In this issue:

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP)

• Visit of the UNCDF Executive Secretary to Kyrgyzstan
• Press Trip to Chuy and Talas Provinces

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR)

• Tajik Refugees Return to Their Motherland

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP)

Mr. Normand Lauzon, the Executive Secretary of the United Nation's Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), visited Kyrgyzstan on 26 August to learn about the socio-economic challenges of Kyrgyzstan, met with the UNDP staff and visited the UNDP Local Self-Governance Programme's site nearby Bishkek.

The overall goal of the senior UNCDF official's Central Asian tour was to learn more about the region as long as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are the countries, closest to UNCDF's regular clients among the Least Developed Countries.

After the briefing on the UNDP activities in the country, Mr. Lauzon, accompanied by the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Mr. David Akopyan, the Local Self-Governance Programme Policy Adviser Mr. Temirbek Koshoev, Programme Coordinator Damira Sulpieva and the UNVs, visited the pilot Baitik rural council of the Chuy province to see how the UNDP Local Self-Governance Programme works in the field.

Saltanat Jusueva, the deputy chief of the council and chairperson of the Community Based Organizations (CBO) Association gave a brief account of the UNDP Local Self-Governance Programme activities - its initiation and the present progress status in the territory of the municipality. She highlighted the role of the programme to develop the capacity of the local government staff to effectively deliver services to the people. Likewise, she explained the socio-economic development activities that are being undertaken by the CBOs in their respective areas.

During the field visit Mr. Lauzon visited Baigeldy village, where the CBO members informed him about their social and economic development activities. They visited the drinking water facility that the three CBOs have completed with a small grant support from the UNDP Local Self-Governance Programme. The CBO members also briefed the UNCDF high official about their future plan to construct a school. Presently, local children attend a nearby school, which is five kilometers away, and they face big problem during the winter period.

The second village they visited was Bash-Karasuu, where the CBO leaders showed their social development activities. The mission observed the ongoing rehabilitation activities of the ruined public bathhouse. Likewise, they visited a gym in a local school constructed by the CBO members with the grant-support from the UNDP Local Self-Governance Programme.

During their field the mission witnessed the strong support that UNDP programme is according for the sustainable development of the communities.

Note: Established in 1966 as a special purpose fund primarily for small-scale investment in the poorest countries, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), now UNCDF works to help eradicate poverty through local development programmes and microfinance operations. Its particular approach is to invest with the poor, building the productive capacity and self-reliance of poor communities by increasing their access to essential local infrastructure and services. The Fund also works to strengthen these communities' influence over economic and social investments that directly affect their lives and livelihoods.

UNCDF is a member of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) group, and reports to UNDP Executive Board. As such, UNCDF works in close partnership with UNDP in the areas ranging from joint programming to administrative and logistical support.

For more information please contact: Adilet Abdybekov, UNDP Programme Associate. Phone: (996 312) 61 12 13. E-mail: ; or Damira Sulpieva, Coordinator of the UNDP Self-Governance Programme. Phone: (996 312) 66 11 76. Fax: (996 312) 66 48 64. E-mail:

Press trip to Chuy and Talas provinces on 17-20 August 2003

As a continuation of a successful practice, 17-20 August UNDP organized the press trip with participation of 12 journalists representing newspaper, radio and TV media outlets and a photographer to demonstrate to the general public through the prism of journalists’ view the actual changes in people lives thanks to UNDP programs; to show sustainability of UNDP programmes and creation of the partnership network by UNDP on the grass roots level including close relations with local administrations and other development partners. The ultimate result of the trip was to facilitate broad coverage of UNDP/UNV activities to make the public aware of the work done in the area of development.

To provide journalists with a clear picture of what UNDP is doing in the field, visits to villages, which some of journalists had visited earlier (in 1999 and 2000) were planned for journalists to compare the situation and see the real impact of programmes on people’s lives. In order to turn journalists “from programmes to stories” 3-5 families of beneficiaries were identified and prepared in villages. Journalists were divided into 3-5 small groups and then were provided with a chance to be closer to people and cover the most interesting human stories. In addition, the press conference was conducted with the Governor of the Talas Province and key staff of the Oblast Administration including advisor on investment and small and medium business development. It gave an opportunity for mass media representatives to see the oblast development trends and plans of the oblast administration for the nearest future.

The journalists were briefed by the UN Volunteers working in the field within the UNDP Local Self-Governance, as well as Poverty Reduction Programmes. The visited villages included Kyzyl-Oy village in Suusamyr, Kara-Oy, Pokrovka, Kyzyl Jyldyz and Kopuro Bazar villages in Talas province, where local people, UNDP beneficiaries, demonstrated national traditions and customs.

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

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES (UNHCR)

On 23 and 25 August, over 20 Tajik refugees, mainly women with their children (four families), who expressed their willingness to return to Tajikistan departed from Bishkek. UNHCR provided free and safe air transportation for returnees and their belongings to Dushanbe and issued them small repatriation grants. UNHCR office in Dushanbe monitored arrival of returnees at the airport.

UNHCR co-ordinates voluntary repatriation of Tajik refugees with assistance of the Department of Migration Services under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic. Since a peace agreement in Tajikistan was reached in June 1997, UNHCR has facilitated the voluntary repatriation of more than 5,000 mainly ethnic Tajik refugees to Tajikistan. While most refugees who wish to return have already done so, it is expected that up to 70 refugees will elect to return to Tajikistan in late 2003.

In addition, eight families of Chechen asylum seekers have been assisted to return back to Chechnya on 25 August. Noteworthy, while the situation in some parts of Chechnya still remains critical, UNHCR Office in Bishkek receives many applications from Chechen asylum seekers who wish to go back to Chechnya. It is expected that another 50 asylum seekers will choose to return to Chechnya by the end of this year.

For more information please contact: James Lynch, UNHCR Head of Office. Phone: (996 312) 61 12 24, 61 12 25; e-mail: