Natural resources in border areas are used by various users, relations between which are governed by both formal and traditional norms. However, due to rapidly changing socio-economic conditions, the strength and significance of regulatory norms that ensure the sustainable use of natural resources are significantly weakened, which, as a rule, leads to social tensions, disputes between users, and sometimes to open conflicts over the right to use natural resources. resources.
Key facts
Years of implementation: 2009-2010
Place of implementation: aiyl districts Ak-Sai and Ak-Tatyr, Batken region
Donor: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Partner: Rural Development Institute, Pasture Department of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic, CAMP Alatoo, ARIS, OSCE Media Resource Center
Contact: general@rdf.in.kg
The main goal of the project
The project aimed to develop and test an approach to natural resource sharing that would help mitigate the potential for conflict around natural resources and their use in areas where clear boundaries are not defined. The project was implemented by RDF, Kyrgyz Republic, in partnership with the Rural Development Institute, USA, with financial support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Project objectives
First, helping local communities to jointly develop a natural resource use plan, the implementation of which has helped reduce and prevent the risk of conflicts over natural resources.
Secondly, the involvement of local communities, especially women, the elderly and especially vulnerable segments of the population, in the process of developing a plan for the joint use of natural resources.
Thirdly, ensuring transparency of project execution throughout the entire project life cycle, as well as keeping local Kyrgyz and Tajik communities and other stakeholders informed about the goals and activities of the project through balanced and well-focused information events.
Fourth, documenting important lessons and products of the project with a view to their further application in other border areas.
Location of the project
The project covered with its activities not only the border communities of the Ak-Sai and Ak-Tatyr aiyl districts of the Batken region, but also other stakeholders at different levels, in particular local NGOs, civil society organizations, government agencies and international projects.
Main project partners
ARIS, CAMP Alatoo, OSCE Media Resource Center
The main activity of the project
The project began its work with border communities by conducting a joint community assessment in order to understand the structure of communities, their degree of homogeneity / heterogeneity, formal and informal norms of decision-making, the structure of power, etc. This was accompanied by the dissemination of information among the communities about the objectives and planned activities of the project, as well as the identification of formal and informal leaders in the communities, who then became part of and supported the activities of the Neighborhood Building Group established under the project.
According to the activities of the project, a community mapping of the natural resources of the area was carried out with the participation of local researchers identified during the SOS and selected from among the project communities. RDF experts trained local researchers in community mapping skills and techniques, which later served as an important planning tool for the Neighborhood Group.
Then, local researchers gathered information on traditional management and use of natural resources, which was included in the Natural Resources Management Plan. In parallel, data and ideas for the development of social entrepreneurship were collected, which were also included in the Natural Resource Management Plan, and then were considered for implementation under the micro-grant program.
Upon completion of the collection of information, the joint development of a Natural Resources Management Plan was launched, where representatives of local communities, including women, the elderly and other vulnerable members of the communities, were actively involved.
The micro-grant program was initiated immediately after the completion of the Natural Resources Management Plan, which outlined the conditions for receiving micro-grants by local communities. it should be noted that one of the key factors in the selection of micro-projects was the potential of the proposed idea to support the implementation of the joint Natural Resources Management Plan.
As one of the main components, the project provided constant information to local communities and other stakeholders about the activities of the project, about its main achievements and the resulting products. The specific outreach activities were detailed in the Outreach and Public Awareness project strategy.
Finally, the project