Democratic Governance
February 4 – EU-UNDP new legal framework project assisted in organization of a round table in Osh for discussion of the draft law “On Osh city”. Discussion of the bill was initiated by a team of the Parliament Committee on constitutional legislation, state system and local governance. The bill was developed to align it with the new Constitutional provisions and strengthen the role and independence of local governance. The draft law was presented by a member of the team Mr. Tekebaev, mayor of Osh city Mr. Myrzakmatov and by other participants. Deputies of Osh local council, representatives of Osh Mayor’s office, local NGOs and experts provided comments issues of Osh city governance, problems in interaction of local governance with central ministries and agencies, indicated pros and cons draft law and proposed many valuable recommendations. Learn more from Gulmira Mamatkerimova, project manager (gm@dgov.undp.kg).
February 17 - Parliamentary hearings on budget of 2012 presented by the Government were held. Representatives of civil society announced their hope to see changes in the draft budget and that the draft will reflect new coalition Government’s promised declarations. For example, budget policy will become more efficient by increasing efficiency of spending and by eliminating corruption schemes. Civil society made their contribution in raising quality of budget through independent expertise and recommendations for budget expenses. EU – UNDP Project on New Legal Framework assisted in conducting budget hearings with participation of civil society. Learn more from Gulmira Mamatkerimova, project manager (gm@dgov.undp.kg).
February 24 – A team headed by the Chairman of the Parliament anticorruption committee Mr. Maldybekov presented amendments into criminal and criminal procedure codes of the Kyrgyz Republic during public hearing. Main task the team was to develop a single draft law that would bring Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes in line with new Constitution. The team consisted of MPs, Supreme Court experts, Prosecutor General’s office, Ministry of Internal Affairs, National Security committee and other government agencies. Parliamentary hearing is an important tool for providing transparency of legislative process especially for these documents that contain regulations that directly affect every person. Hearings were supported by the EU-UNDP Project on New Legal Framework, UN OHCHR, Soros Foundaiton in Kyrgyzstan, UNODC in KR. Learn more from Gulmira Mamatkerimova, project manager (gm@dgov.undp.kg).
February 27 – Representatives of civil society, government, international organizations and other interested parties discussed selection procedures of candidates for supervisory board of the Public Broadcasting Company. Civil society pointed out problems in rating criteria of candidates and made recommendations how to eliminate them. Main outcome of the round table was the increased transparency of the process of selection of candidates. Session of Parliamentary Committee was broadcasted on KTR and Parliamentary radio. Round table was initiated by the Committee on Education, science, culture and sports with assistance of EU-UNDP Project on New Legal Framework in KR. Learn more from Gulmira Mamatkerimova, project manager (gm@dgov.undp.kg).
February 27-28 – Mr. Paata Zakareishvili, famous Georgian expert on conflict studies, led two one-day trainings on basics of conflict studies for representatives of NGOs, Jogorku Kenesh Administration, Chamber of Accounts, Ministry of Justice and Ombudsman’s institute. Participants learned basics of conflict studies: how conflicts start, differences between conflicts and violence, intensification and escalation of conflict, when conflicts become ignite violence, how laws can cause conflicts. All theoretical knowledge was presented through the prism of conflicts in Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and other countries of the world. Main goal of these trainings was formation of basic knowledge of civil society and relevant government officials about reasons that can cause conflicts. Participants also learned about roles of laws in creating and managing conflicts. The training was organized by EU- UNDP Project on New Legal Framework in KR in the framework of the Peacebuilding Fund. Learn more from Gulmira Mamatkerimova, project manager (gm@dgov.undp.kg).
March 2 – A well-known Georgian conflict resolution expert Mr. Paata Zakareishvili gave a public lecture titled: “Conflicts of Georgian reforms; What mistakes of Georgia Kyrgyzstan should be aware of”. Mr. Zakareishvili talked to students and representatives of NGOs about aspects of Georgian reforms that are often out of spotlight. He asked not to romanticize Georgian reform experience and to study not only positive, but also negative effects of these changes. Imperfection of all Georgian reforms was demonstrated on the example of reforming the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The lecture was organized by the EU- UNDP Project on New Legal Framework in the framework of the UN Peacebuilding Fund in cooperation with American University in Central Asia. Learn more from Gulmira Mamatkerimova, project manager (gm@dgov.undp.kg).
Disaster Risk Management and Environmental Protection
February 5 – GEF/UNDP “Promotion of Small Hydropower” published a study of potential impact of small and micro hydro power plants on social and gender development of local communities. This is the first ever study in Kyrgyzstan focusing on impacts of using renewable energy sources on population that was carried out using gender analysis tools, which makes the study timely and important. The study was published in three languages – Kyrgyz, Russian and English. Learn more from Edilbek Bogombaev, Project Manager (e.bogombaev@up.elcat.kg).
February 7 – UNDP Environment Programme organized public hearing of the bill “On Introducing Amendments to the Law on Sustainable Development of Environmental and Economic System of Issyk-Kul Lake”. Members of parliament, representatives of civil society, academic communities, international projects and local communities of coastal areas of Issyk-Kul discussed and provided comments on the proposed changes including extension of the coastal area where capital construction is prohibited to 300 meters. Learn more information from Aleksandr Temirbekov, Programme Manager (a.temirbekov@up.elcat.kg).
February 10 – A new UNDP project titled "Effective Disaster Risk Management for Sustainable Development and Human Security" was presented to a Local Project Appraisal Committee, which consists of senior management and officials of ministries and departments, UN agencies and other international organizations involved in prevention of emergency situations. The project and will be implemented jointly with the Ministry of Emergency Situations in 2012-2016. It aims to assist the Government in disaster risk reduction efforts with an emphasis on strengthening the national system of prevention and preparedness. The total project budget for 5 years is $5 million. The committee approved the project for implementation. Learn more from Mukashev Kaldarova, Acting Chief Technical Advisor of UNDP DRMP (mk@dm.undp.kg).
February 22– Naryn Province Administration finalized the province Development Strategy with assistance of the UNDP and UNEP Poverty and Environment Initiative. During 3 days Vladimir Mikhalev, Policy Advisor on Poverty Reduction of UNDP Regional Center for Europe and CIS in Bratislava, and responsible staff of the Naryn Province Administration worked on the strategy with consideration of poverty and environment issues. Learn more from Gulnara Abdykalykova, UNDP-UNEP Poverty and Environment Initiative (g.abdykalykova@up.elcat.kg).
22 February – UNDP Environment Programme organized a round table discussion of an institutional reform of the Kyrgyz Republic forest sector. More than 100 participants – veterans, workers, experts and leaders of forest sector, MPs, representatives of scientific institutions, public and international organizations exchanged views on issues around institutional reforms of the forest sector and developed proposals for decision-makers. Learn more information from Aleksandr Temirbekov, Programme Manager (a.temirbekov@up.elcat.kg).
February 23 – UNDP Environment Programme organized a round table discussion titled “Kyrgyzstan on Road to Rio+20” with participation of representatives of President’s Administration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Agency on Environment Protection and Forestry, as well as a wide range of international and non-governmental organizations. The round table participants discussed Kyrgyzstan’s position on various issues to be discussed at the upcoming summit on Sustainable Development to be held in Rio-de-Janeiro, Brazil (June 20-22). Learn more information from Aleksandr Temirbekov, Programme Manager (a.temirbekov@up.elcat.kg).
29 February 2012 – UNDP Climate Risks Management Project presented to the expert community methodology of currently developed Climate Risks Profile, as well as its preliminary results. The World Bank vulnerability assessment of Eastern Europe and Asian countries (2009) showed that Kyrgyzstan ranked third among the most vulnerable countries in the region. The Climate Risks is one of the documents, which will identify and provide analytical background for development planning of Kyrgyzstan. Learn more from Kanat Botbaev, Project Manager (k.botbaev@up.elcat.kg).
March 1-2 – EC/UNDP “Fostering IWRM and Transboundary Dialogue in Central Asia” held the Second National Conference of Water Users Associations in Bishkek. This activity of UNDP is aimed at spreading approaches to integrated water management in Kyrgyzstan, providing for increasing efficiency of their use, active participation in this process of local organization and decentralization of water management in general. Learn more information from Aleksandr Temirbekov, Environment Programme Manager (a.temirbekov@up.elcat.kg).
Socio-Economic Development
February 9 – UNDP Poverty Reduction Programme organized a workshop in Naryn city on “Development of cattle breeding in Naryn Province”. The workshop was funded by World Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Development. 35 beneficiaries of the Poverty Reduction Programme participated in the workshop. These beneficiaries were supported by UNDP in partnership with “Tendesh Zaman” Public Foundation and Kyrgyz-New Zealand Fund in development of goat breeding, group micro crediting, wool processing and felt production as well as milk products processing. As the result of workshop recommendations on improvement of cattle breeding, i.e. food stocks, veterinary services and opportunity of set up the marketing network on wool processing and felt production, and milk products processing were developed. Learn more from Mira Djangaracheva, Programme Manager (md@prp.undp.kg ).
February 13-17 – Experts of the WHO training center in Latvia Vayra Leymane, Gunta Kirvelayte, and Viya Skripchonok trained managers of state TB institutions and coordinators of anti-tuberculosis services on regional and national levels on programme management of tuberculosis and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/XDR-TB). These experienced experts trained Kyrgyz specialists on new methods of diagnosis and treatment of this disease form in accordance with international practice and recommendations of WHO. The training was organized by UNDP within Global Fund grants. Learn more from Aida Mambetkulova, communications specialist (a.mambetkulova@gf.undp.kg).
February 16 – Medicines and medical devices (respirators for health workers, medical masks for patients with MDR-TB, containers for the collection of sputum and refrigerators for the transportation of samples) for a total $8.5 were handed over to the State Penitentiary Service (SPS) of the Kyrgyz Republic Government. Drugs were purchased by UNDP within Global Fund grants. The handover ceremony was attended by UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Alexander Avanessov and head of SPS Mr. Sheyshenbek Bayzakov. Learn more from Aida Mambetkulova, communications specialist (a.mambetkulova@gf.undp.kg).
February 20-21 – 106,000 U.S. dollars worth of humanitarian aid (anti-TB drugs, ARV drugs, test kits, condoms and informational and educational materials) was delivered to Jalal-Abad, Osh and Batken provinces of Kyrgyzstan. All drugs and medical products were purchased by UNDP within Global Fund grants and their quality complies with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Learn more from Aida Mambetkulova, Communications specialist (a.mambetkulova@gf.undp.kg).
February 27 - March 2 – The First Regional Meeting on the implementation of grants from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria took place in Bishkek. During a week around 50 participants from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and representatives of UNDP headquarters comprehensively discussed issues of implementation of grants given to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in the country. Learn more from Aida Mambetkulova, Communications specialist (a.mambetkulova@gf.undp.kg).
