Local Actors’ Capacity Strengthening Needs in Kyrgyzstan

In line with the Asia Religious and Ethnic Freedom (REF) program’s learning agenda, this brief aims to provide valuable insights into the institutional and staff capacity needs, strengths, and challenges faced by local partners in the context of promoting religious and ethnic freedoms in the Asia region. This learning brief focuses on answering learning questions to enhance our understanding of the capacity building needs and strengths of local partners. By analyzing their experiences the Asia REF team aims to identify information gaps, technical capacity needs, and the factors that hinder or facilitate effective work in promoting religious freedom. This knowledge will guide the team in developing targeted interventions and strategies to strengthen the capacity of local Asia REF partners to promote religious and ethnic freedoms in Asia.

The data was collected during the Local REF perspectives workshop with civil society representatives (CSOs) who are working in the field of promoting freedom of religion in the Kyrgyz Republic on March 13-15, 2023. Participants were representatives of organizations that conduct  research in the field, provide legal assistance, monitor the implementation of the right to freedom of religion, participate in the development of legislative acts, work directly in communities, and address gender inequality issues, hate speech, and media literacy. In total, 15 people participated in the meeting, including 11 women and 4 men. The discussion focused on what are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks (SWOT) local NGOs face in implementing internationally funded religious freedom projects, as well as their assessment of the benefits and limitations of cooperation with donor organizations.

This resource was made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the sole responsibility of Search for Common Ground and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.