The awarding ceremony was organized in the framework of the "Strengthening Voice and Accountability: Citizens’ Participation and Oversight of Budgetary Processes" project. The project aims at ensuring participation of citizens in budgetary processes and strengthening the capacity of municipalities to improve services delivered to citizens. It is implemented by the Development Policy Institute with the financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. 

The competition for grant support has been announced among all municipalities of the Chuy province. In total 33 applications were submitted, out of which 15 projects with the highest scores were selected by the committee. According to the conditions of the competition, grant funds are allocated to local budgets and used exclusively for financing of the projects aimed at addressing local issues and improving living conditions of local communities. 

“In 2017, 9 out of 15 supported projects are meant to improve conditions for children of preschool and school age. These projects were voted and chosen by local communities of 15 municipalities at their village gatherings organized by municipalities," - said Bekbolot Bekiev, manager of the project.

“I hope that citizens will continue to be involved in the budgetary processes at the local level, since local development should be a joint effort of citizens, municipalities and stakeholders at the national level,” - said Danielle Meuwly Monteleone, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic.  

The list of winning municipalities is as follows: 

Switzerland’s cooperation began after Kyrgyzstan became independent and joined the Swiss-led voting group at the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. This special relationship was one of the reasons Kyrgyzstan became one of the focal partners for Swiss Cooperation in Central Asia.

During 25 years Switzerland has provided more than CHF 350 million of financial, technical and humanitarian support to Kyrgyzstan in the sectors of health, public institutions, private sector, urban water supply, irrigation, local self-governance and civil society engagement.  Switzerland has also substantially supported the organization of successful parliamentary and local elections in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

“The Kyrgyz Republic is Central Asia’s only parliamentary democracy and since independence has undergone significant changes of its own history and development. The Swiss cooperation is proud to be a development partner and is committed to continue its support to the country. Our bilateral relations are based on values and principles such as solidarity, respect of human rights, and democracy, including the participation of civil society actors. Switzerland as a neutral country is always ready to support dialogue and to strive for peaceful solutions of conflicts. There are many similarities between our countries, and we will continue building our relations on our longstanding trust and friendship”, said the Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic, René Holenstein.

The Swiss Federal Dispatch on International Cooperation 2017-2020 reflects Switzerland’s continuing and strong commitment to the Kyrgyz Republic and Central Asia.