Governing close to the people in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan, 21 August 2008 – The UNDP Project “Local Self-Governance” has completed 24 trainings for over 400 representatives of local self-governance bodies (Gengeshi) and local administrations as well as some 50 partners from local communities in the pilot districts of Ahal, Balkan and Lebap provinces. The trainings lasted from June to August 2008. Issues related to participatory local development planning, social mobilization and partnerships, and development and management of projects were in the focus of training programmes. A team of eight experienced trainers recruited by the project and trained for this purpose by international local development experts facilitated the activities. Representatives of the Turkmen Parliament and UNDP Turkmenistan also attended as observers. During trainings members of local-self governance bodies engaged in discussions on functions, budgeting and administrative management of Gengeshi, planning of socio-economic development and identification of development priorities by local communities as well as elaboration of development plans. Facilitators employed interactive lectures and role plays in small groups, mini thematic lectures, brain storming, practical exercises and presentation of educational literature to help participants assess local needs and come up with ideas of addressing local problems. For this purpose, trainees were invited to think of possible action plans that can be used as a platform for development of project proposals and mobilization of local communities.
One of the training participants, Hojadurdy Igdirov, who is heading Paraw Gengeshi of Serdar etrap (district) in Balkan province, said that local development planning should become an integral part of our work. His opinion was echoed by Sapar-aga, honorary elder of Amashagapan village of Berkarar Gengeshi of Tejen etrap in Ahal province, who said that inclusion of local communities in the planning process will ensure sustainability and continuity of many local projects and allow for increased participation of local communities in development planning.
The significance of the first-of-its-kind trainings for local self-governance bodies can hardly be underestimated. Training participants demonstrated a genuine interest and desire to be part of local capacity development. There is a consensus that inclusive and participatory local development planning will have immediate impact on peoples’ lives. A total of 18 draft local development projects were worked out in the course of the trainings. They cover a variety of spheres such as improving road conditions, electricity and water supplies, repair of schools and enhancing quality of medical services. It is expected that some of these project proposals will get financial support and be implemented in the near future.
On the whole, trainings for local self-governance bodies have proved a very efficient tool for raising public awareness and building capacity of local communities. This sentiment was supported by Ahmet Chariyev, head of Turkmenistan’s Mejlis (parliamentary) Committee on Gengeshi. “Trainings for representatives of pilot Gengeshi make it possible to increase the level of awareness and administrative capacity of local-self governance bodies,” he said.
The UNDP Project “Local Self-Governance” started in 2007. The project is implemented jointly with the Parliament of Turkmenistan. The project aims at improving the quality of services provided at the local level through strengthening capacity of local self-governance bodies and improving the legal and policy environment for further development of local governance. Picture: view from the hall of the Turkmen parliament UNDP in Turkmenistan
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