K

YRGYZSTAN 

(F

OCUS 

NGO) 

1. Bishkek Center For Social Initiatives (BCSI), Bishkek 

Activity Overview 

During February March, the NGO staff conducted consultations for 359 people residing in the 

districts Kok Jar, Ala Too, Kasym, Ak Bosogo, Kelechek, Ak Tilek and Bakay Ata. The NGO 

staff assisted 17 people in preparing caseloads to apply for state allowances. 

The NGO identified that the main problems facing internal migrants are low income and 

unemployment, and lack of information. A lot of houses have not being registered since the 

population cannot afford the registration fees. The NGO started learning the situation, and sent 

written inquiries to the State Registry, State Architect Departments and Construction Inspection. 

A roundtable on registering houses was scheduled for the third quarter. 

The NGO volunteers started providing E mail/Internet services to the target groups at no cost, and 

the average number of visitors is 80 100 a months (4 5 people a day). 

Internal Capacity Building 

During the quarter, the BCSI staff took part in the following training workshops: Advocacy (by 

Interbilim),  Facilitation Skills (by Interbilim), and NGO Tax Legislation (by Soros Foundation 

Kyrgyzstan). 

A new office was purchased and currently the organization does not need to pay rent and has 

better office space. 

BCSI has been successful in raising funds: a local donor provided money for furniture for the new 

office worth of $350, and renovating the new office. The World Bank approved the proposal of 

BCSI on delivering training seminars for internal migrants in business basics. 

As a result of the Regional Conference on Governance and in the framework of the Action Plan 

for Capacity Building and Service Delivery, BCSI is currently working on transferring the Public 

Council into a Board of Directors. Preliminary agreements received from all 5 potential Board 

Members, and BCSI is designing internal regulations of the Board. 

The NGO has been working on transforming the Consultative Board into a Board of Directors: 5 

potential candidates were chosen, amendments to the Statute of were finalized, and re registration 

papers were sent to the Ministry of Justice. 

On April 11, the NGO hosted a roundtable with participation of its partners, donors and mass 

media, where they discussed the organizational plan for the period of 2002 2003. Based on 

recommendations given by partners (Young Lawyers Association, Institute of Strategic Research, 

Center of Public Technologies, Mayor's Office, etc.), the strategic plan was revised. 

2. Talas Oblast Farmers  Union (TOFU), Talas 

Activity Overview 

TOFU received 132 farmers this quarter, who were consulted in business planning, agriculture 

techniques, legal issues, crediting, etc. 

The NGO made an agreement with the Oblast Employment Center about hiring officially 

registered unemployed people for repairing the premises of the field information centers. This 

quarter, the room of the information center in the NGO office was renovated. 

Two issues of the information bulletin for farmers were published, and the information in the field 

centers was updated on a monthly basis. The information consists of six categories: Stock 

Breeding, Agriculture, Legal Advice and Credit Sources.  

TOFU took an active part in conducting nationwide advocacy campaign aimed at revoking the 

Government Decree #20. The staffers served as legal advisors and facilitators on roundtables on 

revocation the decree. 

TOFU became an implementing partner to the company Eurasia Gmbh, which is TACIS 

contractor assigned to provide assistance to establishing and developing cooperatives in rural 

areas.  

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