Local government
After finding the state independence in the countries of Central Asia the status of local government institutions of citizens has considerably increased: they have been recognized as one of supporting structure of a democratic society.
Currently in all countries of Central Asia local government institutions are dynamically developed. Welfare of citizens and a society as a whole appreciably depends on quality of their work and activities. Efficient activity of local authority institutions encourages to equitable distribution of resources and their sustainable growth, improvement of entrepreneurship climate, active participation of the civil society in the process of public management.
Reforming of public governance has been begun even in stay of the USSR - in April 1990 after adoption of the Law on general principles of local governance and local economy. After dissolution of a Soviet state Central Asian republics adopted their own laws defining the status and legal fundamentals of local governance.
Despite of the achieved progress, central government bodies in republics of Central Asia are continuing to be in some doubt about advisability of large-scale separation of political and financial power with local governance institutions. It conditioned by viability of some bureaucratic insights from the Soviet era, inadequate knowledge of advanced foreign experience and own experience in local management sphere.
Process of decentralization of public administration in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan is on the various stages. Below you can familiarize with experience of Central Asian countries on development of local government.
Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan local government is considered as important tool in providing population with the right to solve the problems within its competence. Nevertheless, local government reorganization process and formation of relative legislation base has not been completed yet.
Since 1995 (the year of the Constitution adoption) there have been several bills on local self-government but none of them met the objective requirements of its development. Being fully aware of the need to introduce local government institution, since 2003 the Government in cooperation with representatives of political parties and non-governmental organizations has started drafting the Law "On Local Self-Government in the Republic of Kazakhstan", thus ensuring an impulse for further decentralization.
Moreover, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan adopted the decree of October 24, 2001 (#713) "On the Government Commission on power distribution among government levels and improvement of inter-budgetary relations"; the Government signed the Decree (of February 10, 2003) "On Conception of power distribution among government levels and improvement of inter-budgetary relations".
Useful links on local government in Kazakhstan:
Kyrgyz Republic
The analysis of local government development in Kyrgyz Republic testifies substantial large-scale reorganization of regional administration system, introduction of democracy principles into activity carried out by local self-government bodies.
Kyrgyz Republic has achieved considerable qualitative results in this direction. Currently Kyrgyzstan stands out against a background of other CA countries due to more developed local government bodies and success in decentralization process.
Programs on local self-governance development are widely supported by the Government of Kyrgyz Republic. International community through international organizations also provides its contribution. The Program on Local Government Support in Kyrgyz Republic has been implementing during the recent years under assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In 1995-1999 this programme was implemented by International Cities Management Association (ICMA) and since 1999 the Program is implemented by American Urban Institute. The Activity of these organizations is aimed at training local government representatives, providing assistance in the field of financial management, introduction of the principles of democratic institutions (such as budgetary hearings) into local governance practice.
Useful links on local government development in Kyrgyz Republic:
Tajikistan
Development of local government and improvement of administrative-territorial division based on decentralization in Tajikistan has started in the beginning of 1990-s.
However still local government bodies (jamoats), legally being the main link of local self-government system, continue to remain only executive structures of the central public administration bodies. This duality determined their functions and competency that remain the same.
Useful links on local governance in Tajikistan:
Turkmenistan
In order to deepen the process of democratic transformations in Turkmenistan, expansion of power and functions of local governments, the president has initiated reform of representative authorities system. This reform aims at promoting increase of political activity of civil society; facilitating the process of socio-political integration of the country. According to the legislation, the main local government body in Turkmenistan is "gengesh".
Useful links on local governance in Turkmenistan:
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan, being independent state in the process of implementing socio-economic and political reforms by its own scenario, also introduces the principles of decentralization and power distribution between central and local governments.
The feature lies in the fact that citizens' self-government bodies are not included into the system of public administration bodies but act as public organizations. Makhallya, being traditional self-government mechanism, gains more power. Makhallya self-government bodies have become the main component of decentralization and local community development. Currently they are legally empowered with authorities promoting more operative and efficient salvation of problems in the area of social security, encouraging business development, employment generation. Currently the overall objective is the development of effective implementation mechanism.
Useful links on local governance in the Republic of Uzbekistan:
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