In this issue:

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

• NHDR Launching in Regions: Talas & Osh
• Mission of Anders Aslund, UNDP Consultant, Advisor to the President of the Kyrgyz Republic

UNDP LOCAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME

• Mission on Formulating Strategic Framework on Decentralization and Local self-governance for Kyrgyzstan
• Mediation Training for Preventive Development staff and Heads of Local Government in Batken

UNDP SOCIAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME

• David Akopyan, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, visited Osh to familiarize with the activities of the Poverty Alleviation Component in the oblast

HIV/AIDS

• First Round of Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

• Update on Counterpart Consortium/USAID/UNHCR/EU/SOROS Foundation - Supported NGO Activities

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

In accordance with the schedule of regional presentations of NHDR 2001, the NHDR National Experts Group and UNDP Programme Associate visited Talas to participate in the NHDR regional presentation 15 March 2002. The same day the Talas Oblast Administration conducted a seminar by the Kyrgyz Governments’ Department on support to small and medium enterprises for the Heads of Aiyl Okmotus on micro-crediting issues. The presentation of NHDR was very successfully planned for that day to assemble all the necessary audience. During the 14-15 of March there was another seminar conducted for Talas regional Mass Media Representatives also initiated by the Government and attended by the Government’s Press Secretary.

The NHDR presentation was attended by 94 people. During the presentation’s registration NHDRs were accurately distributed among the participants. The scenario of the events included the introduction by the Chairperson, NUNV Damira Sulpieva, the General Presentation on Talas Region Development and cooperation with UNDP by the Deputy Governor, Damira Bogubaeva, Presentation on the concept of Global and National HDRs, the subject of the NHDR 2001 and UNDP activities in Kyrgyzstan by the UNDP representative, Jyldyz Moldokulova, and the Presentation of NHDR 2001:new approaches to Democratic Governance, introduction into HD indicators and use of NHDR 2001 by National Experts Group Representatives, Tatyana Tretyakova and Alexander Tretyakov.

Then the presentations followed by questions from the audience and the presentation on UNDP Decentralization programme activities, its tools and approaches to Democratic Governance by Local Governance NUNV, Toktaim Abdieva, Presentation on UNDP Poverty Alleviation programme and its tools on social mobilization by Social Governance Poverty Alleviation Programme Animator, Suusarbek Kabaev, and others.

In general, the NHDR 2001 presentation went very smoothly and in a very inter-active manner. The audience’s reaction was very positive towards UNDP activities in general and the UNDP Decentralization and Poverty Alleviation Programmes in particular. They were also very much encouraged by the data provided in the NHDR: though the Talas region’s HDI is the fourth among all the regions (after Bishkek, Chuy and Issyk-Kul), the analytical data within the last three years show that its tempo of development dynamics is the highest all over the republic. Also, the representative of the local Veterans Council, a very respected aksakal, in a very emotional manner expressed gratitude to the National Experts Team for titanic work and very timely report and urged all participants to read the NHDR and use it in their everyday work.

Contact: Jyldyz Moldokulova, UNDP Programme Associate. Phone: (996 312) 61 12 13; e-mail:

On 16 March the NHDR Presentation was held in Osh. It was presented at the seminar for local officials and representatives of local administrations, international organizations, local academia and regional mass media outlets. Taken into consideration that Osh oblast is strategically important and the most densely populated region of Kyrgyzstan, and that more than 50% of local population lives in poverty, the Report is a timely and useful document. It contains a lot of statistical data on dynamics of human development potential for the last ten years. This hopefully would assist the local authorities in defining development priorities. The Report contains valuable recommendations of the most effective ways of poverty alleviation and how they can be used in local conditions of each region taking into consideration specifics of each region.

Using the data of the Global Human Development Report 2001, a group of national experts, the authors of the NHDR, came to the conclusion that Kyrgyzstan is in the list of the countries with high technological achievements. These achievements are the most vivid in Osh oblast where the local administrations were fully equipped with computers, which assists in data collection on socio-economic development trends. During the meeting of David Akopyan, the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative with Naken Kasiev, the Governor of Osh oblast, among other issues, IT trainings for local administrations staff was discussed.

“The theme of the Report is unique not only for Kyrgyzstan, but also for other countries, - told David Akopyan in his speech at the presentation, - because human development processes are tightly connected with development of democracy. We, at UNDP, are proud of the people’s participation in these processes. Along with the groups of professional policy makers and lobbyists, communities of local people started to participate in the process of changing the existing situation”.

Naken Kasiev, the Governor of the oblast noted that efforts undertaken in supporting the poorest population give the first visible results - there is a tendency of overcoming the psychological barrier of diffidence and extermination of dependant moods. In the region in the framework of the UNDP Decentralization and Poverty Alleviation Programmes there are 930 CBOs and 394 SHGs, which have already built 39 social infrastructure facilities for the sum exceeding 8 million soms. The volume of micro financing has been expanded two times, which helped to improve the lives of 12,5 thousand poor families.

Contact: Olga Grebennikova, UNDP Public Affairs Officer. Phone: (996 312) 61 12 13; e-mail:

10-19 March Anders Aslund, one of the world’s leading economists, UNDP Consultant and the Kyrgyz Republic President’s Advisor on Economic Issues visited Kyrgyzstan on the invitation from the President to provide policy advice for the Kyrgyz Republic to reap the domestic economic reform that the country has accomplished in the last few years. His mission focused on the following issues: the debt situation and its impact on the national poverty and a new economic policy with regard to the current international and regional development, particularly with the emphasis on the market access.

The mission had a purpose of providing the Government in addressing the governance constraints by building efficient and accountable institutions and democratic processes and to contribute to the equitable and people-centered socio-economic development within the framework of the UNDP National SHD Strategy and CDF/PRSP exercise.

The mission was also fielded at the request of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic to advise the Government of the country on various issues related to the new challenge the country is facing after the Afghan crisis as well as the follow up process of CDF process in the country.

During his mission to Kyrgystan Anders Aslund met with Askar Akaev, the President of Kyrgyzstan and other high level officials from various government agencies as well as representatives of the UN agencies, other international and bilateral agencies present in the country; and provided a lecture for UNDP staff on the economic problems the country faces with recommendations of overcoming economic crisis.

On 19 March the press briefing was held for journalists.

Upon end of his mission Anders Aslund will draft policy recommendation papers on foreign debt and its impact on national poverty and on expansion of market access toward economic internationalization of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Contact: Koji Kawabe, UNDP Programme Analyst. Phone: (996 312) 61 12 13; e-mail:

UNDP LOCAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME

Richard Huntington, an International Expert on Strategy Development arrived to Bishkek on the 3 March 2002 and joined the group of experts of Local Governance Programme. He started his work along with National Experts on the elaboration of a long-term Strategic Framework on Decentralization and Local self-governance for Kyrgyzstan. First week of his mission was mainly devoted to the meetings with government officials, representatives of UNDP Programmes and other international organizations. During the second week the programme organized 5 days field trip to Jalal-Abad and Osh oblasts, to the pilot village municipalities Kyzyl-Tuu, Suzak, Mady and Nariman.

Mr. Huntington and two national experts of the programme had a good opportunity to learn valuable experience of the programme at the grass-root level, to discuss social mobilization mechanisms and micro-capital grants with local CBOs and local authorities. At the same time after visiting pilot village municipalities in both oblasts were organized Seminars on Strategic framework with the participation of the Governors of the two oblasts, akims, chairpersons of oblast and rayon keneshes, heads of local governments and leaders of CBOs and NGOs based in Osh. All the participants provided significant inputs and comments to the three main Sections of the Strategy through very active work in the working groups. It was mentioned by the Governors and other participants that participatory approach should be practiced more and can help to achieve desired outputs. Mr. Huntington delivered a speech on various principles of decentralization on the basis of the European Charter on Local self – governance, the role of the authorities in the process of decentralization.

Moreover, Mr. Huntington mentioned that he was very much impressed by the results of the Programme at the grass-roots level, by the established linkages between CBOs and rayon and oblast administrations.

Contact: Anara Salamatova, Decentralization Component Coordinator, UNDP Local Governance Programme. Phone: (996 312) 61 12 13; e-mail:

Mediation Training for Preventive Development staff and heads of local government was held on the 11th and 12th of March 2002 by the Preventive Development component of the UNDP Local Governance programme. Conflict Mediation training for the staff working in Batken oblast was organized to train heads of five pilot village municipalities to identify and utilize skills necessary to intercede in a conflict situation.

Being a part of the human development plan for the whole programme, such trainings on conflict identification and resolution are intended to serve for the better understanding of the situation in the region. The CDOs are to further serve as trainers in the field of mediation and organize small trainings in their field areas for the local CBOs and community in general.

The materials for the training were prepared in cooperation with NGO “Insan Leilek” from Isfana, Batken oblast. The training was also attended by support personnel to the Community Development Officers (CDOs) from the respective pilot villages.

Contact: Ruslan Monolbaev, Preventive Development Component Coordinator, UNDP Local Governance Programme. Phone: (996 312) 66 00 80; e-mail:

UNDP SOCIAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME

David Akopyan, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, had an official trip to Osh 15-16 March to familiarize with the activities of the Poverty Alleviation Component in the oblast. During the meeting with the Osh Programme Implementation Unit, UNVs made a presentation on the status of activities in the oblast and organized field visits to two target villages, namely Mady and Korul, where he had a chance to meet with Self-help Groups Associations, Animators and the most famous beneficiary of the Programme, Minavar Salijanova, who had been awarded the "Dank" Medal. David Akopyan was impressed by the work of the PIU in the field and plans to visit other oblasts in future.

Contact: Sanjar Tursaliev, Cluster Task Manager, UNDP Social Governance Programme. Phone: (996 312) 66 38 85, 66 04 18; e-mail:

HIV/AIDS

First round of Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Worldwide, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria together account for nearly 6 million deaths per year and cause immeasurable suffering and damage to families, communities and economies.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria was set up in January 2002 as a financial instrument, complementary to existing programmes addressing HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The purpose of the Global Fund is to attract, manage and disburse additional resources through a new public-private partnership that will make a sustainable and significant contribution to the reduction of infections, illness and death, thereby mitigating the impact caused by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in countries in need, and contributing to poverty reduction as part of the Millennium Goals. The Fund will promote partnerships among all relevant players within the country and across all sectors of society. It will build on existing coordination mechanisms, and promote new and innovative partnerships where none exist.

In Kyrgyzstan, with the assistance of UNDP, the National AIDS Centre as a Secretariat of National Multisectoral Coordinating Committee on HIV/AIDS has also submitted a proposal to the Fund. The proposal is designed for 3 years with the budget of almost USD 3 million. It envisages supporting the implementation of the State Programme on AIDS prevention for 2001-2005 in the Kyrgyz Republic, adopted on December 13, 2001.

This is the first round of the Global Fund. The results of applications will be announced in May 2002. The second round will be held later this year.

Contact: Larissa Bashmakova, Coordinator for HIV/AIDS Component, UNDP Social Governance Programme, tel./fax: (996 312) 66-36-91, tel.: (996 312) 66 16 17, e-mail:

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

Update on Counterpart Consortium/USAID/UNHCR/EU/SOROS Foundation - Supported NGO Activities

A workshop on Advocacy was conducted on March 13-15 in the Naryn Civil Society Support Center (CSSC). The Naryn CSSC’s activities are supported through the USAID and Soros Foundation Kyrgyzstan grants.

The workshop participants included 19 Naryn NGO representatives, 1 representative of Tash-Bashat initiative group, and two representatives of local media (Almaz Radio and Tenir-Too radio). This training was designed and conducted in the framework of Counterpart’s Program of Civil Society and NGO Development in the Central Asia Region funded through USAID and the Soros Foundation. The goal of this workshop is to give the participating NGO members an opportunity to realize the importance of involving citizens in decision-making. A number of advocacy topics were covered, including:

• Characteristics and elements of advocacy;
• Politics and power
• Political conscious and critical thinking;
• Advocacy strategy development;
• Planning advocacy campaigns;
• Advocacy results

A training workshop in Fundraising was conducted on March 6-7 2002 in Baetovo village, Ak-Tala rayon, Naryn Oblast. The workshop participants included 10 NGO representatives, 2 representatives of initiative groups, 2 business sector representatives, and 2wo representatives of local government. The goal of this workshop is to give basic knowledge and skills in attracting resources necessary for successful activities. A number of NGO fundraising topics were covered, including:

• Fundraising and its role in the development of the society;
• Marketing approach in raising funds;
• Main steps and events of fundraising;
• Fundraising ethics;
• Fundraising program

After this workshop, many participants gained theoretical knowledge on fundraising. The participants noted that fundraising was not a chaotic process but a well thought-out and planned activity.

Two-days training workshops on strategic planning were conducted on March 11-12 2002 in Kara-Balta and Nookat CSSCs in the framework of Counterpart’s Program of Civil Society and NGO Development in the Central Asia Region funded through USAID.

During two days, the participants developed skills in strategic planning, considering external factors. This will allow them in the future to develop their organizations and adapt to constantly changing external environment. The participants thoroughly reviewed the following topics:

• Meaning and goal of strategic planning;
• Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis;
• Stakeholder analysis;
• Strategic Plan development

Fifteen Chuy oblast NGO representatives took part in Facilitation Skills training workshop conducted in Counterpart’s office in Bishkek. The workshop is conducted in the framework of Counterpart’s Program of Civil Society and NGO Development in the Central Asia Region funded through USAID.

The participants reviewed such topics as definition of facilitation, facilitator’s role, differences between trainers and facilitators, and tested their facilitation skills. Other covered topics included improvement of listening and facilitation skills and techniques.

Contact: Counterpart Consortium, Lilia Kuchenova, IU/AUK Program Coordinator, NGO Information Coordinator, 107 Kievskaya str., 5th floor, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Phone: (996 312) 61 01 35, 61 00 22, 66 46 36; fax: (996 312) 61 00 21; e-mail: Internet: http://www.cango.net.kg