Switzerland supports local self-governments in the country

PRESS RELEASE
10 March 2017
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

In March 2017, the project “Voice and Accountability: Citizens’ Participation in Budgetary Processes” funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by the Development Policy Institute will be launched in Naryn and Osh oblasts of Kyrgyzstan.

The project will provide local self-governments and local communities of Naryn and Osh oblasts with new opportunities for capacity development. It will improve citizens’ engagement in budgetary processes at the local level and promote enabling environments for building dialogue between citizens and local self-governments.   

The events will be attended by representatives of the Government’s Office of the Kyrgyz Republic, the State Agency for Local Self-Governments and Interethnic Relations under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, representatives of the Government in Naryn and Osh oblasts, the Embassy of Switzerland, representatives of the rayon state administrations, as well as heads of all municipalities of Naryn and Osh oblasts.

“Switzerland has been providing long-term support to Kyrgyzstan in improving local self-governance and service delivery at the municipal level in various oblasts across the country already for a number of years. I am convinced that the project will now also contribute to more transparent budgetary processes and better services for citizens in the villages of Naryn and Osh oblasts”, said Lucien Aegerter, representative of the Embassy of Switzerland.

The project includes the provision of competitive grant support to address priority issues of local communities. This project was previously successfully implemented in Jalal-Abad and Issyk-Kul oblasts from 2012 to 2015, and is currently ongoing in Chui oblast.

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The Government of Switzerland provides assistance for the development of the Kyrgyz Republic and supports projects in areas such as health, private sector development, public sector reform, and infrastructure.