KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography

Sheradil Baktygulov,
Independent Expert
Participation of Kyrgyzstan’s NGOs
in Public Decision-Making: Issues and Prospects
As of May 21 st , 2008, Kyrgyzstan had 11,035 registered NGOs [9]. Experts estimate
that in 2004 the NGO sector had over 20,000 full-time employees, as many as 10,000
part-time employees, and 8,000 volunteers. Other estimates suggest that the NGO sector
employs approximately 100,000 people, which amounts to 5 percent of the country’s
workforce [1, p. 32].
The NGO sector represents a very proactive portion of the population and experts
with high levels of competence. The question high on today’s agenda is “how can the
potential of NGOs be made relevant to ensure that the development goals of the country
and society are achieved in an efficient and effective manner?”
Examples of successful cooperation between the NGO sector, on the one hand,
and public administration and local self-government, on the other, demonstrate the
possibility of collaboration in healthcare, education, social welfare, and improvements
to social and economic conditions at the local level, at the same time as clearly defining
goals, objectives, and desired outcomes.
The NGO sector, however, fails to systematically participate in producing and
defining strategies and plans for national, sectoral, or regional development. Examples
show that NGO participation in these processes is contingent on the will of officials
in government ministries and agencies. Often, the purpose of such collaboration is to
create a semblance of expert appraisal of a draft piece of legislation or strategy with
the involvement of NGO members. The nation lacks a mechanism for incorporating
alternative viewpoints, which would enable NGOs to become real actors in the process
of defining appropriate avenues for development.
The purpose of this study is to examine NGO participation in decision-making with
regard to issues of public concern. To understand this problem and attempt to solve it,
we must address three tasks.
The first task is to define political decision-making, its strengths and weaknesses,
and the stages at which the NGO sector can join the process.
The second task is to identify and demonstrate what is meant by the NGO sector,
to outline its strengths and weaknesses, and to understand how it can join the process
of political decision-making.
The third task is to give a brief overview of legislation related to political decisionmaking.
These three tasks will enable us to produce recommendations for increased
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