The rural municipalities of Jalal-Abad and Issyk-Kul regions received information on the methods of engaging the private sector in organizing and providing public services to resolve the issues of local significance

Public Service Improvement Project, funded by the Government of Switzerland through the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency and implemented by Helvetas and Development Policy Institute held a number of workshops for all rural municipalities in Jalal-Abad and Issyk-Kul regions on private sector involvement in the organization and provision of services at the local level.

In total, 108 heads and staff from the rural municipalities of Issyk-Kul and Jalal-Abad regions were trained in 5 seminars (Jalal-Abad, Ala-Buka, Toktogul, Balykchy and Karakol), including 13 women.

While involving the private sector in the provision of services will reduce the costs of the local budget, the LSG body could get rid of the need to deal with organizational issues and internal problems of the service provider. Furthermore, no longer will there be need to buy and maintain main assets.

At the seminars, real examples of cooperation with the private sector in areas such as collection and removal of solid waste, cultural and recreational services, street lighting and improvement of public areas, etc. were discussed.

At the end of the seminar, Kadyralieva Mairamkul, head of Kok-Moinock ayil aimak in the Ton district, said: "The seminar was very informative and useful. Thanks to the project, we have learned practical methods of engaging the private sector in the provision of services at the local level." Sharsheev Urmat, head of the Boru-Bash AA of Ak-Sui district told: "I support cooperation with the private sector to solve local problems, because such a method can improve the quality of services and reduce the level of corruption."

As a result, the Project plans to create an appropriate online course and at least one successful case of involving the private sector in the provision of services in each project region, which will be subsequently published on the best practices e-portal, which will allow other LSG bodies to use such experience in their municipalities.

To reduce risks and prevent further spread of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), workshops were held separately for representatives of different districts of the target regions, meeting all sanitary requirements and a small number of participants. All participants were provided with medical masks, antiseptics, organized and observed social distance.