PRESS RELEASE
August 26, 2016
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Certificates for receiving grants in the amount of 42 million soms to improve public services will be awarded to 12 municipalities from Issyk-Kul and Jalal-Abad provinces on August 26, 2016 in Bishkek.
The awarding ceremony is organized in the context of the Public Services Improvement Project. This project - with a budget of CHF 4 million over 4 years - helps to improve living conditions of people in rural areas through improved quality of, and access to public services provided by municipalities. It is implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation in Kyrgyzstan and Development Policy Institute with the financial support of the Government of Switzerland.
In spring this year, a competition called for the best Service Improvement Action Plans amongst municipalities of the Issyk-Kul and Jalal-Abad provinces. One requirement was a contribution of at least 10% of the total amount by municipalities. It turned out, remarkably enough, that applicants committed to co-finance around 30% of the projects. This confirms the importance and urgency of improving local service delivery.
The Service Improvement Action Plan is a systematic method that enables to identify priority public and municipal services as well as to plan and to improve their organization and execution. The municipalities used this method with the support of the Public Services Improvement Project.
“A lot of winning projects are socially oriented and responding to the needs of vulnerable groups: women, children and youth, children with special needs”, - says Danielle Meuwly Monteleone, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic. “Yet, it is crucial to keep in mind that improving service provision is an ongoing process. It is not only about procurement of new equipment or construction of infrastructure. It is mostly about good management by local self-governments, ensuring that maintenance costs can be covered and that service delivery can be sustained”.
The municipalities will improve service provision for educating and adaptation of the children with special needs; pure drinking water supply; preschool education services; working conditions of the maternity department to provide quality health care services for pregnant women; public utilities and also organize leisure for children and the youth.
After awarding the certificates the municipalities’ representatives will participate in a workshop devoted to better service provision.
For more details please contact: Tursunai Chodurova, Communications Officer of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic, tel.: (0312) 301036 (ext. 803777), mobile: 0770 710054, email: tursunai.chodurova@eda.admin.ch
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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.