On April 11, 2021, elections to 420 local councils from 452 municipalities were held across the country. To help increase the participation of women in local councils, the Swiss project "Public Service Improvement" organized a Leadership School for 65 women candidates from 24 target municipalities of Issyk-Kul and Jalal-Abad regions. The purpose of the Leadership School for Women Candidates to Local Councils was to provide women not only with theoretical knowledge, but also with practical advice throughout the entire electoral process. The program of the School of Leadership included three days of intensive trainings, which included thematic sessions on the amendments to the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Elections of Local Council Deputies," the functions and responsibilities of local deputies, in addition, the participants learned about leadership and effective communication skills, as well as the procedures for registration to participate in elections and preparation of individual pre-election information campaigns with relevant political programs. The Leadership School also launched a month-long mentoring program, which included practical advice through phone calls and various social media and communication platforms. Thanks to the Leadership School, 56 participants decided to participate in the elections to local councils and registered with the relevant territorial election commissions (TECs). Of these, 34 participants were elected deputies of local councils. Since municipalities for the first time applied the change in the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On Elections of Deputies of Local Councils" and the norm to reserve at least 30% of mandates for women in local councils, all participants noted the importance and timeliness of this event. They emphasized the fact that they were successful due to the knowledge and guidance provided by the trainers and did not resort to such measures that went beyond the legality of the election campaign. According to them, they were able to gain the trust of the population through competent campaigning, correctly presenting their election programs to their voters. Gulzat Chotoyeva described her experience as follows: "The school gave me great support in the election process. I felt constant support from the trainers and got answers to all my questions. I managed to organize my election campaign very well. I did everything according to the requirements of the law, as I was taught in our trainings. I was able to win fairly, without taking bribes or bribing voters, and this is my main success. Gulnara Bostonova: "In my election campaign, I used the knowledge I received during the consultations. I raised vital issues of the village and demonstrated ways to solve these problems depending on the competence of the local council and local authorities. I held meetings with voters in each village and tried to be a good example for other candidates and members of the local community to achieve good results without breaking the law and without bribing voters. Unfortunately, a number of women with promising plans failed to get enough votes. Despite their defeat, these young women thanked the Project for the knowledge and experience they gained, which will be of use to them in the future. Zarema Urdolotova: "I did not win at the elections, but I became a real leader thanks to the School of Leadership for Women. It was a very useful experience in terms of interacting with the local community, listening to people's voices and being able to show myself, my knowledge and abilities as a true leader. At the moment I am involved in different events and local initiatives. Thanks to my active work, I hope that in 4 years I will be ready to take part in the next local elections". Leadership School for Women Candidates to Local Councils was organized in the framework of the Public Service Improvement Project, funded by the Swiss Government through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented by Helvetas and Development Policy Institute.
On May 15, 2021, the International Tourism Fair (Issyk-Kul ITF) 'I AM NOMAD' was held on the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul with the financial support of the Helvetas Association and other international donors. More than 100 local and foreign companies, associations and international projects presented their activities and products at the Cultural Center Ruh Ordo in Cholpon-Ata. The Helvetas Association was represented at the exhibition by the Swiss projects Bai Alai and Sustainable Winter Tourism, as well as the Greentour: Sustainable Tourism in Kyrgyzstan project, funded by the EU's SwitchAsia program. In addition, Helvetas' regular partners "Business Women of Alai Association" as well as public associations "Destination Karakol" and "Destination Osh" took an active part in the event. It is also worth noting our partners the Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators (KATO) and the Kyrgyz Community-Based Tourism Association (KCBTA), which, along with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic represented by the authorized representative office of the KR Government in Issyk-Kul region and the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the KR, as well as the Association of Resorts of Kyrgyzstan (AKK) were the organizers of the exhibition (Issyk-Kul ITF) 'I AM NOMAD'. Despite the rainy weather the event was attended by over 2,000 people, which is undoubtedly a success. Each guest of the exhibition had the opportunity not only to participate in the exhibition, but also to enjoy the concert program and attend the Tourism Forum "Kyrgyzstan - Land of Tourism" and the award ceremony for the best participants and partners in the tourism market of Kyrgyzstan. The event was opened by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Japarov Sadyr Nurguzhoevich, who noted that the active development of tourism as a real sector of the economy requires regular activities aimed at promoting Kyrgyzstan's tourism products in the international tourism market. "I am sure that the tourism fair will become a good platform for close cooperation of tourism business of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia and other countries. One of the priorities of the country's development should be the tourism industry. Our domestic tourism industry needs to create conditions that meet international service standards and improve the image of Kyrgyzstan on the world stage. At the same time, we should be careful with the nature of our country and remember the authenticity of our historical and cultural values. The main goal of the state is to create favorable conditions for businesses and organizations of the tourism industry. The goal is to create a modern legislative framework that will ensure the development of activities in this area to make our country, rich in natural beauty, attractive to tourists", - said Sadyr Japarov. The main purpose of the exhibition, which is held annually since 2016, is to establish business ties between tourist organizations, promotion and propaganda of local attractions, tourist products, to familiarize citizens with the services of ethno-eco tourism. This year the main theme of the exhibition was the promotion and development of ecological and ethnographic tourism.
On April 22, 2021, within the framework of the Public Service Improvement Project a roundtable was held with the representatives of international and non-governmental organizations, as well as gender experts. There were more than 30 participants at the round table, including those who joined online. First, participants were introduced with the ongoing work of the Project on the implementation of socially inclusive and gender responsive (hereinafter SIGR) policies in the sphere of public services at the local level. The presentation included information on the project strategy in this direction and the results of the work that was carried out in the targeted municipalities of Issyk-Kul and Jalal-Abad regions. Further presentations were made by the representatives of CSOs “Rural Life”, “Women’s Peace Bank” and the “Civil Initiatives Centre Leader”, which worked in those areas, but in municipalities that are not partners in the second phase of the project. In their presentations, representatives of the organizations described how they worked in the face of the pandemic and how they were able to achieve meaningful results, despite the difficulties and restrictions imposed. They demonstrated the socially inclusive and gender responsive aspects integrated in the socio-economic development programmes of municipalities as a result of training and follow-up consultations. Chairperson of the Board of DPI, Dobretsova Nadezhda made a presentation on "Inclusive local development" or so-called ‘inclusive growth’, the essence of which is "the need to reduce inequality between different groups of people, in order to achieve greater stability of society." She also introduced participants to the concept of a new tool/mechanism for auditing the inclusiveness of local development programmes. The creation of such an integrated development system is essential in order to ensure that LSG bodies use all available strategies for sustainable and inclusive development of the local economy and community as a whole. At the end of the presentations, all participants were engaged in the discussion, asked their questions and offered their recommendations to the project in improving the work on the tasks in mentioned areas. One of the experts of an international organization was interested in the criteria by which the existing municipalities' SEDPs were considered/recognized as not containing socially inclusive and gender-sensitive approaches. He also noted the need for the appropriate formulation of the newly introduced activities in the developed SEDPs so that the LSG bodies could implement these activities without going beyond their competencies. A proposal to introduce a so-called gender marker (e.g. 30%) in relation to activities, financed from local budget and considered as socially inclusive and gender responsive measures, was also recommended. In addition, better coordination among the various projects working in the same field was proposed to avoid duplication of work in the same municipalities. The majority of participants agreed on the importance of implementing socially inclusive and gender-responsive policies at the local level and called for sharing best practices as an example among other municipalities. The Public Service Improvement Project is funded by the Swiss Government through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and is implemented by Helvetas Kyrgyzstan and the Development Policy Institute.
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION Assignment Title: Provision of services for the implementation of Fair Trade standards in the Chon-Alai Baly cooperative and the Nomad Store - honey Exporter Company. Assignment periods: May 20 to November 30, 2021. Location: Chon-Alai district and Osh city. Basic requirements for a potential consultant or potential organization: Experience of at least 3 years in the development and implementation of Fair Trade standards at the level of a group of producers-cooperatives and processing companies (experience in the field of beekeeping is an advantage); Successful experience of practical support of cooperatives and processing companies during audit certification of Fair Trade; - Knowledge of market requirements for honey quality and basic food safety requirements, including HACCP principles and technical regulations; Experience in working with local non-governmental organizations, international organizations (at least 3 years); Registration of a legal entity List of application documents Certificate of registration of a legal entity; A letter of interest with a description of experience in conducting similar assignments; CVs of the main performers with experience in performing similar tasks; Action plan, implementation schedule, including a detailed budget. The main result of the assignment: Provision of services for the implementation of Fair Trade standards in the cooperative "Chon-Alai Baly" and the exporting company "Nomad Store" in order to increase sales The members of the “Chon-Alai Baly” cooperative and the employees of the “Nomad Store” Company are familiarized with the Fair Trade standards, have implemented the standards and received Fair Trade certificates as a product producer and exporter. Applicants must send the following documents by email to Nurgul.Tashtanova@helvetas.org no later than May 11, 2021 Download ToR in ENG Download ToR in RUS
Assignment Title: Consultant services for conducting trainings according to the methodology of studying and identifying gender-sensitive actions system with the beneficiaries of the Cattle, Apiculture, Tourism and Handicraft sectors in Alai and Chon-Alai districts of Osh region. Location: Alai, Chon Alai districts Assignment periods: 3 May 2021 – 30 October 2021. Application Procedure Applicants are required to send the following documents to nazira.raimzhanova@helvetas.org, no later than April 28, 2021: List of application documents - Patent or certificate of registration of individual entrepreneurs, insurance policy; - A letter of interest describing experience of similar tasks implementation; - CV with experience in implementing of GALS training; - Fee, including logistics costs of a trainer. Basic requirements for a potential consultant or potential organization: - Knowledge of methodologies on study and determination of gender-sensitive actions (GALS) - Experience of at least 3 years of development modules and implementation of GALS; - Experience of working with local non-governmental organizations, international organizations; - Willingness to start the assignment from May 3, 2020 Experience with Helvetas and / or the Aga Khan Foundation or with other donor organizations is an advantage Download ToR
Steps Forward For Recovery Tourism is one of the most important economic sectors in the Kyrgyz Republic. According to the National Statistical Committee, it accounted for 5.2% of GDP or 358 million USD by the end of 2019. The sector also employs about 40,000 people, 2% of the total formal employment in the country. Untouched natural landscapes, mountains, more than 40,000 rivers and 750 lakes, historical and cultural heritage, mountain peaks, ski resorts, as well as the Lake Issyk-Kul, are attractions that make this country an ideal dream tourism destination. However, the tourism sector still faces numerous challenges, including the lack of supply chain and logistics facilities, poorly developed infrastructures, lack of resource efficiency and waste management, and low standard services for tourists. As a response to these challenges, the State has developed the State Program for the Development of the Tourism Sector for 2019-2023 and the National Development Strategy of the Kyrgyz Republic for 2018-2040, which indicate the sustainability path that Kyrgyzstan has chosen to take through a more careful use and management of its natural resources, development of regions, ensuring environmental sustainability and reproduction, as well as expanding the diversity of forms of cultural life. With the support of national and international partners, the government together with tourism institutions have implemented a number of initiatives aimed at promoting the country as a sustainable tourism destination in the global market. While the term “sustainable tourism” is still not widely known and used in the region, terms such as “nature tourism”, “responsible tourism”, and “green tourism” are increasingly being used, indicating the growing awareness of the need to switch to tourism models that will have less negative impacts on the environment, natural resources and local communities’ livelihoods. Launched in 2020, EU SWITCH-Asia GREEN TOUR Project intends to accelerate the transition of Kyrgyzstan to a green economy by increasing the sustainability and competitiveness of tourism as a key sector, thereby contributing to the objectives set by the Kyrgyz Government. This four-year project is implemented by Helvetas, together with the Stichting European Centre for Ecological and Agricultural Tourism – Netherlands (ECEAT), the Kyrgyz Association of Tour Operators (KATO) and the Kyrgyz Community Based Tourism Association Hospitality Kyrgyzstan (KCBTA). Targeting Kyrgyz tour operators, accommodation facilities, local suppliers and manufacturers (guides, drivers, caterers, host families, service and transport providers), local communities, and consumers (foreign visitors), the activities designed under the GREEN TOUR project aim to strengthen the capacity of tourism associations to provide corporate social responsibility (CSR) advisory services; environmental services and products into the supply chain of tour operators; support MSMEs in accessing green finance; and integrate Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) principles into the policies of Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. Since March 2020, in spite of the challenges posed by COVID-19 restrictions, a series of webinars have been organized and delivered, introducing CSR and SCP principles to tour operators, green recovery measures, and practical methods to reduce the amount of single-use plastics used in the travel and hospitality industry. More than forty representatives from tour operators, accommodation facilities, government agencies and experts in the community joined the webinars. Moreover, an online course on “Resilience to COVID-19” was also designed and developed to support enterprises with practical advice on how to operate during the current restrictive circumstances, and steps forward for recovery. This course was also featured on the Travelife platform. "Supporting those that depend on tourism and building responsible travel experiences that are safe for host communities and travellers are key to accelerating post-COVID recovery. The pandemic is also an opportunity to rethink how tourism impacts natural resources and to advance the transition towards a green and climate resilient economy," said Mr. Eduard Auer, Head of the EU Delegation to Kyrgyzstan. In August 2020, the project supported the initiative of the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic to collect and dispose of household waste on the territory of Lenin Peak, one of the main tourist attractions of the southern part of the country. As a result of cleaning, 6.8 tons of garbage, accumulated over 30 years, were removed. Professional climbers and more than 30 volunteers from the local community were recruited for this event. They also took a special course on waste management. GREEN TOUR and the waste collection and sorting Tazar App team signed a cooperation agreement to boost implementation of SCP practices among tourism businesses. Activities will include: functionality improvement, translation of the app into Kyrgyz, wide promotion among actors in the tourism sector. Following the easing of quarantine measures, the project held a series of sustainable management workshops for representatives of tour operators and accommodation facilities in three cities in Kyrgyzstan. Anula Galewska, an international tourism consultant, was invited to speak. During the workshops, over 150 participants had the opportunity not only to learn about sustainable tourism and management, but also to share their experience and knowledge, and network with potential partners. In addition, all participants received institutional and practical assistance on how to register in the Travelife programme. Seven companies were able to move to the second of the three stages of the programme, a proof of their commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism. Change Happens on the Ground, Leading by Example Regina Gataulina, International Guide for Central Asia, UNWTO and WFTGA accredited The sustainable tourism concept is a must to follow. The key mission in my daily operations is to minimize negative impact on the community and environment, preserve cultural and natural heritage and maximize positive impact on the local economy. We stopped using single-use plastics and animals in our tours long before. We have adjusted our tours to cover regions in need and promote local handicrafts. The sustainability management course has helped me become even more responsible and make decisions that have a positive effect on the community. I am happy to see that the tourists have become more conscious and responsible in choosing the service providers committed to sustainability. Abdirasul Akmatov, Eco House Osh Guest House owner/Chairman of Destination Osh Public Union We started with a 4-room guest house in 2009, and today we have 12 rooms. This is a family business. In 2019 we began thinking about green technologies. The GREEN TOUR trainings on sustainability management greatly helped me understand that sustainability is not a costly investment. We can start taking small steps towards setting up a sustainable business. After the course, we became more aware of waste management operations. In 2021 we began sorting waste into: paper, glass, plastic and construction waste. Food waste is taken by our neighbors. The municipal waste collection service is pleased to pick-up the sorted waste. Since 2019 we are also building a new hotel high in the mountains of Alai raion (www.pamiralpinehotel.com). The area has no electricity but we have installed solar panels. The hotel will be an eco-hotel with a proper waste management system. The knowledge gained in the sustainability management course has been extremely valuable in planning this new hotel. Sergey Gluhoverov, Travel Experts, Tour Operator Sergey has attended GREEN TOUR’s sustainability management courses and started implementing sustainability principles in his tours. Watch his video!
