Governing Democratically and Justly

USAID’s extensive support helped ensure that fair and free parliamentary elections took place in Kyrgyzstan in November 2010 following the unrest earlier that year.  USAID trained nearly 30,000 election officials, and voter education programs and information reached 756,000 citizens.  While many doubted that the government had the political will to adhere to democratic principles, intensive technical assistance to the Central Election Commission and effective donor coordination resulted in the recognition of the elections as fair and their acceptance by the local and international community.  Since the elections, Kyrgyzstan has emerged as Central Asia’s first parliamentary democracy.  USAID is capitalizing on this important development by providing expert advice and capacity building to Kyrgyzstan’s new parliament through the Parliamentary Strengthening Project, which helps make the parliament an effective and democratic institution and a model for Central Asia.

USAID will increase outreach to civil society organizations to strengthen their capacity for providing input into national-level decision making.  USAID’s local government programs will help district and municipal governments improve their working relationships with business and community groups, to strengthen their ability to respond to citizen concerns and seize upon economic opportunities.