KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography
KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography
KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography
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awareness <strong>of</strong> implementati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> these programs. This process would also increase the<br />
accountability <strong>of</strong> public bodies for the implementati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> development programs, in<br />
general, and for m<strong>on</strong>itoring and evaluati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the programs, in particular. Independent<br />
NGO experts might give their opini<strong>on</strong>s supported by real figures <strong>on</strong> the implementati<strong>on</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> the CDS. This, in turn, will create prec<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s for making correct decisi<strong>on</strong>s by key<br />
government <strong>of</strong>ficials <strong>on</strong> certain issues. In additi<strong>on</strong>, NGOs would provide people with<br />
objective informati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
For effective NGO participati<strong>on</strong> in m<strong>on</strong>itoring and evaluati<strong>on</strong>, it is necessary to solve<br />
the problem <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>alism am<strong>on</strong>g the NGO representatives. Very few pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>als<br />
in our NGOs have sufficient knowledge and practical skills to m<strong>on</strong>itor and evaluate the<br />
CDS and its regi<strong>on</strong>al programs. It is, therefore, necessary to organize the training <strong>of</strong><br />
representatives <strong>of</strong> NGOs.<br />
A three-day seminar <strong>on</strong> the use <strong>of</strong> statistical tools for m<strong>on</strong>itoring and evaluating<br />
the social aspects was held in the Kostanai regi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Kazakhstan. At the end <strong>of</strong> this<br />
seminar, <strong>on</strong>e participant asked its organizers: “We have gathered here to discuss poverty<br />
reducti<strong>on</strong> issues. Why m<strong>on</strong>itoring and evaluati<strong>on</strong>?” [6] He never understood the heart<br />
<strong>of</strong> the problem that had been discussed for three days at the seminar. Such attitudes,<br />
unfortunately, also exist in Kyrgyzstan. Many NGO representatives are accustomed to<br />
the tendency for seminars to address to general issues that do not require specialized<br />
knowledge. However, seminars <strong>on</strong> m<strong>on</strong>itoring and evaluati<strong>on</strong> should be attended by<br />
relatively trained NGO representatives with at least basic knowledge <strong>of</strong> this field.<br />
At present, in relati<strong>on</strong> to involvement by NGOs, it is necessary to analyze the<br />
potential by NGOs to m<strong>on</strong>itor and evaluate the CDS and its regi<strong>on</strong>al programs. The<br />
experts <strong>of</strong> <strong>on</strong>e ADB project c<strong>on</strong>ducted such an analysis and, in our view, future analyses<br />
should cover a larger number <strong>of</strong> NGOs. To facilitate this change, a special project<br />
should be initiated with invitati<strong>on</strong>s made to the “Soros-Kyrgyzstan Foundati<strong>on</strong>”, the<br />
Asian Development Bank or other interested d<strong>on</strong>ors. The Social Research Center at the<br />
American University in Central Asia, for example, together with our organizati<strong>on</strong> (the<br />
Public Foundati<strong>on</strong> “Kalys C<strong>on</strong>sult”) could undertake this task. We should select NGOs<br />
whose employees are willing to participate in the process <strong>of</strong> m<strong>on</strong>itoring and evaluating<br />
programs, and arrange special seminars and courses for them. These activities will, <strong>of</strong><br />
course, require additi<strong>on</strong>al resources, including funding, so the support <strong>of</strong> internal and<br />
external d<strong>on</strong>ors will be important.<br />
Training the employees <strong>of</strong> some NGOs in m<strong>on</strong>itoring and evaluati<strong>on</strong> would be<br />
very useful. In future, representatives <strong>of</strong> NGOs could participate in elaborating and<br />
m<strong>on</strong>itoring Republican, provincial and municipal strategic development programs in<br />
collaborati<strong>on</strong> with employees <strong>of</strong> state <strong>of</strong>fices.<br />
D<strong>on</strong>ors in Kyrgyzstan are also interested in active participati<strong>on</strong> by NGOs in<br />
m<strong>on</strong>itoring and evaluating the CDS. For example, during a c<strong>on</strong>ference organized by<br />
the “Soros-Kyrgyzstan” Foundati<strong>on</strong>, held <strong>on</strong> 12-14 April 2007, it was noted that “...<br />
m<strong>on</strong>itoring and evaluati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the implementati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> policies and programs would give<br />
civil society and other stakeholders a clear idea <strong>of</strong> how the comm<strong>on</strong> objectives <strong>of</strong> the<br />
country are implemented, what are the costs <strong>of</strong> implementati<strong>on</strong>, effectiveness, and what<br />
measures are being taken to ensure the dynamic development.”[3]<br />
This resoluti<strong>on</strong>, adopted after the c<strong>on</strong>ference, was supposed to identify stakeholders,<br />
including government agencies and community organizati<strong>on</strong>s that could be involved in<br />
future pilot subprojects within the project “M<strong>on</strong>itoring and Evaluati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> Development<br />
Programs.” Introducti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> these pilot projects, with the assistance <strong>of</strong> the ”Soros-<br />
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