Active Communities (Jigerduu Jarandar)

The Jigerduu Jarandar project, known as Active Communities in English, supports the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and civil society organizations to work together to improve the lives of Kyrgyz citizens. Through community-led civic engagement and support for national initiatives, the project improves public services and access to justice.

GOALS 

• Expand community development and municipal waste management solutions by supporting local governments and active citizen groups so that Kyrgyzstani families can live and grow in a safe and healthy environment; 
• Reduce gender-based violence through citizen engagement efforts of Local Committees for Prevention of Domestic Violence, and support to crisis centers and the Kyrgyz government.  
• Strengthen civic engagement and participation by supporting collaborative engagement between civil society networks and the Kyrgyz government on priority issues, with a focus on legislative reforms and raising public awareness. 
• Improve access to justice for the most vulnerable and marginalized, focusing on strengthening Kyrgyz government systems and local institutions to deliver legal aid and advocating for law and policy changes that overcome barriers to justice. 

Jigerduu Jarandar supports the Kyrgyz Government in the implementation of the National Development Strategy 2018-2040, the Program for Development of Local Self-Government 2018-2023, the National Strategy on Achieving Gender Equality until 2030, and the Concept of Crime Prevention for 2022-2026 (focusing on domestic violence).

KEY RESULTS 

Community Development through Strengthened Citizen Participation

• Jigerduu Jarandar improved the lives of over 61,500 citizens through 15 community-driven initiatives in 20 target municipalities of Chui, Issyk-Kul, Jalal-Abad and Osh regions to address issues of local concern.
• The initiatives included creation of parks, school bathrooms, improved street lighting, safe sidewalks, and inclusive playgrounds. 
• These initiatives were implemented by active citizens in collaboration with local self-governments and the private sector. 

Partners: State Agency for Civil Service and Local Self-Government, LSG Union.

Supporting Municipal Waste Management Solutions

• “Interbilim-Osh” CSO and seven partner CSOs across the country are conducting public information campaigns to  help citizens to produce less waste and keep communities clean in 20 municipalities.
• Jigerduu Jarandar is supporting citizens and local governments to implement new waste management rules and practices in 20 target municipalities..  
• Two model regulations on maintaining cleanliness in urban and rural areas and procedures for addressing local issues were developed, approved by the State Agency for Civil Service and Local Self-Government, and adopted by municipalities at the local level.

Partners: “Interbilim-Osh” CSOs and seven partner CSOs, State Agency for Civil Service and Local Self-Government, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision. 

Reducing Gender-Based/Domestic Violence (GBV/DV)

• Since 2020, 4,411 survivors of gender-based and domestic violence received legal and psychological support from CSOs and 11 crisis centers that are supported by the project. 
• Members of 210 Local Committees for the Prevention of Domestic Violence across the country received training on how to prevent and raise awareness on GBV/DV in their communities, how to help citizens seek help from law enforcement and social protection authorities, and how to improve Committee operations and sustainability of funding.
• 32 GBV-related legal cases on issues such as obtaining restraining orders, divorce, alimony, property division, etc. were resolved thanks to project-supported legal assistance. 
• Jigerduu Jarandar raised the awareness of nearly two million people related to GBV, through social media campaigns, media articles and stories, theatrical performances, offline lectures and discussions.

Partners: the Association of Crisis Centers (ACC) and 10 Crisis Centers, “Abiyir El” CSO, “Demilgeluu Ishker Ayaldar (DIA)” CSO, Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare and Migration (MLSWM), Ministry of Justice 

Improving Access to Justice

• Since 2020, more than 13,000 citizens received free legal consultations from project-supported lawyers, as well as through “115” Ombudsperson Institute hotline and government-implemented mobile legal campaigns supported by the project. 
• 613 citizens obtained citizenship or identity documents, birth certificates and other civil documentation thanks to assistance from project-supported lawyers.
• With the continuous assistance of project-supported lawyers, 543 citizens resolved legal cases. These include cases involving GBV, as well as the issuance of pensions, divorce, property disputes, and land issues.  
• Jigerduu Jarandar protected Kyrgyz citizens, including migrants, from statelessness thanks to important legislative amendments adopted as a result of project-supported CSO advocacy efforts. 
• Thanks to project-facilitated policy discussions between national and local stakeholders, Legal Aid Service legislation was amended in 2022 to improve citizens’ access to free legal aid.
• Jigerduu Jarandar developed more than 300 sample legal application forms and templates for use by lawyers and citizens to streamline legal service provision.

Partners: “Fergana Valley Lawyers Without Borders” CSO, “Civic Union” CSO, Crisis Centers (7), Akyikatchy (Ombudsperson’s) Institute, Ministry of Justice, Legal Aid Service under the Ministry of Justice, Civil Registry

Project Duration: October 2019 - September 2024

Budget: $16.1 million

Implementing Partner: FHI 360

Key Partners: Ministry of Justice of the Kyrgyz Republic, Free Legal Aid Service under the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare and Migration, Akyikatchy (Ombudsperson’s) Institute of the Kyrgyz Republic, Local Self-Governments (LSGs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Crisis Centers, International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL).

Contact information: Natalia Pipia, npipia@fhi360.org