How Nookat residents participate in solving local problems
There are 16 village districts in Nookat region of Osh oblast with about 320,000 residents, and every day residents of all these village districts visit the administrative center, the town of Nookat, with a population of only 17,200 residents, since all administrative organizations of the region are located there.
According to the International Alert study, there is a lot of tension between residents and local government bodies in Nookat – there is a lack of trust to the local self-government bodies, a low level of participation of residents in decision-making, dissatisfaction of residents with the services provided (drinking water, garbage removal, roads, resource allocation, etc.).
In order to reduce tension between the residents and the local self-government bodies and to ensure the participation of civil society in the decision-making process, to improve information exchange about the activities of the Municipality of Nookat on municipal services, the Civil Society Support Center-Nookat Public Association has developed the initiative for Increasing the level of public confidence in the local self-government bodies in Nookat.
According to the new law, a new mayor was appointed in Nookat for the first time, not elected, and the town council was also recently elected, so the new officials willingly supported the initiative in order to establish better relations with the residents.
"Previously, the authorities held meetings in the town center, it was not convenient for all residents to get there, and few people came to the meetings. Therefore, we suggested that the mayor travels around the blocks and hold meetings there. Previously, 30-40 people participated in public hearings, but we managed to gather 200 people each time. The Head of the solid waste utilization facility, the Head of the municipal water supply and other officials also went to the meetings with the mayor, and residents could get answers to their questions directly from them and discuss the budget," said the Head of the initiative - Abdilboki Talipov.
"I live in the Kara Turpak neighborhood, and for the first time I saw that the mayor's office was organizing a meeting in our neighborhood to hear our opinion, collect our suggestions and include them in his work plan. I have attended these public discussions several times, and I am very pleased that they began to listen to us, to consult us," said Sadykzhan Mamitov, an activist in Nookat.
In order to effectively solve local problems, it was first decided to conduct a needs assessment in 4 neighborhoods of our town: the initiative groups included women activists, representatives of aksakals (council of the elders), proactive youth. After the training, the initiative groups assessed the needs in their neighborhoods, identified several main problems, and submitted a report to the mayor of the town, who, based on the report, created a working group of local council deputies, town hall employees and local activists, which began working on an action plan.
"As a deputy of the town Council, for the first time I became a member of the Working Group on the socio-economic development plan. We have been trained on the basics of the work of the local self-government bodies, the principles of forming the local budget and others. Participation in the development of the socio-economic development program increases both the potential of deputies and the quality of the work of the local self-government bodies, and therefore it is necessary that all deputies of our council begin to work actively in this field," shared Turdumakhamat Kodirbaev, deputy of the town Council and a member of the Working Group on the socio-economic development program.
In order for the action plan to be developed taking into account the needs of residents, seminars were held for members of the Working Group, as well as for local deputies, youth, volunteers and activists on the principles of local self-government and financing, the powers of municipalities, information exchange and other topics so that residents understand where the powers of local government end, and where it is possible to get help. Thanks to the initiative for Increasing the level of public confidence in the local self-government bodies in Nookat", the Socio-Economic Development Plan based on the needs of residents has turned into a whole program, which the town council will soon approve.
Ulan Turganbaev, the mayor of the town, says: "The project has raised a very important problem – it is difficult to achieve success without dialogue with the residents. As the new mayor, it was useful for me to start my work by discussing the problems and needs on the site, and to listen to the suggestions of the residents. As a result, we have a socio-economic development plan that takes into account the wishes of residents, as it has passed several public hearings and received good reviews. Now I can say with confidence that the dialogue between the residents and the local authorities has been set."
The action plan, based on consultations with residents, included improvements in the supply of drinking water, organizing a public transport route for school students, the installation of garbage containers and control over timely garbage removal, as well as road repairs. In addition, residents are concerned about the issue of recreation: there are not enough sports clubs and youth centers.
After conducting an assessment of the needs in the city's neighborhoods, active youth joined the initiative, which helped to hold a number of actions throughout the city for social cohesion. Center for Civil Society Support-Nookat Public Association allocated a room for 12 volunteers who plan to continue working with proactive residents in Nookat: "Thanks to the project, proactive youth of our city were able to unite and open the Muras youth volunteer center, and to hold the "We stand for a clean town" and the friendship festival with the assistance of the Mayor's office and the town Council. The participation of representatives of local authorities and ordinary residents provided a platform for exchanging opinions and resolving controversial issues. Also, now our volunteer center has a room and equipment for work, and we plan to continue our work with proactive residents of our town," says Vazifa Zholdubaeva, leader of the Muras Youth Volunteer Center.
To further maintain the openness of processes and communication with residents, with the support of the Mayor's office and the Living in Peace project, a Resource Center was created and equipped in the Nookat town Hall, where online sessions of the town council will be held, which will be available to residents.
The initiative for Increasing the level of public confidence in the local self-government bodies in Nookat proved so successful that after the presentation of the results at the regional level, most of the heads of 16 vilalge districts of Nookat region are going to adopt this experience to reduce tensions between the local self-government and local communities.
Danir Imanaliev, Head of the Nookat regional Administration, addressed the heads of 16 village districts: "The initiative for Increasing the level of public confidence in the local self-government bodies has raised a really urgent problem that exists in all village districts of the Nookat region. The experience of Nookat shows that it is possible to increase the confidence of ordinary residents in local authorities. Without trust, it is difficult to develop and build effective work. I hope that now all village districts will apply the successful experience of Nookat in their work."
This work was carried out by the Civil Society Support Center-Nookat Public Association within the framework of the initiative for Increasing the level of public confidence in the local self-government bodies in Nookat, which is aimed at ensuring the participation of civil society in the decision-making process and improving information exchange about the activities of the Nookat town Hall on municipal services. The initiative is funded by the Living in Peace project.
International Alert, together with the Development Policy Institute and the National Mediation Center, is implementing the Living in Peace project with the support of the European Union.
