2 JUNE, 2003 INFORMATION BULLETIN OF THE INSTITUTE WORLD BANK/NORWEGIAN TRUST FUND "COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT" PROJECT Mr. Christopher James Lovelace, Senior Country Manager for the Kyrgyz Republic I am very pleased with this opportunity to greet readers of this IN THIS ISSUE: CEN newsletter. Community Empowerment Network (CEN) is a small initiative funded by the Norwegian Trust Fund and SOCIAL MOBILIZATION managed by the World Bank Institute. However, it has a big AND HUMAN CAPACITY overall aim, which is to build the capacity of communities to DEVELOPMENT .........................................2 effectively develop, implement, and monitor community-based CHUI PROVINCE. .......................................3 projects, especially those within the scope of a country's National Poverty Reduction Strategy and other Bank-funded CDD projects. STRENGTHENING CIVIL CDD approach is more and more used around the world as an SOCIETY IN CENTRAL ASIA effective tool of poverty reduction. The most important feature of INTRAC........................................................4 CDD approach is that the poor are viewed not only as the target of poverty reduction efforts but they are treated as initiators, SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP implementers and as resources on which to build so it means also IN KYRGYZSTAN.........................................5 that CDD empowers communities. WE ARE STRONGER There are number of factors for CDD to be successful and the TOGETHER..................................................6 Kyrgyz Republic has many of them, such as understanding, UNDP WIDESPREADS IT'S EXPERIENCE support and commitment to its principles from the Government IN SOCIAL MOBILIZATION and the President himself. International donor community is IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC ......................8 inspired by the Kyrgyz Government pioneering among the CIS countries reforms toward full decentralization, which would READ IN THE NEXT ISSUE: create enabling environment for CDD. Number of relevant laws CONFERENCE ŅEN: have been drafted and approved that establish legal and CDD concept vision institutional basis for political and fiscal decentralization. Many Effective technology as an instrument of CDD donors, international and local NGOs provide expertise and Conference INTRAC: "Who gets the benefits? resources for social mobilization and financing of the community Monitoring and evaluation of development projects themselves. Communities themselves here are ready for programs in Central Asia." taking initiatives, identifying own priorities and implementation COLLECTING INFORMATION! own micro projects. We already support a number of projects, in which CDD Dear NGO/CBO concept is used one way or another. These are mainly rural representatives and projects, within which community groups are formed, trained and all interested persons! financed. These groups are formed around joint interest, such as We are continuing to collect self support groups, water users associations, sheep producers the information for groups, community seed funds and others. There is now a clear necessity to scale up CDD initiatives in the Kyrgyz Republic and THE DATABASE the World Bank hopes that such project like CEN will serve as a facilitator of this process. In the new Country Assistance Strategy Therefore we ask You to fill out the the World Bank foresees support to number of investments that questionnaire form will be built with strong community involvement, such as Village that you can secure in the office of Investment Project, Rural Education Project, and Small Towns Counterpart-Sheriktesh Infrastructure Project. 204, Abdrakhmanov str.,4th floor. Our hope is that CEN would encourage a wide dialogue among all stakeholders on CDD features in the Kyrgyz Republic, create 720040 Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic environment, promote awareness and readiness among all key You may conduct inquiries via email: players. cddnews@counterpart.org.kg e-mail: cddnews@counterpart.org.kg phone: (312) 664 636 662 104 662 188 INFORMATION BULLETIN, JUNE, 2003 CDD-forum Social Mobilization and Human Capacity Development 30 leaders of public organizations and NGOs participated in the meeting. The present situation was discussed and general vision and directions in the field of social mobilization were developed during the Forum. Organization representatives made short presentations on and community-based organizations.Aiyl Okmotus and keneshes their own social mobilization approaches, achievements and need to be supported as far as they are the elected bodies and problems. These presentations indicated that the organizations their mission is to represent the population authority at the local had different visions, and social mobilization implementation level, therefore, any activity on social mobilization of the methods proved the necessity in developing common community-based organizations passing by the local understanding of the social mobilization concept by all projects administration bodies would not be expedient. Therefore, the and organizations concerned. opportunity of taking power by trained people, who would work to Due to high actuality of the issue it was decided to create a secure peoples' welfare and develop and strengthen the local methodological document containing analysis of existing administration needs to be fully utilized during the elections to methods, examples of successful implementation of the social local keneshes to be held in autumn this year. mobilization approaches of various projects, and CDD Forum participants discussed the problems impeding recommendations on their efficient application. Such document dissemination of social mobilization experience. Those are the would be useful for organization managers as an aid especially distorted understanding by some Aiyl Okmotu leaders of their role due to particular actuality of the issue appeared after signing the as of "owners-proprietors", non-homogeneous and non- Presidential Decree on measures on further development of understandable policy of donor organizations that allows for the social mobilization for the benefits of Poverty Reduction in the possibility of the consumers to speculate. Kyrgyz Republic. Therefore, ways to solve those problems should be identified According to the Decree the implementation of the social through analysis to be conducted by specialists in the frame of the mobilization on the republican scale should become one of the CDD Forum work. main tasks of the local authorities, non-government organizations Local news Participatory Initiatives Being Implemented! In February 2003 the Partnership Agreement between the Public Association "Center for Civil Initiatives - Leader" and "Kumtor Operating Company" was singed. Before signing of the Partnership Agreement, on the meeting with the participation of 60 NGOs of Issyk Kul oblast the Committee for cooperation with KOC was elected that comprised 15 members. This committee will solve questions of KOC assets distribution, organization of participatory project monitoring and evaluation. They will be involved in the process funding of "Microcredit Agency - Committee for COK Cooperation". The first working meeting of the Kumtor Operating Company Cooperation Committee took place in Karakol on May 13. According to the Partnership Agreement COK has transferred 300 000 KGS that are to be distributed in the form of grant (100 000 KGS) and credit (200 000 KGS) assistance to support the initiatives of the civil society, including community initiatives. THE BULLETIN IS PUBLISHED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF "COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT NETWORK" PROJECT WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF WORLD BANK INSTITUTE/ NORWEGIAN TRUST FUND . Copyright [2003], International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank. This material may be copied for research, education, or scholarly purposes only in memember countries of the World Bank. All materials are subject to revision. The views and interpretations in this document are those of the individual author(s) and/or trainers and should not be attributed to WBI or the World Bank. Address:Counterpart Sheriktesh, 204 floor, Adrahmanov Str. , Bishkek, Kyrgyz Repiblic Editional Group: Vasilkov Dmitry, Niyazalieva Ainura Published in the Kyrgyz, Russian, English. 900 copies. Distribution is free. INFORMATION BULLETIN, JUNE, 2003 Local news CHUI PROVINCE: LET'S WORK KEEPING IN TOUCH! In the Kant rayon of the Chui Oblast Full reconstruction of kindergarten in Villages have possibilities to develop own the "Alga" Public Association have Krasnaya Rechka Village. business with the help of funds obtained actively enlarged its activities. This Support Center provided for regular through newly established micro- organization works all over the province consultancy, logistic and moral- crediting lines. At that, interest due is very providing for consultancy support and psychological support to the CBO low that supports and assists promotion training to a great number of NGOs and members during project development of their economic interests. Residents of CBOs. Success achieved by the and implementation. Such cooperation Ivanovo Village decided to establish the organization can be drawn as an process makes parties to be closer to and family fund, and in the Chon-Daly Village example. trust each other. CIG members they commissioned the crusher to be Tatyana Temirova, Manager: developed new capabilities of their used by local residents avoiding such The "Alga" Public Association, Kant internal potential, found ways to unite with p r o b l e m s a s l o n g d i s t a n c e s , CSSC works for the third year according other communities, managed to mobilize transportation expenses, and lack of time. to the "Community Outreach and their efforts into the unified problem- CIG members decided to legalize their Engagement" Program of Counterpart solving process, and acquired skills of a c t i v i t i e s a n d e m p o w e r t h e i r Consortium. To start we have established making partnership. In other words, representatives through registration of the Stakeholder Board, formed from the people got confident in their own strength. r e s p e c t i v e c o m m u n i t y - b a s e d rayon kenesh' representatives, refugees Working together and applying the organizations in accordance with certain organizations, local aiyl okmotu, rayon ashar method all community-based public-legal form. education department, and mass media. organizations with the grant support Local CIG activities are not confined During its first meeting the Board selected managed to implement all project to the content of the Kant CSSC Program, five communities to participate in this activities and works over a short period of the residents also attract funds of other project. Those were the representatives time. Virtually over two-three months the donor organizations. Members of the of the Otogon, Krasnsya Rechka, Chon- Otogon Village residents covered local Otogon CIG having experience of Daly, Ivanovka and Jurievka Villages. school's roof with slate, residents of participation in three projects outside the Center's employees conducted Ivanovo and Jurievo Villages repaired Counterpart Consortium Program evaluation of needs and requirements in and tuned the water supply system in supported by the Soros Foundation in all the above villages with participation of their respective villages, and children Kyrgyzstan and GEF LIFE, are residents, and identified the most from the Chon-Daly Secondary School particularly successful in that. However, important problems in each of those got heat and comfort in repaired school the initiative group members do not cease villages. During the meetings the villagers sport facility. their activities once the results are elected members of their communities' After project completion the joint achieved, they rather continue to build initiative groups (CIG), who then have monitoring and evaluation have been their capacity through participation in been trained and developed the projects conducted. Donors were satisfied with trainings and various meetings. Support aimed at finding solutions to social the results; however, CIG members did Center continues facilitating the problems of local community. The not have an intention to cease their dialogues between community members following projects are the results of such activities. They proceeded to second and other sectors of civil society. efforts: round of the program to implement all the All communities are full of life and fully Re-roofing the secondary school ideas on poverty prevention and engaged in project activities, villagers are named afterAlybaev in Otogon Village; improving social infrastructure in their full of enthusiasm, ideas and energy, and Repairing water supply network in villages. At that stage the communities every possibility for improving the life of Jurievka Village; elaborated projects on developing profit- their community is used at maximum by Repairing water supply network in gaining activities and establishing public them. Ivanovka Village; funds. Having examined rural needs Repairing sport facility in secondary again, CIGs started implementation of school named after K. Malikov in Chon- new projects. As of today the residents of Daly Village; the Otogon and Krasnaya Rechka e-mail: cddnews@counterpart.org.kg phone: (312) 664 636 662 104 662 188 3 INFORMATION BULLETIN, JUNE, 2003 THE ORGANIZATION FORMED A PART OF THE CEN PROJECT ORGANIZATIONAL GROUP: INTRAC Strengthening Civil Society in Central Asia INTRAC International Training and Research Center started In the pace of implementation of the Program on Developing its activities in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2001 in the frame of the Community in the Kyrgyz Republic the following spheres of Program of the International Development Ministry. activities have been identified: In Kara-Balta city of Chui Oblast the Krasnovostochnyi Ailyl INTRAC believes in necessity to organize civil Okmotu and "Aiyl Korku" Community Based Organization society as alternative and independent actors together with the "Consulting" Initiatives Support Center working towards sustainable development of implement actions on strengthening social partnership. The equitable civil society. conference participated by regional NGOs and Kazakhstan Starting from 2002 Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan colleagues was conducted in February this year. launched an implementation of one of the Community = InTalasCityofTalasOblastthe"Kairat"youthcommunity together with the "Aikol" Center conducts research on Development Program components. lobbing youth interests at the local level. Program Objectives: = InAk-KudukandDyikanVillagesofNarynOblastthe 4AssistancetoNGOsandNGOSOstoraiseefficiency Oblast Water Department and WURPA (Rural Public of their work with Community Based Organizations Association of Water Users) together with CarlBro, conduct and community. research on development of rural water communities. 4Assistancetoothersupportingstructuresoflocal = InNookatRayonofOshOblasttheLocalCommunities administration and international organizations' Association and local administration together with the programs. "Chernobyl liquidators1 in 21 century" Public Foundation 4Workwithcommunity-basedorganizations/ conduct research on the following topic: "Is Ashar a result of communities is not conducted directly, but rather voluntary participation in the joint work of communities?" Community development support is provided through implemented through NGOs and NGO SOs.: research, exchange of experience, and analysis. Results of some The Program provides for capacity building through the research are to be presented in September this year. following Experience of INTRAC specialists in work with rural 4Trainingonorganizationaldevelopment,resource communities allows for having general understanding of present mobilization, monitoring and evaluation using situation in rural areas and their problems. participatory approaches; There are different models and approaches to work in a 4Practiceonconductingreviewandassistanceto community, however, the most common are the following: elaboration of development strategy; 1. External Intervention 4Individualconsultations,focusgroupsand In this case the donor agencies and local field NGOs conduct participation in NGOs' round tables; work on identifying rural needs and allocate particular funds for 4Supportingpeertrainingnetwork. solving social and economic problems. The initiative group, members of which are elected by the community, carries on all READ IN THE NEXT ISSUE: the responsibility for project implementation. On April 28-29, 2003 Bishkek hosted an annual INTRAC 2. Internal initiative Conference devoted to the following topics: Own community initiative, i.e. several people forming a group "Who gets the benefits? Monitoring and by their location and possessing common interests mobilize internal resources and solve problems closely related to them evaluation of development programs in Central Asia." and to their village. Conference Objective: to compare approaches to Monitoring and Evaluation of International, Republican, and Local Programs in Central Asia. 1People participated in eliminating the Chernobyl disaster. 4 INFORMATION BULLETIN, JUNE, 2003 It is very important to mention that such approach is more It might happen that it would be not the financial resources to acceptable in the context of Kyrgyzstan as far as everything solve the society's problems, but rather peoples' perception of depends on what the community "energy" is directed at. how these problems might be solved to maximum benefit for the Despite high activity of communities in rural area they are society. lacking capacity to maintain sustainability. As far as many Community based organizations proved their importance in community projects depend on donors, in case of the donors improving rural people's life standards, however in order to leaving the region, majority of communities would fall apart. efficiently use their capacity the level of knowledge in such fields Local authorities confirm the importance of the population as self-governance and mutual help needs to be raised. awareness; according to their opinion we need to raise Information is prepared based on materials of the INTRAC information consciousness among local population, and that is Regional Bulletin the problem of whole civil society. ROUND TABLE MATERIALS SOCIAL PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTHENING IN JAIYL RAYON The Round Table on Development and problems, needed to nobody. Therefore, Definition of the Strengthening of Social Partnership in Jaiyl we selected that particular target group: "Social Partnership" by the Rayon was conducted in February this year nobody works with elderly people, and Copenhagen Center: in Kara-Balta in the frame of the nobody assists them in solving their People and organizations representing Community Development Program. The problems. Citizens did not participate in the particular totality of state, business R o u n d Ta b l e w a s a t t e n d e d b y life of elderly people and were not aware of and civil structures, which are representatives of Kyrgyz public and non- their problems. To start we have prepared a government organizations, local Mass interrelated due to voluntary, mutually social video film on this problem, then we Media Media, INTRAC consultant from beneficial and innovative relations address the Balykchi city administration to England, INTRAC representatives, aimed at achievement of unified gather active citizens, managers or other Counterpart Consortium representatives, public goals through uniting their persons interested, in big assembly hall to and guests from Kazakhstan. resources and capabilities. present the social film. After viewing this International and local experience of film all participants changed their attitude social partnership was represented at the Definition by Counterpart towards the problem of the city and its Round Table. The social partnership Consortium: elderly citizens, because they saw the e x p e r i e n c e p r e s e n t e d b y S . N . "Social partnership is a cooperation reality, and some of them could not hide the Bashtovenko, the Umut-Balykchi Public between NGOs, private sector and tears, were touched and everyone was Association Leader, was of particular government structures for long-term willing to help and participate. Following the interest for the Round Table participants. and sustainable solution of above the Large Public Council, and the The Umut-Balykchi Public Association community problems." Small Public Councils were established, works already for 12 years, and over that and citizens able to actually solve the city time the organization have followed a long S. N. Bashtovenko: problems got involved in the work of the road of development and establishing "10 years required to get a Councils. partner relationships with other sectors. recognition. There was a lot of The project was supported by the Now we can be proud of our organization's humiliation from the side of Eurasia Foundation, and further also by the success. authorities. However, we did not leave Soros Foundation, and has been used as "In the beginning the government an example for other cities. Many them alone, and were always structures did not understand us, we used organizations from our republic and other demanding. Mayors tend to rotate very to appeal to them with our problems and republics as well come to us to exchange often in our city; all these influenced proposals, but they could not help us. It is experience on work with the self- our work: you build a relationship with not a secret that Balykchi is called the assistance groups and social partnership one mayor, then he/she gets replaced, "dead city", where there is no production, development. First grant received from and the new mayor starts dictating nor any other developed infrastructure left Counterpart Consortium served as a good his/her conditions. As we have after collapse of the Soviet Union. There stimulus to us. Now we work with DCCA, are more and more problems appearing in elaborated a city development strategy Soros Foundation, Eurasia Foundation, the city, and we have started researching and partnership regulations, the and other donors. Our organization is a organizations, including government individuals do not influence our work member of the Ishenim network comprised organizations, in regards to who they work any more. We demand what we need from the Kyrgyz and Kazakh NGOs for, and what problems they solve. Our and what they have to do. After all, working with the self-assistance groups." research indicated that elderly people these are the NGOs that try to assist (to be continued in the next issue) found themselves being left alone with their the state to solve social problems." e-mail: cddnews@counterpart.org.kg phone: (312) 664 636 662 104 662 188 5 INFORMATION BULLETIN, JUNE, 2003 MOBILIZATION IN FACT ALL TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER! In April this year the Community Based Organizations Forum was held in Talas. The Forum idea was to unite efforts of the Talas oblast communities and establish an Association. The initiative of the community projects. Some communities are their initiatives into single, mobile, and organization "Kairat" to hold the local involved in program activities of structured system. conference has been supported by the international donor agencies. There are Promotion of rights and interests of F o u n d a t i o n " C o u n t e r p a r t - also quite a lotof communities starting community-based organizations cannot Consortium/ USAID" in the form of a their activities and working be done by separately working grant assistance. Throughout its independently. High level of community communities in their villages. The implementation the initiative has mobilization allows for implementation institute uniting tendencies towards become partners' wide support of the of large-scale projects with relatively activation of communities' and, Talas oblast administration and UNDP small financial supportdue to investing consequently, the whole population's (Decentralization component). As a own and partners' labor and material participation in public-political life is resultitgained a lotof positive responses resources. needed. and grew into a Forum of community The basis of their activities is social Mr. I.R.Aidaraliev, the oblast's organizations. The present forum that infrastructure rehabilitation and finding governor,took active partin the Forum's showed thatcommunities aspire to getto a way out of economically disastrous work. Examples of productive the high level of development and the situation. As of todaythere are hundreds cooperation of rural administrations and organizations are unanimous in their o f p r o j e c t s i m p l e m e n t e d b y rayon akimiats on the projects presented endeavors,and that they can do it when communities: schools and village saunas atthe Forum representa firststep towards united. being in bad technical conditions start further social partnership at a wider According to the data of operating, sport facilities and clubs are scale. Local rural administration heads international representatives of donor being build, water supply systems are got an understanding that working organizations and NGOs implementing being repaired,low-income families are together with communities itis possible international programs there are 330 being provided with privileged loans, to solve many problems withoutexternal community-based organizations in the residents are being trained on basics of assistance. Talas oblast. Many of them work law and business. This proves the fact Forum participants were presented effi ciently on donor-supported that today's communities need to unite the communities network experience by 6 INFORMATION BULLETIN, JUNE, 2003 representative of the "Jamaattar Kuchu" This Forum is an indicator of COMMUNITIES' N o o k a t P u b l i c A s s o c i a t i o n . overcoming public inertness. It is Communities having clear management STRENGTHS: important that the stereotypes, which structure and tuned work mechanisms Mutual understanding / friendship; h a v e b e e n i m p e d i n g c i t i z e n implement network projects and are Good ability to get organized; participation in solving their problems, legitimately considered to be important Information availability; are being changed. Successful results of participators of the rayon scale planning work of several communities give rise to Single objective; activities, as well as strive to achieve chain reaction towards wide public Mass character; financial sustainability. mobilization. The Forum conducted at Initiative; Advantage of the community the republican level gave rise to network is in the possibility to Wide field for activities; · constructive and radical decisions,which participate and represent the citizens' Work ability; would undoubtedlybe implemented and interests in economic and political Knowledge in the field; bring their historical results. This means reforms at all levels. Considering Responsibility; thatthe time for new,strategic thinking is communities opinion and jointplanning Experience; coming. together with state structures and local During the work of Forum the Openness / transparency; administration bodies is a perspective communities prepared the mini- Reliability; process, whi ch would allow for exhibition of their products and goods. Self-governance; identification of priority directions in The exhibition presented the products social-economic sphere and attraction Self-financing. manufactured by skilled craftsmen: of internal resources to solve problems agricultural tools,clothing manufacture and implementpartnership projects. OPPORTUNITIES: products,and other materials of profit- A network established by this Forum gaining activities. Communities Investors' attraction; would have a crucial importance for displayed their active work towards Drafting sound project proposals; further work of communities. funds development, and manufacturing Solving social problems International and state organizations and selling high qualityproducts. expressed an opinion that the trust in in rural areas; Over 200 community-based people, and confidence in their Establishing Association organizations supported a proposal on capabilities and responsibilityhave been in the scale of village establishing association and community strengthened. administration / rayon / province; development fund. The Coordination Itappeared thatthere was notenough Building social partnership with Committee parti ci pated by 15 time for more detailed developments on representatives of the Talas oblast's government structures; solving the tasks, however, the communities, was established. The Experience exchange p a r t i c i p a n t s m a p p e d s o m e Committee's tasks for the period of between communities; opportunities for solving the tasks being preparatory organizational works, is posed. Building savings / development development of Association Charter, its All participants were happy with the fund; structure and Regulations based on the developed materials,and everyone gotan Obtaining professional proposals elaborated during the Forum. opportunity to speak out own opinion. knowledge; In the future the Coordination None of parti ci pants remained Work with loans. Committee would be entrusted with the indifferent to the Forum's work, functions of providing communications, everybody expressed personal vision of and promoting rights and interests of the Source: Forum's materials the network structure. Talas oblast communities. e-mail: cddnews@counterpart.org.kg phone: (312) 664 636 662 104 662 188 7 INFORMATION BULLETIN, JUNE, 2003 THE ORGANIZATION FORMED A PART OF THE CEN PROJECT ORGANIZATIONAL GROUP: United Nations Development Program WIDESPREADS ITS EXPERIENCE IN SOCIAL MOBILIZATION IN THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC Today UNDP acts atlocal level in all To the presentmomentthere are 345 organizations involved in social oblasts of the Kyrgyz Republic. 362 projects on rural infrastructure mobilization schemes. villages in the Republic are covered by rehabilitation for the total amount of On April 18, 2003the Presidentof the social mobilization. With the supportof KGS 63,000,000.00 implemented. Atthat, Kyrgyz Republic signed a Decree On personnel of two UNDP programs on over 60 % of infrastructure rehabilitation Measures for Further Development of Social Governance and Political and project costs are contributed by Social Mobilization for the Benefits of Administrative Governance over 3,000 community-based organizations and Poverty Reduction in the Kyrgyz community-based organizations local authorities. Republic. According to the Decree participated by40,000 people have been A Cooperation Agreement between conducting the social mobilization on established in villages atthe local level. the Ministry of Labor and Social the country scale should become one of The experience is also being widely Protection of the Kyrgyz Republic, the major tasks for all branches of power and disseminated over those villages,which Association of Local Administration of civil societyas a whole. are not pilot villages, but residents of Villages and Settlements of the Kyrgyz To efficiently implementthis task the which are striving to participate in Republic, and the UNDP to provide for UNDP Kyrgyzstan considers it possible educational programs. dissemination of the social mobilization to disseminate the accumulated social Starting from 1998 with the UNDP experience was signed on May 8, 2003. mobilization experience through support the training seminars aimed at The Agreement provides for training rendering practical assistance with the teaching the members of established of the Ministry's personnel at all levels, use of the unified and practicallyproved community based organizations the as well as the employees of the local model. Practi cal activities on methods of conducting agricultural administration on the social mobilization disseminating the social mobilization activities, organization of profit- methods. Complete set of training aids experience have already started. The gaining activities, techniques on and practical manuals on social UNDP Social Governance Program obtaining and using the loans, mobilization would be distributed to all conducted a series of five-days accounting, marketing, participatory Aiyl Okmotu, and all rayon and oblast practical seminars in all oblasts of the planning,etc. were conducted. Villagers, administrations. In addition, the parties Republic for social workers of the who participated in training, have would conduct a participatory work on Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, acquired access to financial resources establishing the mutual aid groups, and e m p l o y e e s o f o b l a s t , r a y o n both for accomplishing economic providing training and support to them, administrations, and Aiyl Okmotu in activities, and restoring village i.e. the complete cycle of services February-March this year. The infrastructure. During the five years of delivered today to the UNDP target seminars were attended by 96 social participation in the UNDP programs the groups would be reproduced. Thus, workers of Aiyl Okmotu, 32 villagers have engaged into social practical day-to-day participation in representatives of rayon social mobilization schemes received micro- the social mobilization schemes would protection departments, and 8 credits for the amount of KGS allow the employees of the Ministry of representatives of oblast social 160,000,000.00 from the Kyrgyz Social Protection and employees of local protection departments. Training was Agricultural Corporation, and KGS administration bodies to independently mainly aimed at disseminating of 7,500,000.00 from 17 Local Development conductthis work in future. knowledge on notions, methods, Funds recently established with the The Agreementwould be valid within mechanisms and specific features of UNDP support. Social collateral and the year of 2003, and in future the social mobilization and work with poor mutual responsibility scheme adopted Agreement's terms can be amended and people in rural areas. in the frame of social mobilization allows added in accordance with the changes providing for high (98 %) repaymentof taking place in the field. The Agreement loans obtained. is open for participation by any The information is compiled of materials of The UNDP Social Administration Program 8