The Fergana Valley has more than once become the site of various conflicts, especially in the border areas between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Most disputes relate to limited natural resources, in relation to access and use of resources. Such conflicts are noticeably aggravated by the absence of a clear demarcation of the state border along a significant part of the border.
Due to the lack of a consistent centralized state policy, the burdens of resolving conflicts lie on the shoulders of border aiyl okmotu - rural local government bodies. Many border aiyl okmotus in Batken oblast have significant experience and knowledge in managing interethnic conflicts arising around the access and use of natural resources such as water, land, pastures, forests. Most of the knowledge and practice accumulated by the aiyl okmotu through training and practice has not yet been disseminated and addressed in local and / or national regulations. They also cannot be found in any other legal documents.
On February 1, 2011, the RDF launched a new project to share experiences between local governments on conflict management and mitigation in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Key facts
Years of implementation: 2010-2011
Place of implementation: ail districts Ak-Sai, Ak-Tatyr, Kara-Bak, Samarkandek and Tort-Gul, Batken region
Donor: National Endowment for Democracy (NED)
Contacts: general@rdf.in.kg
Objective of the project
The main goal of the project was to strengthen the role of border aiyl okmotu in managing interethnic conflicts in the use of natural resources such as land, water, pastures, forests, non-timber forest products. The project was aimed at facilitating the exchange of best practices and local knowledge on the management of interethnic conflicts around natural resources between target aiyl okmotu, their generalization and development of recommendations for local governments and state authorities.
Location of the project
RDF selected 5 target ayil okmotus in Batken district of Batken oblast, which are located on the border territory of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan: Ak-Sai, Ak-Tatyr, Kara-Bak, Samarkandek and Tort-Gul.
Main project activities
- Mutual exchange and dissemination in targeted aiyl okmotu of best practices and local knowledge on managing conflicts around natural resources;
- Conducting a quick assessment of targeted ayil okmotu to understand local conditions and conflict-prone environment in the field of natural resources, meeting with the local community;
- Conducting an information campaign and a seminar for members and local leaders of target aiyl okmotu, forming groups, exchanging visits and experiences;
- Conducting a national seminar with the involvement of all stakeholders, including government officials, to discuss existing problems and ways to resolve them based on best practices.
Expected results of the project
Based on the results of the project, the best examples from practice were collected, which proved their effectiveness and ability to be applied in other ayil okmotu, which were included in the recommendations for local governments and state authorities on managing conflicts around natural resources.
Funding organization
The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the development and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world. The NED Foundation annually disburses over 1,000 grants to support projects of non-governmental organizations abroad working to achieve democratic goals in more than 90 countries.
Since its founding in 1983, the NED has continued to be at the forefront of the fight for democracy everywhere and has now grown into a multi-faceted organization that is a hub for action, resources and the exchange of views among democracy activists and practitioners and scholars from all over the globe.