These workshops took place in the framework of the “Strengthening National Capacities for Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding: Meaningful Civil Society Engagement for Trust-Building and Social Cohesion” Project of UNESCO and UNDP.
Local workshops “Civic Identity through the Formation of Civic Competencies” were held in Bishkek, Jalal-Abad, Osh and Batken as part of a UNESCO project aimed at strengthening national capacity in peacebuilding and interaction with civil society. The workshops aimed to explore principles and methods for developing civic competencies tailored to the local context, with an emphasis on creating specific tools for promoting these competencies in Kyrgyzstan.
Participants, including representatives of public advisory councils, civil society leaders and experts, studied international experience and discussed the introduction of civic competencies in Kyrgyzstan. More than 115 participants discussed intercultural understanding, tolerance and inclusiveness issues for the formation of civic competencies that are necessary for building peace.
For example:
– Iskender Eshimbekov, Head of Department, Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy noted: “This initiative has played an important role in helping us formalize civic education across the country. The toolkit will allow us to better engage with youth and communities on issues of national identity and civic responsibility.”
-Aida Bektasheva, National Project Coordinator highlighted: “Working with national partners has allowed us to ensure that civic education in Kyrgyzstan not only meets international standards, but also meets local needs for peacebuilding and inclusion.”
-Onolkan Umankulova, President, EdNet Education Quality Assurance Agency noted: “The project has allowed us to bridge the gap between policy and practice in civic education. The toolkit is a game changer for us in terms of providing consistent, localized resources for developing civic responsibility.”
The project’s efforts to collect feedback through pre- and post-workshop surveys provided valuable information on the current state of civic education in Kyrgyzstan. The findings underscored the need for ongoing efforts to promote civic competences, especially among young people and regions. The involvement of local governments and civil society organizations ensured the implementation of these ideas, further embedding civic education in local governance practices.
Additionally, the project established a platform for sustained dialogue and collaboration between the national government and local stakeholders, fostering the exchange of knowledge and best practices. This approach to institutionalization not only ensures the sustainability of civic competence initiatives but also opens avenues for scaling these efforts in other regions of Kyrgyzstan.
The local workshops were organized by the Education Quality Assurance Agency “EdNet” with the support of UNESCO and UNDP, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Center for Civic Education and Electoral Technologies.