USAID’s Successful Aimak 2 Project in the Kyrgyz Republic: First Quarterly Progress Report

The project's purpose is to increase the quality of life and strengthen democratic values by teaching, assisting, and mentoring local self-governments (LSGs) to improve services aligned with citizens' priorities. The project will assist 50 target municipalities, including 20 LSGs during the first year of implementation, to increase citizen engagement in municipal decision-making and broaden ownership of citizen-centered governance approaches. The project has three sub-purposes: SP 1, Expand effective service delivery of citizen-prioritized services; SP 2, Increase citizen engagement in municipal decision-making; and SP 3, Broaden ownership of citizen-centered governance approaches. The project team, led by the Development Policy Institute (DPI), a Kyrgyzstani local non-governmental organization, has successfully completed the project's operational start-up and prepared key project documents, including the Annual Implementation Plan for Year 1 and the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (MELP). The project has also selected 20 LSGs in four regions, including one town, and obtained approval from the Administrative Office of the President (AOR) on the selection. The project has introduced itself to key government stakeholders, including the Presidential Administration/Cabinet of Ministers, State Agency for Public Service and LSGs issues of the Kyrgyz Republic (SAPSLSG), and the official representatives of the President in four relevant oblasts. The project has also met with all relevant international and local partners and stakeholders, including the Union of LSGs, Academy of Local Governance in Central Asia (LGACA), SDC and GIZ-funded projects. The project has presented its objectives and approaches during a launch event in Bishkek in late December 2021 for national stakeholders, including officials and NGOs, and international development sector actors. The Local Self-Government Performance Assessment Tool (LSGPAT) was revised and will be tested in Alamudun AO in Chui oblast. The project's information about domestic and gender violence and prevention measures reached almost 2000 people through social media during the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign. The project's information was largely presented in mass media during the launch events in the oblasts and in Bishkek. The project's quarterly report provides a description of the activities completed as laid out in the approved project's Year 1 Annual Implementation Plan and plans for the next quarter. The project's implementation is focused on three key areas: SP 1, Expand effective service delivery of citizen-prioritized services; SP 2, Increase citizen engagement in municipal decision-making; and SP 3, Broaden ownership of citizen-centered governance approaches. The project will work on cross-cutting themes such as gender, youth, and minorities to enhance the overall project results. The project's expected results for Year I include increasing the quality of life and strengthening democratic values by teaching, assisting, and mentoring LSGs to improve services aligned with citizens' priorities. The project will also increase citizen engagement in municipal decision-making and broaden ownership of citizen-centered governance approaches. The project's results will be achieved through a combination of training, technical assistance, and capacity development activities. The project's implementation will be monitored and evaluated through the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (MELP), which will track progress against the project's expected results. The project's quarterly reports will provide updates on the project's progress and plans for the next quarter.