The event was organized in the framework of the Public Service Improvement Project financed by the Government of Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by a consortium of organizations composed of Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation and the Development Policy Institute.

The Service Improvement Action Plan aims to identify in a participatory manner priority public and municipal services as well as to plan and improve the organization and provision of these services. The Service Improvement Action Plan of the Ak-Chiy Aiyl Aimak focused on the repair and rehabilitation of water infrastructure and also on the organization and sustainability of the service provided to more than 1000 people.

During public hearings broadly attended by the population, a new tariff for drinking water was discussed and thereafter approved by the local council. The municipality also introduced new mechanisms for effective management of drinking water services, such as municipal-private sector partnership and allocation of subsidies for vulnerable groups of the population who cannot afford paying for the service.

“The service of drinking water supply in Ak-Chiy municipality was looked at in a systemic manner, from the rehabilitation of the water system, to the enhancement of the management capacities of the self-government, the establishment of a tariff system that would allow sustainable and affordable provision of quality services as well as the maintenance of the system, and the creation of a subsidy mechanism ensuring that all citizens will have access to water,” – said Véronique Hulmann, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic.

"After having applied a methodology elaborated by the project, we calculated the most optimal tariff for all. Despite the fact that after the calculation, the tariff has doubled, the population reacted to this with understanding, because everyone knew that earlier the tariff was adopted without justifications and calculations," - said Elmira Sultanbayeva, Chairwoman of the Ayil Kenesh.

In total, the Swiss financed Public Service Improvement Project supports the implementation of 36 Service Improvement Action Plans of rural municipalities for a total of 92 million soms, including 30% contributions from the municipalities. The priority services that will be supported by the project are sustainable access to safe drinking water, rehabilitation and accessibility of preschools and schools, improvement of communal and housing services in municipalities, etc.

The awarding ceremony was organized in the framework of the Public Service Improvement Project. This project helps 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 costs can be covered and that service delivery can be sustained in the long run”.

The municipalities will improve service provision for drinking water supply; school and preschool education services; recreation services for children and youth and public utilities. The list of 17 winning projects presented by 13 municipalities of Jalal-Abad and Issyk-Kul provinces is as follows: 

1. Toktogul – improvement of housing and communal services

2. Kurmanbek – improvement of access to clean drinking water

3. Beshik-Jon – improvement of access to clean drinking water

4. Jany-Jol, Toktogul dsitrict – improvement of housing and communal services

5. Kenesh – improvement of access to clean drinking water

6. Avletim – improvement of street lighting

7. Jany-Jol, Aksy district – improvement of street lighting

8. Torkent – improvement of secondary education services (canteen)

9. Avletim – improvement of preschool education services

10. Kok-Irim – improvement of preschool education services

11. Kargalyk – improvement of recreation services (park)

12. Toktogul – improvement of recreation services for children

13. Toguz-Toro – improvement of secondary education services (canteen)

14. Kenesh – improvement of housing and communal services

15. Kurmanbek – improvement of preschool education services

16. Balykchy – improvement of recreation services (park)

17. Aral - improvement of access to clean drinking water

     

    Earlier in 2016, the project supported 14 initiatives to improve services provided by 12 municipalities worth more than 42 million som.