic experts.

Across more than 25 sessions, participants discussed topics such as agrarian transformations, agriculture and climate adaptation, food security, climate change, mountain ecosystems and sustainable development, socio-economic and climate risks, urban-environmental innovations, gender, behavioural preferences, and social change.

“The LiK Study allows us to follow the same individuals and households over many years, providing a deep understanding of how their lives evolve, how gender roles shift, and how economic and social factors are interlinked,” noted Professor Tilman Brück (Humboldt-University of Berlin, IGZ and ISDC), Principal Investigator of the LiK Study. “It is a unique, researcher-driven effort — designed, collected, and used by independent scholars — which gives it a level of freedom and scientific rigour that distinguishes it from many other data sources. Because we interview all adults in each household, we gain a multidimensional view of family dynamics, decision-making, and social change. This makes the LiK Study not only the most comprehensive dataset in Kyrgyzstan, but also the only one in Central Asia that enables us to trace long-term trends in people’s lives with such depth and accuracy.”

IGZ has been an active partner of the LiK Conference since 2016, hosting data collection for the LiK Study in 2016 and 2019. The 2025 conference concluded with a shared commitment to advancing evidence-based research and applying data-driven insights to inform policy and practice. It reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between researchers, institutions, and decision-makers to promote inclusive and sustainable development in Kyrgyzstan and across Central Asia.

Further Information:
Life in Kyrgyzstan (LiK) Study: www.lifeinkyrgyzstan.org