In this issue:

UNDP CENTRAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME

• Seminar on monitoring and evaluation techniques

UNDP LOCAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME

• Visit of the Norwegian Delegation to UNDP Programme Implementation Sites in Osh oblast
• Monitoring visit of the Governor of Chuy oblast to the Programme Implementation Sites in Chuy oblast

UNDP SOCIAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME

• Gender Analysis Workshop for beneficiaries and programme staff of the Preventive Development Component in Batken
• Training on Finance and Credit for the Poverty Alleviation Component personnel

UNDP CENTRAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME

On 20 April the seminar on the use of monitoring and evaluation techniques in the CDF implementation process was held by the Central Governance Programme. The seminar was intended to train the relevant officials from the Presidential Administration and the CDF Secretariat to use monitoring techniques in their activities. The representatives of the Government, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the National Statistical Committee, the Ministry of Health and NGOs leaders participated in the event.

The seminar focused on the monitoring techniques, basic principles and approaches to various indicators used in the monitoring of development programmes. Special attention at the seminar was paid to the impact of the development programmes implemented by the Government and international organizations. Also, a special training session was conducted with a target to develop practical skills of participants in using monitoring technologies.

Contact: Gulmira Mamatkerimova, Transparency and Openness Component Coordinator, UNDP Central Governance Programme. Phone: (996 312) 66 50 55, 66 46 34; e-mail:

UNDP LOCAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME

Delegation from Norway comprising representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, representatives of the Norwegian OSCE Embassy to Vienna and the Norwegian Embassy in Moscow representatives visited Kyrgyzstan and one of the pilot oblasts where three UNDP Programmes are being implemented.

On 20 April the delegation traveled to Osh and had a meeting with the Governor of Osh oblast Naken Kasiev. He provided comprehensive information about the present social and economic situation in Southern Kyrgyzstan and emphasized the leading role of UNDP programmes in poverty alleviation and development of local self-governance. After the meeting with the Governor delegation visited Public Information Center established under the UNDP Central Governance Programme and visited pilot Mady and Nariman village municipalities of UNDP Local Governance and Social Governance Programmes.

Delegation had very lively discussions with CBOs members, Associations of CBOs and Associations of SHGs and visited micro-capital grant projects implemented by the CBOs through the support of the Decentralization Programme. After the field trip all the members of delegation mentioned that it was a surprise for them to see such active and motivated people. In broader terms, all representatives of the delegation were really impressed by the type of work and progress achieved within such a short time and with limited resources.

Contact: Anara Salamatova, Cluster Task Manager, UNDP Local Governance Programme. Phone: (996 312) 66 00 80; e-mail:

The monitoring visit of the Governor of Chuy oblast to the Programme Implementation Sites in Chuy oblast. Decentralization programme activities in Alamedin rayon started in July 2001. Local Governments of Baitik and Vasilievskoe villages were selected as the pilot ones to work with. It is just 10 months passed since the initiation of the programme in this pilot rayon. Programme activities have been carried out as per the work-plans. Social mobilization, as one of the major component of the programme, has been playing a leading role in the development of local self-governance system at the grass-root levels.

Baitik Village comprises about 1450 households, out of which about 652 are being involved in the social mobilization activities and 26 Community Based Organizations have been formed so far. These CBOs have been participating in all of the village development endeavors. With their needs prioritized by themselves, CBOs have managed to include the projects in the annual development plan of the Baitik local government.

The CBOs organized in Baitik have many success stories, and have been regularly visited by the government authorities at all levels and other missions from international organizations. During the short period of project implementation considerable results have been achieved. With the support from the UNDP Decentralization component CBOs have constructed a sport hall in Bashkara-Suu village. Villagers and students now have a place where they can play and train themselves and to be fit. CBOs, likewise, have repaired and graveled a 600 meters-long rural road. Currently, CBOs in Baitik and Kairma villages are reconstructing the drinking water systems.

The Governor of Chui Oblast Toichubek Kasymov was well aware of the successful development of Baitik and expressed willingness to visit the programme sites. Therefore, on 10 April, a monitoring visit was organized. The Akim of Alamedin Rayon and many other officials of the oblast and rayon administrations accompanied him. The team led by the Governor visited all the villages where the social mobilization activities were carried out. The Governor, specifically, had meetings and extensive discussions with CBOs leaders and CBOs members in each of the villages and got first hand information on how the social mobilization process has made impact on the rural peoples' life. He witnessed the participation of CBO members in all of the development issues of their respective villages.

The Governor, as well as other members of the team was highly impressed by the CBOs' activities. In his remarks, the Governor noted that the experience of the CBOs in Baitik should be replicated in the rest of the villages of the Chuy Oblast.

Contact: Anara Salamatova, Cluster Task Manager, UNDP Local Governance Programme. Phone: (996 312) 66 00 80; e-mail:

UNDP SOCIAL GOVERNANCE PROGRAMME

Gender Analysis Workshop for beneficiaries and programme staff of the Preventive Development Component was conducted by Gender Component of the UNDP Social Governance Programme on 17-18 April in Kadamjay village of Batken Oblast. The workshop had an objective of raising public awareness on gender issues in the pilot communities of Preventive Development component, and providing initial understanding of gender approaches to development and conflict resolution issues. 24 participants including Preventive Development Component staff, community based organization members and local self-governance workers were familiarized with the basics of gender concept, gender aspects of community work, gender analysis and gender mainstreaming. Participants learned how to make analysis of specific projects and proposals to ensure issues of gender equality and overviewed gender in conflict resolution and prevention. The workshop was completed with a session on integrating gender into activities of Ayil Okmotu workers, community organizations' members and programme staff of the Preventive Development Component.

Contact: Gulmira Asanbaeva, Gender Component Coordinator, Social Governance Programme. Phone: (996 312) 66 38 85, 66 04 18; e-mail:

The UNDP Social Governance PMU conducts training on Finance and Credit for the Poverty Alleviation Component personnel on 23-25 of April in Dostuk Hotel, Bishkek.

For the past three years of implementation, up to 1 285 Self-help Groups of the poor have been mobilized under the Poverty Alleviation Component of the UNDP Social Governance Programme, involving 8 858 people (of whom 57% are women) and about 45 000 beneficiaries altogether. 1 196 Self-Help Groups have received loans amounting to 102,366,818 soms. Simultaneously, all groups continue practicing internal savings and credit schemes and accumulated savings which as of 31st of December 2001 amount to 5 million soms (both in cash and in-kind).

The efforts of inculcating a credit culture combined with the principle of social collateral have resulted into 97% repayment. This result was achieved due to the effective work of oblast PIUs and good performance of SHGs and Associations.

Constantly growing amounts of savings and credit calls for improvement of accounting and reporting to ensure the transparency of all transactions. Since the Component is solely responsible for social mobilization and development aspect of Poverty Alleviation, the field staff did not concentrate much on the financial part of this issue.

In this regard, to improve the knowledge and skills of the Programmes' field staff the UNDP Social Governance Programme conducts a workshop for UNVs on Finance and Credit jointly with the Kyrgyz Agricultural Finance Corporation (KAFC). From its part, the KAFC is providing trainers and preparing relevant sessions.

Gender aspects of micro finance will also be taken into account through a special session, which is being prepared by the Gender Component.

Following the request from DFID project on Sustainable Livelihoods for Livestock Producing Communities, it is planned to hold a joint meeting to introduce the on-going activities and discuss the cooperation in the fields.

It is expected that after the training all participants will improve their knowledge and skills on finance and credit and strengthen their understanding of gender aspects related to micro finance. We believe that this training will result in increased efficiency of component activities in the field and the programme as whole.

The Cluster Task Manager and the Component Coordinator conducted a field visit to Talas last week. The main purpose of the visit was to monitor the status of component implementation in the oblast. 8 target villages were visited to meet with beneficiaries of the Programme and local authorities to discuss the development progress. Meetings with the governor and partner organizations (KAFC oblast branch, RAS, DFID and Counterpart Consortium) were held to facilitate further cooperation and coordination of efforts in the field.

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