Recent government statistics show a dramatic decrease in the level of poverty in Kyrgyzstan, but large-scale labor migration indicates that unemployment remains high. Vulnerable groups such as the disabled or elderly are hardest hit, lacking the resources and facilities to find sustainable employment.
Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA), with support from the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Kazakhstan and USAID, has recently launched a poverty alleviation program designed to improve employment prospects for these groups.
EFCA held a two-day training seminar in Bishkek for 14 Kyrgyz non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that were selected for their experience working with vulnerable groups and promoting income generation.
Experts were invited from the German Society for Technical Cooperation and the Kyrgyz Community Development and Investment Agency to share experience and best practices. During the seminar, participants discussed their criteria for a successful project as well as how to avoid potential pitfalls during project implementation. A similar program was held in Osh, where EFCA specialists conducted trainings on budget planning, financial sustainability and public relations for eight local NGOs.
As the next step in its poverty alleviation program, EFCA will hold a grant competition for Kyrgyz NGOs working with vulnerable groups. Through locally implemented projects, the program will diversify incomes and encourage saving and budget planning at the household level. At the same time, EFCA will work with its grantees to promote organizational sustainability and build capacity in business management.
