Democratic Governance

April 16-23 – 30 young people from all seven provinces participated in an eight-day youth camp in "Ak-Tash" guest house, Chui province. The camp was titled "Unity and harmony - a pledge of peace!" and aimed at improving capacity of youth in conflict resolution in their communities and disseminate the knowledge among their peers in the regions. Camp participants also discussed a contingency plan during organization of elections in the country under the project "Infrastructure for the peace - political dialogue and preventive actions". They also learned about mechanisms of interaction between NGOs, government structure and international organizations in conflict situations and during peace building activities. Learn more from Jamilya Arbynalieva, UNDP DGP (Jamilya@youth.undp.kg).

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (May 1, 2012) – UNDP has recently signed grant agreements with three non-governmental organizations in Kyrgyzstan: AIDS Foundation East-West the Public Fund branch, Union of Legal Entities Association "Solidarity of People Living with HIV" and Country Network of People Living with HIV. These organizations promote rights of vulnerable categories of citizens, assisting them in social protection and supporting treatment and prevention of HIV infection.

Democratic Governance

On March 15 – A round table to discuss and analyze national experience of strategy development in Kyrgyzstan was organized with support of the EU-UNDP New Legal Framework Project in partnership with the Center of social technologies. Participants of the round table discussed the positive and negative experience of strategic planning in Kyrgyzstan. These lessons learnt will be taken into consideration while developing Parliamentary Development Strategy. Learn more from Ms. Gulmira Mamatkerimova, Project Manager ( gm@dgov.undp.kg).

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).

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (March 13, 2012) – First Vice Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Aaly Karashev met with UN Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic Alexander Avanessov.

During the meeting parties exchanged views on priorities of cooperation between the Kyrgyzstan, UN system and UNDP within the new programme cycle of 2012-2016.

December 19 – Laboratory of the Central City Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance (CCSES) in Bishkek has begun working again after major renovation works, which were funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) in the Kyrgyz Republic. In 2011, UNDP has funded improvements of 19 Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance laboratories for total amount of $217, 295 under the project of GFATM. Learn more from Aida Mambetkulova, communications specialist (a.mambetkulova@gf.undp.kg).

The Dag Hammarskjöld Fund for Journalists is now accepting applications from professional journalists from developing countries for its 2012 fellowship program. The application deadline is Wednesday, March 30, 2012.

The fellowships are available to radio, television, print and web journalists, age 25 to 35, from developing countries who are interested in coming to New York to report on international affairs during the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly.  The fellowships will begin in early September and extend to late November and will include the cost of travel and accommodations in New York, as well as a per diem allowance.

March, 2, 2012

Kyrgyzstan became a full member of the United Nations on March 2^nd, 1992, hence the year 2012 marks the 20 years of existence of the UN in the Kyrgyz Republic. The country participates in world summits dedicated to modern developmental problems, and makes its contributions to the development of joint measures and solutions on the most pressing directions. Numerous important initiatives set forth by Kyrgyzstan have been supported by the UN member states.

On February 21, 2012 jury panel of the photography and poster contest titled Live Better: Right Here, Right Now met in the UN House in Bishkek to evaluate the submitted works. The contest was announced on December 1, 2011 and we stopped accepting submissions on February 10, 2012. Main goal of the contest was to visualize processes, principles, goals and other aspects of local self-governance. Works submitted for the contest will be used as advocacy and educational tools for the general public as well as decision makers.

The following submissions were selected as the best:

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (February 3, 2012) – From 30 January through 3 February 2012, a delegation of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) visited Kyrgyzstan. Main goal of the visit is monitoring of implementation of the Global Fund grants and meeting with partners. The delegation consisted of Maria Kirova, Head of the GFATM Department for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Sandra Irbe, GFATM Portfolio Manager for Eastern Europe and Central Asia  and Vitaly Jumagaliev, Senior Civil Society Specialist of the GFATM Partnership Department.