Action plan – Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, 2025 – 2025

At-a-Glance

Duration

Dec 2025

Date Submitted

17th January 2025

Foreword(s)

Bishkek joined the OGP Local initiative in 2020. Bishkek is among the first municipalities in Central Asia to champion reforms fostering open and transparent local self-governance, even in the face of limited resources. We believe that transparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the pub... More, enhanced access to modern technology, citizen empowerment, and civic engagement are essential pillars to ensure social and economic well-being and a dignified quality of life for our citizens.

In recent years, the Bishkek Mayor’s Office, in collaboration with DPI, has established a series of initiatives designed to increase access to information, encourage public participationGiving citizens opportunities to provide input into government decision-making leads to more effective governance, improved public service delivery, and more equitable outcomes. Technical specificatio..., and deliver high-quality public and municipal services. We remain committed to upholding the principles of open governance by actively listening to citizens, holding consultation meetings, and sharing positive experiences from other municipalities. Our citizens and residents benefit from inclusive services that enhance access to information and public services, fostering greater accountability from local government institutions.

Bishkek is ready to launch new, ambitious, innovative and long-term open government initiatives through active cooperation with civil society. Membership in the OGP provides additional opportunities to move towards a model of self-governance based on transparency and openness.

To achieve this vision, we present the OGP Local Action Plan, which includes three key commitments. This plan has been developed through the principle of co-creation. Its implementation will be led by members of the ‘Open Bishkek’ Multi-Stakeholder Working Committee, which includes local civil society organizations (CSOs) and representatives of the Mayor’s Office. Oversight of implementation will be provided by Association “Alliance for a Transparent Budget”.

Open Government Challenges, Opportunities and Strategic Vision

This subsection details the Open Government Strategic Vision in your local area that should guide the commitments for the action plan period.

What is the long-term vision for open government in your context and jurisdiction?

The OGP Local initiative provides us with a unique opportunity to promote and advance open government principles in Bishkek. We are committed to undertaking ambitious commitments and expanding the reach of open government practices at the local level.

What are the achievements in open government to date (for example, recent open government reforms)?

Building open government at the local level is a critical aspect of governance in Bishkek. Below are some of the key achievements and initiatives implemented by the Bishkek Mayor’s Office to further this goal:

1. Electronic local governance: Bishkek Mayor’s Office has implemented e-government systems that provide citizens with convenient access to municipal services. This includes paying utility bills, submitting electronic applications for housing and communal services (HCS), and more – all through a mobile Internet application. One example: ‘My City’ app (available on iOS and Android).
2. Citizen participationAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, citizen participation occurs when “governments seek to mobilize citizens to engage in public debate, provide input, and make contributions that lead to m... More: Citizen engagement tools have been introduced, such as online surveys, forums, and public budget hearings.
3. Budget transparency: Detailed budgets and expenditure reports are published regularly, allowing citizens to better understand how their taxes are being spent.
4. Digital interaction platform: Platforms have been developed to facilitate interaction between citizens and local government, including social media channels, mobile apps, and dedicated websites. One example: ‘My City’ app.

These initiatives help create a more open and accessible government, foster trust between citizens and government, and improve the efficiency of local government.

What are the current challenges/areas for improvement in open government that the jurisdiction wishes to tackle?

Key challenges identified include:

• Limited citizen participation in short- and medium-term urban development planning;
• Insufficient citizen participation in discussions about the allocation and management of municipal land and land use;
• Inadequate citizen feedback to assess the quality of municipal services.

What are the medium-term open government goals that the government wants to achieve?

The Mayor’s Office is committed to:

• Increasing citizen participation in short- and medium-term urban development planning;
• Strengthening dialogue platforms for discussing the allocation and management of urban land parcels and land use;
• Developing a digital tool to facilitate citizen feedback on the quality of municipal services.

How does this action plan contribute to achieve the Open Government Strategic Vision?

• Encouraging active citizen participation in decision-making processes
• Strengthening the accountability of local governments

How does the open government strategic vision contribute to the accomplishment of the current administration’s overall policy goals?

The vision contributes to the achievement of these goals in the following ways:

• Enhancing the city’s international prestige: By showcasing a commitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action... to good governance and transparency, Bishkek will join the ranks of over 100 leading cities worldwide, elevating its status as a progressive, innovative city open to change.
• Improving the investment climate: Transparency and accountability initiatives will provide potential investors with clearer insights into the city’s governance and business environment, boosting investor confidence and encouraging more ambitious investment strategies.
• Building a reputation as a reliable partner: Increased transparency and accountability will enhance the credibility of Bishkek as a trustworthy and reliable partner.
• Strengthening political stability: Joint implementation of the Action Plan will reduce opportunities for unconstructive criticism and fosters a cooperative environment in which civil society organizations and citizen groups can actively work with the Mayor’s Office to address local issues.
• Encouraging shared responsibility with citizens: Involving citizens in decision-making, especially regarding local services, will help them develop a deeper understanding of the Mayor’s Office’s efforts.
• Accessing knowledge and best practices: Regular exchanges of information and experiences will enable Bishkek to access cutting-edge governance solutions, build new partnerships, and participate in international discussions.

Engagement and Coordination in the Open Government Strategic Vision and OGP Action Plan

Please list the lead institutions responsible for the implementation of this OGP action plan.

• 1. City Development Policy Department, Central Unit of the Mayor’s Office
• 2. Municipal Enterprise ‘Center for Digital Technologies’, Bishkek Mayor’s Office

What kind of institutional arrangements are in place to coordinate between government agencies and departments to implement the OGP action plan?

To ensure systemic public participation in open governance at the local level and to coordinate the implementation of the Action Plan, OGP Local established the Open Bishkek Committee. This committee represents the interests of both local governments and civil society in Bishkek on an equal basis, comprising three representatives from each side (3 representatives of the Bishkek Mayor’s Office and 3 representatives of civil society).

At the conclusion of the meeting, the following six members of the Open Bishkek Committee were selected:

1. Bishkek Mayor’s Office:

• • Mirlanbek Baigonchokov, First Deputy Mayor
  • Kubanychbek Karypbekovich Kudabaev, Head of the Strategic Development and Investment Department, City Development Policy Department, Central Unit of the Bishkek Mayor’s Office
  • Meder Manasovich Kasymov, Leading Specialist, Strategic Development and Investment Department, City Development Policy Department, Central Unit of the Bishkek Mayor’s Office

1. Civil society:

• • Gulzhan Baibetova, Chairperson, PF Women’s Democratic Network
  • Adilat Saparbaeva, Director, PF Soopker
  • Dmitry Pereyaslavsky, Coordinator, PF ‘Archa’

What kind of spaces have you used or created to enable the collaboration between government and civil society in the co-creation and implementation of this action plan? Mention both offline and online spaces.

On May 22, 2024, an open meeting of the ‘Open Bishkek’ Working Committee on the implementation of commitments to OGP Local was held in Bishkek. The event was organized with the support of DPI under the framework of the Partnership for the Development of LSG program in the Kyrgyz Republic. This meeting marked the first gathering of the Committee following the dissolution of the City Development and Investment Agency, which resulted from the adoption of Resolution No. 251 by the Bishkek Mayor’s Office on November 21, 2023. The resolution was part of ongoing administrative and territorial reforms. On behalf of the First Vice Mayor of Bishkek, it was decided to continue the implementation of OGP Local commitments. Responsibilities were assigned to Kubanychbek Kudabaev, the Deputy Head of the Urban Development Policy Department at the Central Unit of the Bishkek Mayor’s Office. Kudabaev emphasized, ‘Once commitments are made, it is necessary to fulfill them’.

What measures did you take to ensure diversity of representation (including vulnerable or marginalized populations) in these spaces?

Between July 26 and August 4, 2023, the Bishkek City Development and Investment Agency, in cooperation with the Public Association ‘Development Policy Institute’ (DPI), issued an open invitation to the Open Local Governance. This announcement was open to everyone, including vulnerable and marginalized populations.

In order to participate in the establishment and activities of the Open Bishkek Committee, as well as in the development and implementation of a joint plan to increase openness, transparency and accountability in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, interested individuals were required to

• Review the text of the Declaration on Joining the Open Bishkek Initiative via the link;
• Register online using the link provided in the Declaration, confirming their willingness to join the Initiative and agreement with the text of the Declaration, between July 26 and August 4, 2023.

Registered participants were invited to an organizational meeting held on August 8 at 97 Abdrakhmanov St. (Mederov St. crossing) in the conference room of the Municipal Administration of the Bishkek Mayor’s Office for the Oktyabrsky District (first floor).

Who participated in these spaces?

1. Ms. G. Baibetova, PF Women’s Democratic Network
2. Ms. A. Saparbaeva, PF Soopker
3. Mr. A. Mambetov, PF Civic Participation
4. Ms. B. Estebesova, PF Sotsium
5. Mr. K. Kudabaev, Deputy Head, Policy Office
6. Mr. M. Kasymov, Leading Specialist
7. Mr. A. Mamytov, Development Policy Institute

How many groups participated in these spaces?

3

How many public-facing meetings were held in the co-creation processCollaboration between government, civil society and other stakeholders (e.g., citizens, academics, private sector) is at the heart of the OGP process. Participating governments must ensure that a dive...?

5

How will government and non-governmental stakeholders continue to collaborate through the implementation of the action plan?

The Mayor’s Office and civic stakeholders will maintain collaboration through regular open events to discuss and monitor the implementation of the Joint Action Plan, open joint discussions and the establishment of working groups involving relevant experts, and promotion of projects and initiatives through mass media.

Please describe the independent Monitoring Body you have identified for this plan.

The Open Bishkek Committee selected the Association Alliance for Transparent Budget (Alliance) as the monitoring body for implementing the Joint Action Plan. The mission of the Alliance is to support the development of an effective, efficient, and transparent state budget at all levels through partnerships between government and civil society. The Alliance works to increase public awareness of budget issues, expand civil society participation in budget policy development and execution, and ensure the interests of Kyrgyz citizens are addressed through collaboration with the state and business sectors.

Provide the contact details for the independent monitoring body.

• Roza Gaibulina, Executive Director, Association ‘Alliance for Transparent Budget’, [email protected]

What types of activities will you have in place to discuss progress on commitments with stakeholders?

The Open Bishkek Working Committee will organize regular open joint discussions to review the progress of the plan’s implementation. The outcomes of the implementation will be shared on public information platforms to ensure transparency and accountability.

How will you regularly check in on progress with implementing agencies?

A comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation Plan will be developed to oversee and assess the implementation of the Joint Action Plan. At each stage, progress will be evaluated, and future actions will be planned. Representatives from the Association Coalition for Transparent Budget will participate in every online or offline event, following the Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM)The Independent Reporting Mechanism (IRM) is OGP’s accountability arm and the main means of tracking progress in participating countries. The IRM provides independent, evidence-based, and objective ....

How will you share the results of your monitoring efforts with the public?

The outcomes of the projects will be published through official online channels. Additionally, updates on each activity will be shared on the information resources of the Bishkek Mayor’s Office and DPI, ensuring that the public is kept informed of progress and achievements.

Endorsement from Non-Governmental Stakeholders

• PF Civic Participation
• PF Sotsium

Open Bishkek Action Plan

Commitments:

• Increasing citizen participation in short or medium-term urban development planning (KGBSK0001)
• Improving the dialogue platform for discussing issues of distribution and management of municipal land plots and land use (KGBSK0002)
• Creation of a digital tool for feedback with citizens to assess the quality of municipal services (KGBSK0003)