Project Goal: to strengthen working groups at the district level and association for cross border municipalities to assist the local authorities and civil society on the both sides of the border to take joint actions to address the root causes of the local tensions.

This goal will be achieved through the following output:

Output 3. Potential causes of cross border conflicts are addressed and cooperation is improved between and among cross border communities.

The Project contributes to the achievement of the outcomes of the UN Development Assistance Framework and Country Programme in Kyrgyzstan through strengthening capacity of local actors in conflict prevention and peace building and cooperation mechanisms like cross border working groups and associations for joint monitoring of conflict situations and joint response.

• UNDAF outcome B1: Good governance reforms and practices institutionalized at all levels by Government, civil society organizations and the private sector toward poverty reduction, protection of rights and sustainable human development
• CP Outcome B.1.6.  Promote peace building approaches at national and local levels for strengthening social harmony, human security and development

Results

During the reporting period, the following preparatory activities have been carried out within the project:

Due to the fact that DAO funds have been received 11 months later than planned and only in December 2011, i.e.  end-year closure period,  it was not possible  to achieve substantial results. Nevertheless, the following preparatory works have been done within remaining 2 weeks of 2011:

• A national UN Volunteer has been recruited through open competition to work in pilot cross-border communities in Batken oblast.
• Information activities have been carried out for representatives of oblast, rayon and municipal authorities to ensure effective work of Cross-Border Working Groups. In the pilot Alabuka, Batken and Leilek rayons, working groups compositions have been updated to reflect changes in the management of local partners - rayon and municipal authorities.
• The Working Groups have worked out their action plans for 2012 on development of cross-border cooperation between the Kyrgyz, Tajik and Uzbek border communities.
• An open bid was launched to purchase computer equipment for the Cross-Border Working Groups to improve their work.

Implementation constraints and lessons learnt

This project relates to cross-border cooperation among border Kyrgyz, Tajik and Uzbek communities. Preparation and implementation of such projects require numerous endorsements and coordination with all the parties, especially during drafting of project proposals. The delay in the receipt of DAO funds in 2011 resulted in postponing of majority of planned activities to 2012. Timely disbursement of the funds for projects involving international parties is significant for ensuring quality and sustainability of the projects.

Thus, in 2011 the Peace and Development Programme supported efforts to strengthen cross-border dialogue and cooperation through holding meetings, cross-cultural events, workshops and projects in the border communities by UNDP core funds.

Key partnerships and cooperation

A key partner in the project activities were UNDP Tajikistan Communities Programme, state administrations of Batken oblast, Batken and Leilek rayons of Kyrgyzstan and state administrations of Sughd oblast, Isfara and J.Rasulov rayons of Tajikistan, as well as cross-border working groups, local NGOs, etc.

Local authorities from both sides and UNDP Tajikistan contributed by carrying out various activities, ensuring attendance of participants, provision of premises and exchanging necessary information on border issues, etc.