In brief

Programme purpose: The Kyrgyzstan Red Crescent programmes are aligned with the Global Agenda goals to reduce the number of deaths, injuries, and impact from disasters; to reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from diseases and public health emergencies; to increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability; and to reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity.

Programmes summary: The Kyrgyzstan Red Crescent is the only National Society in Europe that has been developing an operational alliance (OA). In 2009 the Red Crescent Society continued the transition process towards the OA intensifying the work on human resources and finance management development, and initiating a social research among communities to identify needs and demand for services. In November 2009 the National Society agreed with partner National Societies and the Federation secretariat that an in-country delegate would be identified to support the development of the operational alliance. The recruitment process is expected to be finalized in the first half of the 2010.

The disaster management programme strengthened the coping capacities of the populations living in disaster prone areas by increasing community awareness of actions to take in case of a disaster. Besides, the National Society built its own capacities to respond to emergencies through improving the staff and volunteers' knowledge and skills in disaster management, building emergency stocks, strengthening partnerships with public authorities and other stakeholders and establishing effective mechanisms for emergency response and recovery assistance. Over the period, the Kyrgyzstan Red Crescent provided assistance to people affected by small-scale disasters, namely fires, floods, landslides and mudslides.

The Tuberculosis (TB) prevention programme served people with TB and disseminated information about the disease among their family members and the general population. Within the HIV prevention programme, the National Society provided peer education for key populations at higher risk and young people. The Red Crescent harm reduction services targeted injecting drug users. The community-based health and first aid (CBHFA) programme focused health education on rural communities; the sessions were provided by trained volunteers from the target communities. The participants of the regional CBHFA in Action master-facilitators training conducted in December 2009 accepted relevant learning and community actions in CBHFA, and became familiar with the community-based integrated programme approach.

Within the framework of the operational alliance development the National Society held organizational development training for the headquarters and branch key staff - directors, heads of departments and programme managers. The Red Crescent underwent the second external financial audit and is considering to move to a cash transfer system to substitute the current working advance system used for the programmes supported multilaterally. The National Society resubmitted its plan for the Intensified Capacity Building (ICB) support; the response is expected in the first quarter of 2010. A volunteer management workshop was held and a unified questionnaire format developed to facilitate the work of staff interacting with volunteers.

The humanitarian principles and values were promoted among vulnerable communities served by the National Society, decision-makers and the public. Lack of funds (except for the migration project) meant that gender related work was not implemented as planned. Within the new migration component two information and education centres and five mobile teams were set by the Kyrgyzstan Red Crescent to render social assistance to migrants and their families. The centres are part of the regional labour migration network and already served 3,307 migrants. Tolerance, respect for diversity and the need to oppose xenophobia, discrimination and social exclusion were promoted through public campaigns, information materials, publications in media sources, debates and round tables for partners and the general public.