BACKGROUND

The “Strengthening Voice and Accountability of Citizens’ Participation and Oversight of Budget Processes” Project (VAP) is a multi-phase intervention in the Kyrgyz Republic supporting citizen participation in local budgetary process and local self-government (LSG) responsiveness to civic initiatives. As its overall goal VAP seeks to ensure that public finances are managed by LSGs in a more transparent and accountable mode through citizen participation in decision-making process. 

The Project was delivered in three distinct stages – 2011-2012 (inception phase), 2012-2015 (phase I) and 2015-2020 (phase II, with extension). This Project Document elaborates the proposed Exit Phase activities for the period from September, 2020 to March, 2022, with intended outcomes aimed at strengthening long-term foundations of sustainability and scale.

Implementing organization: Development Policy Institute, Kyrgyz Republic (www.dpi.kg)
PERIOD:

• Inception Phase: November 2011 – March 2012 (funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in cooperation with UK Department for International Development (DFID), Office in the Kyrgyz Republic);
• I Phase: April 2012 – March 2015 (funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in the Kyrgyz Republic);
• II Phase: April 2015 – March 2020 (funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in the Kyrgyz Republic).
• III Phase: September 2020 – June 2022 (funded by the Government of Switzerland) in the Kyrgyz Republic).

COVERAGE:

• Inception Phase:
  Coverage: Ivanovka municipality (Chui region), Lenin municipality (Jalal-Abad region) and Tort-Kul municipality (Issyk-Kul region).
  RESULTS: Inception (Nov 2011 – Apr 2012): In this period, VAP designed and validated the model of community engagement, working with three municipalities in Chui, Jalalabad and Issyk-Kul. The inception phase outcomes helped understand and define the parameters of demand from the local communities for greater involvement in local budgeting and civic participation, as well as the need for transparency and accountability at the local level. The inception phase also helped determine the capacity building areas required for elevating the role of the institutions of local self-government. Read more...
• I PHASE
  Coverage: Bagysh municipality, Kurmanbek municipality, Masy municipality, Sakaldy municipality, Jany-Jol municipality (Aksy), Avletim municipality, 1-May municipality, Ala-Buka municipality, Kok-Tash municipality, Beshik-Jon municipality, Kenesh municipality, Jany-Jol municipality (Toktogul), Torkent municipality, Sumsar municipality, Toguz-Toro municipality, Kok-Irim municipality (Jalal-Abad region); Ak-Chiy municipality, Kara-Jal municipality, Bosteri municipality, Kum-Bel municipality, Jety-Oguz municipality, Lipenka municipality, Aral municipality, Toguz-Bulak municipality, Bolot Mambetov municipality, Ulakhol municipality (Issyk-Kul region).

  ​Project’s goals and objectives: To strengthen the ability of citizens to participate in the budget process at local level, and to ensure that local governments perform their responsibilities in using funds adequately for public services.
  Expected outcomes and directions:
  - Assistance for local communities in strengthening their participation in management of the local services.
  - Strengthening of LSGs capacity in order to correspond with the population needs.
  - Assistance in development and introduction of improved state policy on local self-governance (political, administrative and financial decentralization)

  RESULTS: In this phase, VAP launched the community engagement model at 13 target communities in the 13 districts of Issyk-Kul and Jalal-Abad regions. Non-target municipalities also benefited from capacity building and peer to peer learning activities, along with the small grant program. Later in this phase, VAP expanded the number of target LSGs. Read more...

• II PHASE  
  Coverage: Ak-Bashat municipality, Burana municipality, Kyzyl-Tuu municipality, Kochkorbaev municipality, Boroldoy municipality, Kun-Tuu municipality, City of Kemin, Grozdnyi municipality, Aleksandrovka municipality, Yuryev municipality, Frunze municipality, Tash-Moinok municipality (Chui region); Ak-Zhar municipality, Zhazy municipality, Shark municipality, Kyzyl-Suu municipality, Kok-Zhar municipality, Gulistan municipality, Mangyt municipality, Bulolu municipality, Chon-Alay municipality, Ylai-Talaa municipality (Osh region); Ak-Tal municipality, Ak-Muz municipality, Kara-Suu municipality, Chaek municipality, Uchkun municipality (Naryn region).
  Project's goal: Public finances are managed by LSGs in a more transparent and effective mode through greatly increased accountability and citizen participation in decision making process.

  Main focus areas of VAP for 2015 – 2019:
  - Community engagement in budgetary process and taking their priorities into account
  - Strengthening LSG capacities to respond citizens’ needs
  - Strengthening capacities of communities and NGOs to participate in local self-governance
  - Grant program as an investment exerciser
  - Support to state policy on local self-government development

  RESULTS: By the end of Phase 2 in mid-2020, the VAP project has succeeded in substantial sustainable replication and scale-up of the LSG participatory budgetary process across the country. The project achieved its both outcomes, strengthening citizen’s engagement and responsibility in the local decision-making process (Outcome 1), and increasing LSG’s responsiveness to local initiatives (Outcome 2). Read more...
• III PHASE
  Coverage: the Kyrgyz Republic. 
  Project's goal: Public finances are managed by LSGs in a more transparent and accountable mode through citizen participation in decision making process. 
  The concluding Exit Phase project effort intends to consolidate the achieved outcomes with focus on sustainable, institutionalized capacity building systems for the municipal sector, and further reinforcement of the legal, policy and regulatory environment, prioritizing gender-responsive budgeting.
  EXIT PHASE PLANNED RESULTS: The concluding Exit Phase project effort intends to consolidate the achieved outcomes with focus on sustainable, institutionalized capacity building systems for the municipal sector, and further reinforcement of the legal, policy and regulatory environment, prioritizing gender-responsive budgeting. Read more...

PROJECT'S KEY PARTNERS

• Local councils and executive bodies of LSG.
• Local communities, including formal and informal organizations and citizens’ groups.
• State bodies: Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of KR, the Government Apparatus of KR, the President Apparatus of KR, State Agency on Local Self-Government and Interethnic Relations under the Government of KR and State Personnel Agency of KR (now – State Agency for Civil Service and Local Self-Government Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic  (SACSLSG)), Ministry of Finance of KR, Ministry of Economy of KR, Chamber of Accounts of KR, other state agencies including local state administrations.
• Civil society organizations, international donor organizations, mass media.

Additional information

• Brochure on VAP in English, 2015
• Information on VAP Project in English, 2012

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