Central Asia has emerged as an unlikely region for open contracting reforms. Kazakhstan and  Kyrgystan have started publishing open data on public procurement over the last year for the first time. Civil society organizations are taking note. They have started analyzing newly available data and are building new tools to make information more accessible (which we supported with our recent innovation challenge). But countries still need more work for fully transparent, accountable and efficient procurement systems. Sole-source contracts are still high, skill levels especially at the local level low, and key spending such as on healthcare often remains opaque.  

In July, as part of the Social Innovations in Central Asia program funded by the USAID, we brought experts and civil society organizations together in the first-ever Regional Transparency Forum for Central Asian Countries to discuss budget transparency, openness and effectiveness of public procurement, features of local self-government, why civic engagement matters, and more. A general resolution summarizes the recommendations. 

Author: Galymzhan Orazymbet, ZERTTEU RESEARCH INSTITUTE, Zhanat Nurgaliev, “INTEGRITY ASTANA”, Zhybek Akhmetova, Civic Alliance of Mangystau Region and Viktor Nestulia

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