A training project designed to foster greater understanding of budgets and how to access information has launched in the Kyrgyz Republic. The Budget Literacy and Access to Information Training Project is one component of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic’s Information Matters–Transparency and Accountability in the Kyrgyz Republic (IMTAK) initiative, which builds on its commitment to enhance information transparency by focusing on budget processes at the local government level.
The Governance Partnership Facility provided grant for realization of 18 month project aimed to improve the budget literacy of citizens and increase accountability of local government towards citizens. It will also foster dialogue between government, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and the public on budget processes and information provision.
“This project is very timely given the importance of good budget management by local government which takes into account the interests and priorities of its citizens, as well as the important role for civil society in overseeing this work effectively in a constructive and cooperative manner” - said Ulara Narysbaeva, Deputy Director of the National Agency for Local Self-Government Affairs.
More than 1,000 people representing each of the 459 local government units in the country will be trained under the program. All participants, including financial directors and heads of village government, members of the village councils and representatives of CSOs will obtain the skills and knowledge they need to work together to develop budgets which reflect the interests of citizens and improve the quality of services delivered.
Trainees will work through case studies related to budget development, implementation and monitoring and learn how they can apply lessons learned to their communities. It will also help government to respond faster and with more accuracy to questions posed by citizens.
The project is being implemented by the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA) and administered by the World Bank.
***
The Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA) is a non-profit organization founded in 2005 to mobilize public and private resources to strengthen local communities and improve the civic and economic wellbeing of the citizens in the region. EFCA has supported local government and citizen engagement on budgeting in more than 30 local government units in Kyrgyzstan since 2007.
