In this issue:

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP)

• First Regional Border Management Course
• Oblast Seminar on Social Mobilization

UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND (UNFPA)

• Handing over Medical, Office and Data Processing Equipment
• Presentation of the Report “making 1 billion count: investing in adolescents’ health and rights”

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP)

On 3 November a first regional border management course for participants from five Central Asian countries was opened in Bishkek.

The training was officially opened by Mr. Jerzy Skuratowicz, UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Gulnara Botobaeva, Project Manager of the Delegation of the European Commission in Kyrgyzstan; and Mr. Paul Grassl, team leader of international European Union experts.

Organized by the Ministry of Interior of Austria in cooperation with UNDP Kyrgyzstan and funded by the European Union, this training course is tailored for specific needs of border management officials. Within four weeks experienced trainers will teach participants management skills, new operational methods in border management, and will familiarize them with modern surveillance technique, which is crucial in fostering cooperation between law enforcement agencies. It is expected that efforts in training officials will result in better coordination of border management processes across all Central Asia. In the framework of this training it is expected that presentations will be delivered by professionals of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNODC, UNHCR and the American Embassy. The trainers will deliver lectures on international terrorism, international crime, drug trafficking and other important issues.

Note: Efficient management of frontier guard service in Central Asia (Border Management Central Asia Programme - BOMCA) is the new project funded by the European Union. The goal of the project is to assist Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to “substantially improve” the work of frontier security agencies. UNDP in Central Asia have been approached by European Union with the suggestion to serve as project coordination offices because of extensive experience in international programmes implementation directed both at government and local community representatives. UNDP has its missions in each country of Central Asia and has gained the reputation of the organization that works in each of the above mentioned countries on a long term and efficient basis.

For more information on substance and progress of the BOMCA Programme, as well as other trends that exist in border management processes in Central Asia region, please visit UNDP website where you can read the first issue of the BOMCA Newsletter at http://www.undp.kg/english/publications/2003/bomca_en.pdf.

For more information please contact Edem Bakhshish, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative. Phone: (996 312) 61 12 13. E-mail:

Regional Seminar on Social Mobilization

Just a few months ago Tokmok town has been declared the provincial centre of the Chuy province. Most of the provincial offices, including Governor’s office are shifted to Tokmok; and others are on the way of transferring. On 28th of October 2003, for the first time a Regional Seminar on Social Mobilization was organized in the provincial centre. The seminar was chaired by the State Secretary, Mr. Osmonakun Ibraimov. Approximately 350 persons, including representatives from the provincial offices, district administrations, chiefs of local self-governments, representatives of the civil society organizations and programme staff participated in the seminar.

Opening the seminar the State Secretary Mr. Osmonakun Ibraimov highlighted the importance of social mobilization in the present context of democratic society in Kyrgyzstan and that how the government is concerned about replicating social mobilization process in all villages of Kyrgyzstan. The Governor Mr. Toichubek Kasymov gave a brief account of social mobilization progress going on in the different villages of the province.

Temirbek Koshoev, Policy Adviser of UNDP Local Self-governance Programme, described in detail activities and the achievements of the programme in the country. He said that government has issued several decrees and resolutions to implement social mobilization process in the country. He also highlighted the Presidential Decree on “National Strategy on decentralization of state government and development of local self-governance system in the Kyrgyz Republic through the year of 2010” and that this is designed to promote democracy and improvement of the local self-governments. Similarly, he gave an account of the laws that the Local Self-governance Programme together with Congress of local communities contributed to formulate. These laws were on local self-governance, municipal property and financial and economic base of the local self-governance system in the Kyrgyz Republic. Similarly, he delivered that UNDP Local Self-governance Programme based on the positive experience of the two pilot village municipalities is putting efforts to replicate the social mobilization process in whole of Chui province and that the programme staff are seconded to the Provincial centre in Tokmok.

Among other participants, local government chiefs and CSO representatives reported the progress of social mobilization achieved so far and the activities of the community-based organizations in their areas.

For more information please contact Damira Sulpieva, Manager a.i.; Local Self-Governance Programme. Phone: (996 312) 66 11 76. E-mail:

UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND (UNFPA)

Handing over Medical, Office and Data Processing Equipment

On 21 October 2003 vehicles “Niva”, office and data processing equipment from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) was handed over to the Ministry of Health, National Health Promotion Centre (province branches), State Medical Institute for Continuous Training of Medical and Pharmaceutical Staff (province branches), National AIDS Centre, Bishkek City AIDS Centre, Alliance for Reproductive Health (Jalal-Abad and Talas branches), Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, Institute of Equal Right and Opportunities, Civic Foundation on Microcredit, NGO Alga, Initiative groups of Tup and Issyk-Ata rayons, Health Service Providers from Tup and Issyk-Ata rayons, Kyrgyz Family Planning Alliance and National Statistics Committee.

The United Nations Population Fund has been successfully working with the Ministry of Health within the framework of the UNFPA sub-programme on reproductive health. Therefore, the set of data processing equipment was supplied for improvement of the Contraceptives Logistics Management Information System in the Kyrgyz Republic.

In March 2003 the project “Improvement of Community Health Services in the Northern Regions of Kyrgyzstan” was launched. It aims to improve the reproductive health status of women, men, and adolescents in Northern Kyrgyzstan through improved community health care services, which a focus made on vulnerable groups. The project builds the capacity of the national Social Patronage System (SPS) to deliver reproductive health services and to provide information on HIV/AIDS/STI prevention and family planning. In the framework of the project procurement of office equipment is envisaged for further improvement of quality of care on reproductive health in Kyrgyzstan and strengthening Kyrgyz Alliance of Family Planning (KFPA) capacity at regional level.

Starting last year UNFPA provides regular financial and technical support to the Institute of Equal Rights and Opportunities, NGO “Alga”, and Civic Foundation on Microcredit. In the framework of the project “Improving the Quality of Sexual and Reproductive Health Care through Empowering Users” delivery of data processing and office equipment is the next step to close co-operation with the above institutions. This equipment will be used for conduct of training courses and seminars with participation of local authorities, health service providers and initiative groups.

Starting from February 2003 a number of activities on a village level have been successfully carried out to this day. These include establishment of seven village initiative groups that are actively involved in the project implementation; holding community meetings and training sessions for local leaders, village initiative groups, teachers and medical workers; development and implementation of initiatives on a village level with participation of communities; development and testing of IEC (information, education, communication) materials. Feldsher-obstetric stations (FOS) and family group practitioners (FGP) from the pilot oblasts (Tup and Issyk-Ata) are provided with medicines and resource centers established by initiative of local authorities are granted with office furniture. Procurement of construction materials was undertaken for further renovation of FOS and FGP in Tup and Issyk-Ata villages.

Data processing equipment assigned for National AIDS Center and Bishkek City AIDS Centre will help to strengthen capacity of the Centers and support programmes on HIV/AIDS prevention. National Health Promotion Center will be provided with office and data processing equipment and office furniture for carrying out activities related with promotion of reproductive health, reproductive rights and programmes related to adolescent reproductive health and sexual education.

UNFPA has been helping the National Statistics Committee since 1998 to strengthen the country's capacity in producing and using the basic demographic and social data at the national and regional levels. Acquisition of data processing equipment and vehicles NIVA is envisaged in the framework of the sub-programme on Population and Development Strategy for following up National Census results and constant and effective data collection, analysis and distribution.

Starting last year UNFPA has successful co-operation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection on the development and implementation of social passports’ system. For further co-operation and implementation of the system UNFPA granted data processing equipment.

Presentation of the report “making 1 billion count: investing in adolescents’ health and rights”

On 17 October 2003 presentation of the State of World Population 2003 Report was undertaken in press center “Kabar”. Representatives from the Ministry of Health, National Statistics Committee, NGOs and UNFPA office participated in the press conference.

The biggest generation of adolescents in history – over 1 billion strong – are preparing to enter adulthood in a rapidly changing world. The State of World Population 2003 report from UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, offers a timely analysis of adolescent sexual and reproductive health in the full context of human rights and development needs.

The report, Making 1 Billion Count: Investing in Adolescents’ Health and Rights, shows that investing in young people will yield generous returns for generations to come. Millions of girls in poor countries still get married and give birth in their teens, interrupting their education and endangering their health. For many other girls and boys, the trend is towards later marriage but greater exposure to the risks of unprotected sexual activity.

Young people have a right to information and services to safeguard their sexual and reproductive health, the report stresses. Actions to ensure these rights can have tremendous practical benefits – empowering individuals, promoting gender equality, stemming the HIV/AIDS pandemic, reducing poverty and improving prospects for economic progress.

The State of World Population 2003 report shows that around the world, innovative programmes are teaching young people about reproductive health. Laws and policies are also being revised to give greater attention to adolescents’ needs and rights.

At press conference Mr. Zarylbek Kudabaev, Chairman of the National Statistics Committee, made a statement on the report. Mr. Kudabaev noted that a timely analysis of adolescent situation in the full context of human rights and development needs was offered. Also the current demographic situation on young people and adolescents in the Kyrgyz Republic was described. It was noted that population of the Kyrgyz Republic is not old. 53% of total number of population of the republic is young people till 25. The largest generation of young people is preparing to enter adulthood. Their educational and health status and their readiness to take an adult roles and responsibilities will determine their own future and the future of their country.

For more information please contact Alexander Ilyin, UNFPA National Programme Officer. Phone: (996 312) 61 12 02, 61 12 13; e-mail: