National Urban Forum 2024: A Platform for Collaboration Between City Authorities and Citizens

From October 16-18, 2024, Bishkek hosted the National Urban Forum, organized by the Bishkek City Mayor's Office, the Public Association 'MoveGreen,' the Union of Local Self-Governments of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Institute of Development Policy, and the Partnership 'For the Development of Local Self-Government in the Kyrgyz Republic,' with support from development partners.  

The event served as a platform for dialogue and experience exchange among active citizens, leading international and national experts, and mayors from 33 cities across Kyrgyzstan. Participants discussed current challenges posed by urbanization and explored effective solutions to address the rapidly growing needs of urban and rural communities.  

The Forum offered a unique opportunity to establish city partnerships and develop new urban development strategies. It gathered representatives from mayoral offices across Kyrgyzstan, the mayor’s office of Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), three cities from Turkey, the Union of Municipalities of the Turkic World, the Union of Russian Cities, the Eurasian section of the World Organization 'United Cities and Local Governments' from Kazan, the Chairman of the People's Congress of Local Communities of Kazakhstan, and experts from France, Germany, and the USA. Representatives from UN-Habitat (Kenya), international experts on territorial development and big data, urban activists, and government and international organizations were also in attendance.  

Held in a hybrid format, the Forum featured both expert and public sessions, which proved highly relevant for city administrations and citizens alike. During these sessions, participants identified the national characteristics and priorities of Kyrgyzstan’s urbanization processes in the context of global challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals. The integration of international best practices in sustainable urban development into city governance was a key topic of discussion. The Forum fostered stronger horizontal ties between the cities of Kyrgyzstan.  

The public agenda covered a wide range of topics and formats, addressing global trends and challenges related to urbanization. The format allowed participants to exchange experiences and build partnerships in both formal and informal settings.

Partners:

Austausch e.V.; International agency 'Bread for the World'; Goethe-Institut Kazakhstan; Alliance Française in Bishkek; Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES); Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM); UN-Habitat, Kenya; Urban Hub Bishkek Community; Asia Resilient Cities; United States Agency for International Development (USAID); Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), as well as GIZ with co-financing from BMZ, the EU, and the Government of Switzerland.