Switzerland Allocates 43 Million Som to Improve Public Services in 13 Municipalities in Jalal-abad and Issyk-kul Regions

AKIPRESS.COM - Certificates for receiving grants worth over 43 million som to improve public services were awarded to 13 municipalities from Jalal-Abad and Issyk-Kul provinces on April 26 in Bishkek, the Embassy of Switzerland in Kyrgyzstan told AKIpress.

The awarding ceremony was organized in the framework of the Public Service Improvement Project aimed to improve living conditions of people in rural areas through improved quality, access and sustainability of public services provided by municipalities. It is implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation in Kyrgyzstan and the Development Policy Institute with the financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

The competition for the best Service Improvement Action Plan was launched amongst municipalities of the Jalal-Abad and Issyk-Kul provinces. One of the requirements for participation was a contribution of at least 10% of the total amount by municipalities.

Remarkably enough, applicants committed to co-finance around 50% of the project costs themselves. This demonstrates the importance and urgency of improving local service delivery.

The Service Improvement Action Plan is a systematic method that enables to identify priority public and municipal services as well as to plan and to improve their organization and execution. The municipalities used this method with the support of the Public Service Improvement Project.

"It is crucial to keep in mind that improving service provision is an ongoing process", - said Danielle Meuwly Monteleone, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic. "It is not only about procurement of new equipment or construction of infrastructure.

It is mostly about good management by local self-governments, ensuring that maintenance...