Creating Community Indicators for Bishkek Seth Fearey Tian

Creating Community Indicators for Bishkek Seth Fearey, Tian Shan Policy Center, American University of Central Asia Bishkek Upgrade Forum, 7 June 2014

Using data to identify and prioritize opportunities. Creating a community “report card” to support civic engagement and measure outcomes.

Topics • What is a community indicator? • Choosing indicators with the help of community engagement • How you can help.

0 Sources: World Bank, Wikipedia, National Statistics Committee 7/6/1905 12: 00 AM 7/5/1905 12: 00 AM 7/4/1905 12: 00 AM 7/3/1905 12: 00 AM 7/2/1905 12: 00 AM 7/1/1905 12: 00 AM 6/30/1905 12: 00 AM 6/29/1905 12: 00 AM 6/28/1905 12: 00 AM 6/27/1905 12: 00 AM 6/26/1905 12: 00 AM 6/25/1905 12: 00 AM 6/24/1905 12: 00 AM 6/23/1905 12: 00 AM 6/22/1905 12: 00 AM 6/21/1905 12: 00 AM 6/20/1905 12: 00 AM 6/19/1905 12: 00 AM 6/18/1905 12: 00 AM 6/17/1905 12: 00 AM 6/16/1905 12: 00 AM 6/15/1905 12: 00 AM 6/14/1905 12: 00 AM 6/13/1905 12: 00 AM 6/12/1905 12: 00 AM 6/11/1905 12: 00 AM Since 1989 Bishkek has added 300, 000 people while Osh has added 54, 000 1000000 900000 800000 +49% 700000 600000 500000 400000 300000 200000 Bishkek 100000 Osh +26%

Kyrgyzstan is growing at 1. 2% per year while Bishkek is growing at 1. 7% per year

Community indicators are measurements that provide information about past and current trends. They help city planners and community leaders identify issues and make decisions about the future of their community. Community indicators provide insight into the overall direction of a community. - wikipedia

Community indicators tell us • Where we are improving • Where we are declining • How we compare with other communities • How well our initiatives are working

Good indicators • Reflect fundamentals of long-term community health. • Reflect the interests and concerns of the community. • Are statistically measurable on a regular basis at an affordable cost. • Measure outcomes, rather than inputs. • Are based on trustworthy data. • Are easy to understand.

A Model for Community Engagement Gather Data Implement Community Create Projects Develop Priorities

A Model for Community Engagement TSPC Gather Data Advisory Board Implement Community Develop Priorities City of Bishkek NGOs, others Create Projects City of Bishkek NGOs, i. NGOs

A Model for Community Engagement 1. Gather and analyze data to identify and understand issues Gather Data 2. Local government, businesses, NGOs, and the community set priorities 3. Implementing agencies develop projects to address priorities Implement Community 4. Implement projects 5. Gather new data to report on outcomes Create Projects Develop Priorities

Categories of Sustainable Community Indicators http: //www. sustainablecommunitiesindex. org/

Potential Sources of Data • National Statistics Committee, and ministries • United Nations (UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women, WHO, FAO…) • World Bank • Eurasia Development Bank • City of Bishkek • Local NGOs and community-based organizations

Stakeholders and Partners • The City of Bishkek • Businesses • Universities • NGOs • International Donor Organizations • The media

Some ideas for Indicators for Bishkek • Vehicles registered in the city per thousand residents • Hectares of green space per thousand residents • Tons of solid waste being recycled • Number of bad air days • Percent of streets with working streetlights (safety) • Corruption reports submitted by hotline and website • New housing units permitted • Kilometers of marked bicycle routes and lanes vs. kilometers of roads

San Francisco: 1 km of bicycle lanes, paths, routes for every 10 km of roads

• A think tank on public policy issues in Central Asia. • Founded in 2007 as the Social Research Center. Renamed Tian Shan Policy Center in 2011. • Key issues are • Environmental Sustainability • Human Rights • Development and Governance • Migration • Director is Kanat Sultanaliev • https: //www. auca. kg/en/tspc/

How you can help • Support the effort to identify issues and indicators. • Participate in discussions about priorities. • Voice your opinion. • Tell a friend.

Community indicators support change based on trusted data and community engagement Photo from city’s facebook site