The “Francophonie Week” is the festival of the French language and cultures of the French-speaking countries, which is celebrated in the middle of March across the world. The organizers have prepared a program for the broad public to show the linguistic and cultural diversity of the French-speaking countries.

At the opening of the Francophonie week on March 13 the French movie “Margarita” will be screened at 17:30 pm at the “Rossiya” cinema. The Ambassadors of France, Switzerland and Belgium will solemnly open the Francophonie Week 2017.

The Swiss film “Bouboule” will be shown at the "Rossiya" cinema on March 15 at 18:00. The Belgian animation film “Skin color: honey” - in the big hall of the Academy of Tourism (address: 99 Chui Avenue/Alma-Atinskaya street), beginning at 17:30. All films are in French with Russian subtitles.

The Bishkek Francophonie program contains traditional events such as a culinary atelier, a competition of modern French songs, a theatre contest, an evening of French wines, the French game "Petanque" and many other events.

In addition, on March 17, at 18:00, the Swiss musician Jacky Lagger will hold a concert in French at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA).

All detailed information about events is presented in the program below.

PROGRAM

The awarding ceremony was organized in the framework of the Public Service Improvement Project. This project helps to improve living conditions of people in rural areas through improved quality, access and sustainability of public services provided by municipalities. It is implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation in Kyrgyzstan and the Development Policy Institute with the financial support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

The competition for the best Service Improvement Action Plan was launched amongst municipalities of the Jalal-Abad and Issyk-Kul provinces. One of the requirements for participation was a contribution of at least 10% of the total amount by municipalities. Remarkably enough, applicants committed to co-finance around 50% of the project costs themselves. This demonstrates the importance and urgency of improving local service delivery.

The Service Improvement Action Plan is a systematic method that enables to identify priority public and municipal services as well as to plan and to improve their organization and execution. The municipalities used this method with the support of the Public Service Improvement Project.

“It is crucial to keep in mind that improving service provision is an ongoing process”, - said Danielle Meuwly Monteleone, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic. “It is not only about procurement of new equipment or construction of infrastructure. It is mostly about good management by local self-governments, ensuring that maintenance costs can be covered and that service delivery can be sustained in the long run”.

The municipalities will improve service provision for drinking water supply; school and preschool education services; recreation services for children and youth and public utilities. The list of 17 winning projects presented by 13 municipalities of Jalal-Abad and Issyk-Kul provinces is as follows: 

1. Toktogul – improvement of housing and communal services

2. Kurmanbek – improvement of access to clean drinking water

3. Beshik-Jon – improvement of access to clean drinking water

4. Jany-Jol, Toktogul dsitrict – improvement of housing and communal services

5. Kenesh – improvement of access to clean drinking water

6. Avletim – improvement of street lighting

7. Jany-Jol, Aksy district – improvement of street lighting

8. Torkent – improvement of secondary education services (canteen)

9. Avletim – improvement of preschool education services

10. Kok-Irim – improvement of preschool education services

11. Kargalyk – improvement of recreation services (park)

12. Toktogul – improvement of recreation services for children

13. Toguz-Toro – improvement of secondary education services (canteen)

14. Kenesh – improvement of housing and communal services

15. Kurmanbek – improvement of preschool education services

16. Balykchy – improvement of recreation services (park)

17. Aral - improvement of access to clean drinking water

     

    Earlier in 2016, the project supported 14 initiatives to improve services provided by 12 municipalities worth more than 42 million som.