EU finance projects on local development processes in Kyzylorda region

This project, which started in January 2013, is built on the experience from the previous EU-supported migration programme "Central Asian Red Crescent Labour Migration Network", implemented by the Regional Representation of the International Federation to Central Asia and its partner Red Crescent Societies from December 2008 to June 2011 and aimed at improving the situation of labour migrants, regardless of their legal status, the official website of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan reads. This project is implemented by the Representation of the International Federation and its partner Red Crescent Society with support of the EU for three years: from May 2014 to April 2016 and aimed at raising effectiveness of the relationships between the civil society institutions and the state and expanding the participation of the civil society institutions in the realization of development strategies. Two specific objectives will be reached in the process of the project implementation through related activities: to strengthen the capacities of the RCSK to contribute to local development decision making and service delivery in Kyzylorda region and to promote the role of civil society actors and citizens, and their participation in formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development policies, strategies. Civil society plays an important role as facilitator, watchdog, catalyst and advocate in implementing national and local development plans and policies. It mobilizes people including the most vulnerable groups, to become involved in decisions that affect their lives. The activities of the project contribute to effective organisation of civil society to improve the responsiveness of existing and projected policies and programmes to citizens' needs and ensure transparency and accountability in policy-making and implementation processes. The project will cover over 6,000 representatives from local authorities, civil society organisations, business sector, local communities and vulnerable groups in Kyzylorda city, Shieli and Zhanakorgan regions. The enhanced ability of the Red Crescent to contribute more effectively to policy formulation through promoting multi-stakeholder dialogue with local authorities, local and international CSOs would allow the RCSK to step up the advocacy regarding the economic and social rights of the vulnerable groups. The IFRC and the Red Crescent will assist local CSOs and communities to raise their capacities to ensure a considerable degree of accountability and involvement in development processes. As a result of their increased capacity to participate in a multi-stakeholder dialogue and to mobilise resources the Red Crescent and local CSOs will be able to create a sustainable resource base for providing the increased amount and enhanced quality of support to the local communities, thus contributing to effective addressing needs in economic, health and social spheres, prevention of, and response to, emergencies in the region.