Outcome KGZ_D_1.1

Key national institutions are implementing international obligations and national commitments on gender equality and women’s empowerment in policy and budgeting processes, and are accountable for results, including through the coordination mandate of the country office.

Outcome has not been fully achieved. 2021 has been marked as a year of an intensive reforms followed by radical changes in governance system – shift from parliamentary to presidential republic; massive administrative reform-restructuring of ministries and agencies, reduction in the number of civil servants, reshuffles in civil service and municipal administration. However, in such turbulent environment several accomplishments were made, which are important for progressing towards achievement of the Outcome: High level government officials have gained new knowledge and skills and expressed their buy-in and political support for application of innovative tools in managing development processes and leading the transformative change in the Government by promoting the following approaches: 29 government officials – the members of the Interministerial Working Group at the level of deputy ministers and heads of departments tested new approaches on creating a space for dialogues between high level state officials and women and men from the local communities to design and engage for the elaboration of the Batken Development Programme. It was organized in response to the crisis due to the armed conflict on Kyrgyzstan – Tajikistan borders in April 2021. The Government fully owned a risk of failure, and went ahead with testing totally new for the Government approach to ensure full engagement of the communities from Batken province with their concerns as well as solutions. UN Women facilitated the work of the IMWG in planning the roadmap for development of the Programme via applying a comprehensive set of approaches based on social innovation, Human Rights based approach (HRBA), multi-sectorial inclusive cooperation and User-centred principles. Particular emphasis was on integrating the voices and experiences and solutions of women and searching for local solutions to the development of the region 27 members of Interministerial Working Group on development of GES and its NAP have enhanced knowledge on new innovative approaches in developing strategic documents in adaptive manner. 15 members of the Inter-ministerial working group of NAP 1325 underwent trainings on Adaptive Leadership and Design Thinking that were geared towards strengthening the human-centric and gender sensitive approaches to planning and implementing of national commitments on NAP 1325. 42 policymakers have improved their understanding on how to use gender sensitive data in making decisions in their respective areas. National Statistical Committee (NSC) with the support from UN Women conducted the first round of training for data users by pilot testing the Training Package on gender data literacy for policymakers and to strengthen national-level SDGs monitoring and knowledge sharing. Based on successful launch of this initiative, the training on improving of gender data literacy will be continued on a systematic basis. Representatives of 18 Media outlets enhanced their knowledge of gender concept and the role of media in formation of public mindsets in a way that it contributes to equal, fair, harmonious and effective development. The chairmen of government agency - Financial Market Regulation and Supervision Services and 3 representative of private sector partners jointly explored the possibilities of collaboration for promotion of GEWE priorities in economic and social, spheres. In partnership with the Stock exchange and IFC, UN Women conducted a joint event ‘Ring the Bell for Gender Equality’, which resulted in the expression of interest of several private companies to become signatories to the Women Empowerment Principles . 8 Advisors of the Central Election Commission, strategically supported by the Chairwoman worked on promoting women leaders participation in elections by strict observation of the implementation of gender quota as a legal provision in the laws on elections. UN Women has made contribution to these results by introducing innovative approaches on Design thinking, human centric and survivor centric planning, enabling partners to adapt to rapidly changing contexts. UNW worked in partnership with key ministries, CEC, NSC, UN GTG and Extended GTG. The Theory of Change is still applicable for this Outcome.

Key national institutions are implementing international obligations and national commitments on gender equality and women’s empowerment in policy and budgeting processes, and are accountable for results, including through the coordination mandate of the country office.

States capacities to implement international obligations and national commitments on GEWE in integrated manner strengthened during the reporting period through access to a new tool , ‘Harmonised approach for International commitments on GEWE and Human Rights’. UN Women provided support in response to Government’s increased recognition of the need to work differently to effectively address recommendations in the concluding observations of the Treaty Bodies. The innovative tools on ‘Harmonised approach’ integrate recommendations from 11 Treaty bodies such as, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW -2015, 2021), Universal Periodic Review (UPR -2015, 2020 ), Committee Against Torture (CAT – 2021), Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC - 2014), Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CMW - 2015), Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR -2015), Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD - 2018), Committee on Human Rights (CCPR - 2014), Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP -2020), UN Population Fund, World Population Report (2020), Special Rapporteurs Recommendations (on everyone's right to access high standards of physical and mental health 2019, child trafficking, child prostitution and pornography 2013). This tool has been devised as an informational platform (grouped in line with 12 thematic areas of the Beijing Platform for Action and against relevant SDGs indicators). The members of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group noted the innovativeness and practical applicability of this tool, which breaks down institutional and policy silos, enables synergistic actions, facilitates identification of unintended negative consequences, and effectively manages unavoidable trade-offs across the respective line ministries and agencies. Moreover, group members recognised that, since the Harmonised Matrix displays recommendations over the last 2-3 reporting periods, it is possible to explicitly observe the repetitive nature of some recommendations. For example CEDAW concluding observations for the years 2015 and 2020 repeatedly urge the Government ‘to adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation which prohibits discrimination against women on all grounds’. Furthermore, comparative analysis of the recommendations helped to identify recurring, related and cross-referenced recommendations across all 11 Treaty Bodies. To date the Matrix has been used in a pilot mode to inform the Government’s CEDAW response Action Plan. During the reporting period, the Kyrgyz Parliament, in its new convocation, created a new Council on Women and Children Rights and Gender Equality. This Council replaced the previous Council on Prevention of Domestic Violence, one of four major advisory councils under the Speaker of the Parliament. The Council, alongside civil society experts organized into three thematic groups, developed a strategy and action plan. The Council requested UN Women co-create the Council’s development strategy and action plan, in light of the Council’s expanded portfolio. UN Women set up the three expert groups along 3 thematic areas of the council (gender equality, women’s rights and children rights) to co-design and launch the process. The expert groups applied systems thinking as a mental model to see the interconnections among structures, behaviours, and relationships. Under facilitation of UN Women, the expanded expert groups, representing different CSOs, identified underlying causes and uncovered opportunities for creating positive change. Systems approaches to analysis provided a solid basis for broader strategic discussions with women MPs, their advisors, and CSOs regarding leverage points for change, potential areas for intervention, and technical and adaptive solutions. Further strategic conversations with members of the Council and a core expert group helped to refine the strategic priorities, including the role of the Parliament in brokering and initiating dialogue between the Government and CSOs on GEWE, to create a shared vision on GEWE within the broader context of sustainable country development.