Promoting sustainable development while addressing emergency needs of vulnerable populations

2010 has been a turbulent year for ACTED in Kyrgyzstan, where operations were scaled up significantly to respond to socio-political turmoil while maintaining the implementation of ongoing programmes. ACTED successfully continued to strengthen the resilience and capacity of vulnerable rural populations regarding food security, disaster risk reduction, peaceful cooperation and access to income despite a revolution, and a crisis that led to the displacement of approximately 400,000 people.

ACTED was also one of the first NGOs to respond to the humanitarian crisis, and took on a leading role in addressing the consequences of the June emergency through the provision of mapping and coordination services, as well as the implementation of projects in the fields of shelter, education, water and sanitation, early recovery and livelihoods, non-food items, protection and food security.

Continuing to strengthen the resilience and capacity of vulnerable rural communities

In 2010, ACTED continued to strengthen the capacity of rural communities through government-level advocacy, local governance initiatives and awareness-raising campaigns.

In response to the risks facing over a million annual labour migrants from Kyrgyzstan and their communities, ACTED has implemented a programme to improve the preparedness of labour migrants and relevant authorities in partnership with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Migration.  Furthermore, in a country where 95 % of populated areas are highly prone to natural hazards, ACTED has been working to enhance the ability of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, at national and local levels, and of rural communities to develop their capacity to cope with such disasters, through training and technical assistance.

ACTED also developed community-based early warning and conflict referral mechanisms to promote peaceful cooperation in 21 mixed, cross-border areas of Batken and Jalalabad regions.
Finally, ACTED provided specific support to marginalized populations: the food insecurity among the most vulnerable households of high mountain or remote communities was mitigated through temporary food aid, the access of women and youth to socio-economic activities was enhanced, while supporting the revival of traditional cultural practices and handicrafts, as well as associated livelihoods.

Provision of humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected populations

Following the inter-community violence that broke out in Osh and Jalalabad, ACTED built on its expertise and 12-year presence to become one of the first aid agencies to respond to the crisis in June 2010. This intervention initially included the distribution of food and non-food items to over 533,000 people, and the provision of cash injections through temporary employment. After a few months, ACTED shifted its focus to the recovery of small entrepreneurs whose business was closed following the conflict, and the construction of 568 winterised transitional shelters and 565 sanitation facilities for families whose homes were damaged as a result of the June events. ACTED also supported the safe return to school of over 30,000 children by promoting peace through community mobilisation and conducting rehabilitation work in schools. Finally, within the framework of the REACH initiative, ACTED provided the humanitarian community with key tools and services to support the planning, design and follow-up of their interventions through mapping and GIS. This included the production of over 90 maps, and a number of inter-agency assessments in the fields of shelter, protection, livelihoods or water which helped enhance coordination. Lastly, in partnership with HAP International, ACTED worked to improve the quality of the emergency response in the south of Kyrgyzstan, notably through the development of complaints mechanisms within and across agencies, a major step towards greater accountability of aid organizations towards their beneficiaries.

Prospects

ACTED continues to meet immediate humanitarian needs of crisis-affected populations, as well as focusing on the medium-term recovery of livelihoods in Osh and Jalalabad, particularly through support to youth and small and medium businesses. In parallel, given the ongoing volatility and political instability in the country, ACTED and its partners are launching a long term strategy to support the peaceful development of vulnerable communities throughout rural areas in the south of Kyrgyzstan, with the aim of building confidence, promoting reconciliation and mitigating the risk of further conflicts. In addition, ACTED is helping to revitalize the economy of the Ferghana Valley through a comprehensive action targeting a wide variety of agricultural and trade stakeholders, integrating disaster risk reduction practices and  sustainable natural resource management. In line with this, ACTED also aims to enhance inter-cultural dialogue and promote culture in south Kyrgyzstan by providing target communities with a platform for interaction and cultural revival.