Yssyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan / May 12, 2023 – Today, more than 40 representatives from the Parliament, state and municipal authorities and civil society organizations took part in public discussions on decentralized peacebuilding. The discussions were focused on defining the institutional role of local self-governance in conflict prevention in the local context as well as peacebuilding and social cohesion by introducing changes and amendments to the national legislation in the area of local self-governance. 

Local self-governments being the closest state institution to local communities are responsible to determine the development policy and financing on their level to address conflict risks associated with social, economic, intercultural, infrastructural, administrative, environmental, and other challenges.

«There are 484 local self-governments in the Kyrgyz Republic and the draft amendments are aimed at meaningful engagement of local self-governance system into the implementation of national and local level peacebuilding, social cohesion development agendas on a sustainable and systemic way. The draft amendments will enable local self-governments to plan local level peacebuilding action plans, allocate financial resources from local budgets, strengthen vertical and horizontal integration of national and local-level policies, strategies and resources as well as improve coordination among municipalities, civil society organizations, community-based institutions, and other relevant stakeholders concerned. » - said Director of the State Agency for Civil Service and Local Self-Government Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic.  

The public discussions were followed by a wide range of advisory meetings in 5 provinces of the Kyrgyz Republic led by the State Agency for Civil Service and Local Self-Government Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic. Further, at the request of the Members of the Parliament, UNDP supported the open platform aimed to discuss the results of the local-level advisory meetings and the draft amendments to the Law “On local state administration and local self-government bodies”.

“UNDP supports the efforts of the Kyrgyz government in promoting a greater sense of shared and inclusive civic identity and trust enhanced through inter-group dialogue, inclusive and accountable governance and stronger capacities for prevention and peacebuilding in the country. Under this framework, we contribute to strengthening policies and institutional mechanisms for inclusive, and accountable governance at national and local levels to create equal access to the decision-making process, increase social dialogue and trust between communities and local self-governments.” – said Erkina Urazbaeva, Team Leader of the Governance and Peacebuilding Cluster in UNDP Kyrgyzstan.