Switzerland helped to improve access to clean drinking water for more than 5,800 people in rural areas of Jalal-Abad province

Local news, 13.08.2018

On August 9, 2018, an official launch of improved drinking water supply service took place in Bagysh municipality of Jalal-Abad province of Kyrgyzstan.

Сutting the ribbon of the improved drinking water supply in Bagysh municipality of Jalal-Abad province of Kyrgyzstan © Helvetas/Development Policy Institute, 2018

A new 3245-meter water pipeline was installed, a 500 m3 reservoir was reconstructed at water intake facilities, a 180-meter-deep well was drilled, and a new deep-well pump with electronic control was installed. Water pipelines have been installed in 848 households and now more than 5,800 inhabitants of Oktyabrskoye and Kedey-Aryk villages of the Bagysh municipality have access to clean drinking water 24 hours a day.

This work was done thanks to the Public Service Improvement Project financed by the Government of Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by a consortium of organizations composed of Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation and the Development Policy Institute.

“Our residents are immensely happy that they finally have access to clean drinking water. People are willing to pay for water at the approved rate, as they understand that these funds will result in sustainable provision of water”, says Mr. Murzabekov, the head of the Bagysh municipality. 

A new tariff for drinking water was agreed upon during public hearings and then approved by the local council. This tariff covers all current costs and also includes depreciation, which allows the Association of drinking water users, as the supplier of water, to be financially stable and efficient.

"I am glad to note that the water system has been rehabilitated. However, it is also of utmost importance that the management capacities of the local self-government have been improved and a new tariff has been established in consultation with the population. I hope it will ensure sustainable, affordable and quality service to all”, says Danielle Meuwly Monteleone, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic.

In total, the Swiss-funded Public Service Improvement Project supports the implementation of 36 Service Improvement Action Plans of rural municipalities for a total of 92 million soms, including contributions of 30% from the municipalities. The priority services supported by the project include sustainable access to safe drinking water, rehabilitation and accessibility of preschools and schools, improvement of communal and housing services in municipalities, etc.

 

Local news, 26.03.2018

Representatives of 23 municipalities of Osh and Naryn provinces were awarded grant certificates in the amount of KGS 38 million at the ceremony held on March 23, 2018, in Bishkek. The grants will be used to solve priority issues identified by the citizens, such as construction of kindergartens and improvement of water services.  

Danielle Meuwly Monteleone, Deputy Head of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic., is giving a grant certificate © Swiss Embassy Bishkek, 2018

The event was organized by the project "Strengthening Voice and Accountability: Citizens’ Participation and Oversight of Budgetary Processes". This project is implemented by the Development Policy Institute and financed by the Swiss Government through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). It ensures participation of citizens in budgetary processes and strengthens the capacity of municipalities to improve citizens’ livelihoods.

Citizens participate in budgetary hearings organized by municipalities during which they identify and select priority problems. Municipalities then applied for grant support from the Swiss-funded project. The grants were awarded on a competitive basis to provide funding for municipalities to realize these community initiatives.

“I hope that citizens will continue to be involved in the budgetary processes at the local level, it is an important element of democracy, which strengthens accountability of local authorities towards citizens and enables an effective and efficient use of public resources,” - said Danielle Meuwly Monteleone, Deputy Head of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic. 

The competition for grant support covered all municipalities of the Osh and Naryn provinces, which are applying a participatory budgetary process model. The committee has selected 38 projects out of more than 120 applications. The committee consisted of the representatives of the President’s Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Ministry of Finance, the State Agency for Local Self-Governance and Interethnic Relations, the Union of Local Self Governments and the Development Policy Institute.

Out of 38 initiatives, 20 (53%) will address pre-school and school education services; 11 (29%) will improve access to municipal services; 6 (16%) - recreation services for local community members; and 1 (2%) - access to information.

 

The list of winning municipalities is as follows:

Rayon, Province

Municipality

Project title

1

Nookat, Osh

Gulistan

“Clean water is the source of health”

2

Uzgen, Osh

Jazy

"Water is the source of life"

3

Kara-Kulja, Osh

Ylay-Talaa

"Water is the source of life"

4

Kara-Suu, Osh

Shark

"It is possible to change the situation on the roads!"

5

Kochkor, Naryn

Kara-Suu

“Infrastructure development is the guarantee of decent human life”

6

Kara-Suu, Osh

Kyzyl-Suu

"Clean water is the source of life"

7

Aravan, Osh

Mangyt

"Future is in our hands"

8

Kara-Suu, Osh

Shark

 "Children’s future is the state’s future"

9

Uzgen, Osh

Ak-Jar

"For the children’s future"

10

Jumgal, Naryn

Chaek

“Kids are our future”

11

Nookat, Osh

Gulistan

"Modern education"

12

Aravan, Osh

Mangyt

"Healthy village is a healthy state"

13

Chon-Alay, Osh

Chon-Alay

"Bright life in the lightened streets"

14

Kara-Kulja, Osh

Ylay-Talaa

"Children are happiness, children are life"

15

Kochkor, Naryn

Kara-Suu

“Renovation of the concert hall in the culture center”

16

Jumgal, Naryn

Chaek

“Infrastructure improvement is the guarantee of decent human life”

17

Naryn, Naryn

Uchkun

“Bright life for the youth”

18

Kara-Suu, Osh

Kyzyl-Suu

"Light streets are a bright life"

19

Naryn, Naryn

Uchkun

“Warm school is a way to quality education”

20

Ak-Talaa, Naryn

Ak-Tal

“Children’s safety is the safety of the future”

21

Kara-Suu, Osh

Mady

"Reconstruction of the heating system and replacement of windows and doors in the kindergarten"

22

Alay, Osh

Bulolu

"Replacement of plastic windows and doors at school"

23

Nookat, Osh

Kok-Jar

“Children’s safety is in our hands”

24

At-Bashy, Naryn

Ak-Muz

“Children are our future”

25

Alay, Osh

Bulolu

“Reconstruction of the heating system at school”

26

Uzgen, Osh

Ak-Jar

“People are the treasury of talent”

27

Nookat, Osh

Kok-Jar

“Access to transparent information”

28

Chon-Alay, Osh

Chon-Alay

“Youth is our future”

29

Ak-Talaa, Naryn

Ak-Tal

“Bright future for youth”

30

At-Bashy, Naryn

Ak-Muz

“Equipped school is a way to quality education”

31

Uzgen, Osh

Jazy

“Sport is the peace ambassador”

32

Kochkor, Naryn

Kochkor

“Opening additional groups in the kindergarten”

33

Kara-Kulja, Osh

Sary-Bulak

“The purest water”

34

Jumgal, Naryn

Bayzak

“Replacement of windows at school”

35

Nookat, Osh

Mirmahmudov

“Children of the future”

36

Kara-Suu, Osh

Toloikon

“Procurement of equipment for the cultural center”

37

Ak-Talaa, Naryn

Ugut

“Renovation of the village clinic and kindergarten”

38

At-Bashy, Naryn

Ak-Talaa

“Clean water is the source of health”

 

The Swiss-funded project "Strengthening Voice and Accountability” has been working since 2011. Previously, it covered Issyk-Kul, Jalal-Abad and Chui provinces.