More than 60 percent of the population of Kyrgyzstan lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for a livelihood. Most of the farms are small and are run by individual farmers who have been identified as vulnerable groups for poverty. Women make up for 30 percent of the economically active population in agriculture.

In 2016, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with the financial support of the Government of Switzerland started the implementation of a project in Issyk-Kul region with a special focus on rural women. The main objective of the project was to support the development of agriculture in the Issyk-Kul region through improving the technical capacity of farmers, especially rural women.

The project was implemented in the Ton and Tyup districts of the Issyk-Kul region; each of the districts included five villages with a total estimate of more than 2000 beneficiaries. The project facilitated the establishment of two Associations of self-help groups (SHG) with total number of members 400, including 114 males and 286 females. These SHGs are covering all aspects of self-employment and are strengthening the capacity building. Organization of the rural poor into self-help groups helps them to plan activities, build up infrastructure, technology, credit and marketing.

The main aim of the project was to disseminate knowledge and impart skills on improved crop and livestock management, including promotion of conservation agriculture, diversification of cropping systems to produce more fodder and production of feed – silage and silos to increase milk yield and further development of dairy farming.

“Within this project our lives have changed. We managed to improve the livelihoods and change our social life in the village,” – said Taaryndyk Abdyldaeva, woman farmer from Temir-Kanat village, Ton rayon.

A large number of activities, such as farmer field schools, business planning training, the establishment and running the Revolving Fund and many other capacity building activities were held within the framework of the project. The project also facilitated the cooperation between the seed farms with the small-scale famers for growing maize, fodder beet and other fodder crops. Today, the project participants actively apply the knowledge and are happy to share them with new people who want to join the ongoing activities. It is important to mention that self-help groups have collected certain amount of funds that is used, as a community fund upon needs of poor farmers.

It is worth noting that the financial support provided by the Government of Switzerland made it possible to procure and deliver key field equipment to the Associations. The equipment is used in feed cultivation, to help ensure sustainable results from the assistance. Moreover, the heifers were provided to young families and produced calves which were then distributed to other members of the Associations.

Women make a critical contribution to agriculture and rural economic activities in all developing regions. Expanding women's access to land, livestock, education, finance, information services, technology and employment in rural areas would improve the livelihood of families and provide additional benefits in terms of agricultural production, food security, economic growth and social welfare.

Chairperson Shaikova stressed the high importance of the Centre: “During the electoral cycle between 2015 to 2017 about 13,000 SRS/CEC experts have been trained on a smooth organization of elections, use of ICT equipment, appropriate delivery of information, effective electoral disputes resolution mechanisms for successful election campaigns. Therefore, the need for having such training centre is still urgent, as skills and knowledge should be updated regularly to be in shorthand with new technologies and innovations”.

Citizens want transparent, effective and accountable governments, with institutions that empower people and are responsive to their aspirations. The SRS, with the support of the UNDP, the Government of Switzerland and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, has addressed this need by introducing these novelty technologies, which demanded a new set of knowledge and skills of SRS staff. Eventually, this cooperative work has led to an opening of the Capacity Development Centre.

“Knowledge and innovation are inseparable from each other - they drive societies and economies around the world. I believe this Capacity Development Centre will become a knowledge hub for the SRS staff, who is working towards building strong institutions and democratic society in the Kyrgyz Republic. UNDP promotes innovation, capacity development, and empowerment through sustainable approaches which we can share with our partners to bring the technologies and innovations for the benefit of people”, said Dr. Ozonnia Ojielo, UN Resident Coordinator/ UNDP Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic.

“Change is the driver of progress and today the SRS demonstrates that change is already taking place in the public services industry in Kyrgyzstan, and the OSCE is proud to be a part of it,” said Ambassador Chiveri, Deputy Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek. Indeed, the Centre will play a significant role in maintaining and upgrading the SRS’s knowledge for improving the provision of public services and heightening inter-organizational communication.

The SRS Capacity Development Centre was an important part of the Kyrgyz Election Support Project 2 (KESP2), which was implemented by UNDP and financed by the Governments of Switzerland and Denmark. The project aimed to support the SRS and CEC in organising free, competitive, and peaceful elections throughout the Kyrgyz Republic. To achieve this goal, the SRS and CEC officials need to be well trained and to have access to modern and safe technology.