Monitoring and evaluation of local self-government activities to address issues of local importance from the point of view of gender equality and women’s rights

On September 27-28, 2022, within the framework of the “Women’s Participation in Political Processes” program, the Forum of Women’s NGOs of Kyrgyzstan gathered 24 women deputies of local keneshes for the training “Monitoring and evaluation of the activities of local self-governments to address issues of local importance from the point of view of gender equality and women’s rights”. The degree of inclusion of women’s needs in the programs of socio-economic development of the aiyl aimak, development plans and budget will depend on the status, competencies, expertise of the LSGs themselves, women deputies. It is extremely important to introduce joint monitoring and evaluation of the work of the executive bodies of LSG and the quality of services provided by LSG bodies, the results of the implementation of local initiatives, projects, programs carried out on the territory of the aiyl aimak, regardless of their sources of funding, taking into account all resources from the point of view of gender equality and women’s rights.

The purpose of such joint monitoring and evaluation is to ensure transparency, openness and involvement of community members in decision-making on issues of gender equality and the rights of women and girls, this is to identify and address the priority gender needs of the village population, this is to increase the efficiency of using the funds and resources of the local community, donor organizations and local authorities
self-government aimed at gender equality and women’s rights. The main reason why the community needs to participate in the process of joint gender monitoring and evaluation is the accountability and transparency of all activities of local governments, aiyl kenesh, public organizations and the aiyl aimak community as a whole in solving the problems of women and girls, protecting their rights, especially in the face of growing religious fundamentalism and violence.

During two days, women deputies of local keneshes learned how to develop indicators for monitoring and evaluating the activities of self-government bodies in terms of gender equality and women’s rights. They also learned how to draw up plans and schedules for monitoring and evaluating the activities of self-government bodies in terms of gender equality and women’s rights by gender monitoring groups in Osh,
Jalal-Abad, Chui and Issyk-Kul regions. Monitoring groups were created in 2021 at the initiative of the Forum of Women’s NGOs of Kyrgyzstan.

The participants of the training received knowledge on how to write a report on the results of monitoring and evaluation, learn how to present and disseminate the results of monitoring and evaluation. Within the framework of the program of the Forum of Women’s NGOs of Kyrgyzstan “Women and the Economy”, it is expected to conduct regular joint monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of measures to address the needs of women within the framework of laws in the field of gender equality,
of the National Strategy for Ensuring Gender Equality, the implementation of goal No. 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals during 2022-2023 in Osh, Jalal-Abad, Issyk-Kul and Chui regions. Aiyl aimak women and the population of 4 oblasts are aware of the results of monitoring and evaluation. According to the results of monitoring and evaluation, women’s needs are included in the programs of socio-economic development
ayyl aimags and plans. Funding will be allocated from local budgets to address issues of gender equality and women’s rights according to the needs of women and girls. The accountability and transparency of local self-government activities in the field of gender equality and women’s rights will increase. Partnership between LSGs, local keneshes, women’s organizations and women activists will be strengthened to solve problems
women and girls.