On March 30, 2018, representatives of municipalities, state officials, and representatives of international organizations will convene at the Forum of Aimaks in Bishkek to discuss challenges and strategies to improve regional development in the Kyrgyz Republic. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organized the forum to facilitate a dialogue between national stakeholders and municipalities on strengthening local self-governance within the regional development framework established by the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic.

More than 130 participants will attend the forum, including keynote speakers Ms. Nursulu Akhmetova, the Head of the Finance and Economic Analysis and Development Monitoring Department of the President’s Administration; Ms. Kimberly Rosen, the USAID Mission Director for the Kyrgyz Republic; and Mr. Jetigen Bakirov, the Deputy Head of the Department of Organizational and Inspection Work and Local Self-Government.

The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic highlighted the importance of regional development in the program “40 Steps to a New Era” and in the Concept of Regional Policy. During the forum, government officials presented both documents and explored approaches for further strengthening municipalities. In turn, municipalities shared their views on issues such as sustainable and high quality services, budget processes, and social and cultural development.

The Forum of Aimaks is one of many USAID activities contributing to the President Jeenbekov’s ‘Year of Regional Development’ initiative to promote social and economic development of the regions. The event is organized by the USAID Community and Municipal Governance Initiative, a $9.5 million five-year project aimed at strengthening municipalities and increasing citizens’ trust in local self-governments. Currently, the project partners with 32 municipalities in Jalal-Abad, Issyk-Kul, Naryn, and Osh, helping them to launch services in water supply, waste management, agriculture, and other areas through targeted capacity building activities. Since October 2016, the project has trained 1,126 municipality staff and experts, and organized 62 public hearings on local services, budget execution, and development of citizen charters.