Osh, Kyrgyzstan (October 19, 2011) – The UNDP Peace and Development Programme jointly with the UNDP Democratic Governance Programme organized a round table discussion with government partners of the conflict-sensitive development concept. It is aimed at working out guidelines on conflict-sensitive infrastructure development approach to foster community reconciliation and development in the South.
Jantoro Satybaldiev, Minister of Kyrgyz Republic, Head of the State Directorate for Reconstruction and Development of Osh and Jalal-Abad cities, Deputy Mayors of Osh and Jalal-Abad cities, representatives of local authorities of Osh, Batken and Jalal-Abad provinces, NGOs and UNDP experts participated in the discussion.
The meeting was opened by Mr. Ryan Grist, UNDP South Coordinator, he outlined main objectives of the meeting and underlined the urgency and significance of this event encouraging participants to make their contributions. "Problems in Kyrgyzstan can not be solved in Washington or Geneva, they can only be solved here. The UNDP does not have ready answers, but we have an opportunity to gather all of you here to discuss these important issues. We have the UNDP Peace and Development Programme, where the words “peace” and “development” come in this order on purpose. Without peace we can forget about development” said Ryan Grist.
Mr. Jantoro Satybaldiev thanked all the international organizations for moral and material assistance.
The tone of the discussion was set by the presentation of an advisor in the development of a conflict-sensitive infrastructure Basant Subba, who talked about the factors contributing to conflict and consequences of conflict, guiding principles in implementing conflict-sensitive projects, mainstreaming conflict-sensitive development concept in project cycle, participatory process in conflict-sensitive infrastructure development, expected results of participatory and conflict-sensitive approach.
Having listened to and discussed the expert’s presentation and after receiving comments in the course of the discussion, participants expressed their interest and willingness to assist in preparation of the concept of development and proposed to take into account the views of all interested parties at work on this issue.
Summarizing the roundtable Abdiraim Jorokulov, UNDP Peace and Development Programme Chief Technical Adviser, noted that "this meeting is just the first step in working on the concept of development and it is encouraging to see the willingness of the authorities and NGOs to work on this document."
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