KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography

synonymous with civil society. These two concepts, one of which is merely a part of the
other, are used interchangeably in the local context. This phenomenon can be explained
by the fact that civil society is largely a non-governmental sector, and NGOs, widely
represented as they are, began to be associated with civil society as a whole. Another
explanation for the dominance of NGOs over other forms of civic associations is their
access to the financial resources offered by the donor community to support their
operations. Since Kyrgyzstan still lacks functional mechanisms for cooperation between
NGOs and other sectors–government bodies, political parties, and businesses, which
could fund NGO operations–international organizations remain the key partner of nongovernmental
organizations. For this reason NGOs’ priorities and areas of focus are
often contingent on international donor policies.
In view of the significant role played by NGOs in Kyrgyzstan, this article will focus
on (1) identifying the distinctive features of local NGOs and examining their operations,
and (2) the broader concept of civil society, which have yet to be put into practice.
The NGO Sector in Kyrgyzstan
Non-governmental 4 organizations that operate in the Kyrgyz Republic include
human rights organizations, women’s organizations, organizations working for
children’s rights and the rights of the elderly, environmental organizations, support
and development centers, and professional associations (e.g. Kyrgyzstan’s Bar
Association or business associations). Recently, they began to include consulting and
analytical centers, along with political clubs. “Non-governmental organization” is a
collective term; in reality, these organizations are often registered as civic associations,
societies, or foundations. Nonetheless, the term NGO is most often used to refer to
civic associations.
The types of NGO listed above all share the fact that they are legally registered as
organizations. Many are involved in advancing democratic reforms and a democratic
culture in the country through close cooperation with international organizations.
The latter have played, and continue to play, a crucial role by extending funding to
local NGOs and by offering training in work methods and institutional development
through various workshops and exchanges. If we examine local NGOs’ areas of
expertise and objectives, we can trace how closely their emergence is related to the
policies of international organizations and their priorities within the country. Subjects
and concepts such as human rights, gender issues, and lobbying were introduced
to Kyrgyzstan’s society through various international organizations working in the
region.
Examining the methods used by non-governmental organizations to address
democratic reforms shows that these NGOs often serve as organizations with a narrow
focus, offering training/educational or research (monitoring) services and relying on
international standards in their operations. However, experience shows that specialization
in international human rights principles and democracy did not automatically result
in the integration of democratic norms with the values of local society; neither has it
been able to win adequate popular support. However universal these norms may be,
Kyrgyzstan’s society is not yet ready to see such standards as part of its own values or a
reference point for its development.
4
The term “non-governmental” is often supplemented by “non-profit” to emphasize the distinction
between NGOs and for-profit organizations that seek to make profit from their activities.
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