Kompanion’s development mission is to contribute to the strengthening of communities through sustainable development.

Kompanion works to achieve this mission through the following three objectives:

• To assist communities with natural resources management through the transfer of best practices and knowledge • To use science-based, ethno-ecological approaches to deliver development services • To integrate financial and development products and services to improve livelihoods

Kompanion Development Objectives

Kompanion’s development mission and objectives are designed to give a clear vision to the multiple approaches through which Kompanion assists in the development of households and communities in . The heart of the mission is to strengthen communities, and sustainable development is the methodology Kompanion uses to accomplish this. Strengthening communities means taking a broad, integrated view of communities as a whole and working within these communities to help them determine their interests and further the development of their civil societies.

Sustainable development means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future gen- erations to meet their own needs.” This includes the ecological sustainability of the community (e.g. preservation, protection, and sustainable use of natural resources) and the economic sustainability of the community (e.g. the ability to retain population and to enable economically viable livelihoods for the population).

Furthermore, to strengthen communities, Kompanion focuses its development efforts at the household level. Households are the basis of any community, so individual households must become economically and environ- mentally sustainable for the community as a whole to become sustainable. Likewise, households are rarely found in isolation, therefore the community must also be an economically and environmentally sound basis in which the household pursues livelihood activities.

Kompanion Development Initiatives

Kompanion’s development work is accomplished by delivering development services. Kompanion offers its cli- ents and potential clients information on how to take advantage of low external input technologies (LEIT)— agricultural, production, marketing, and business techniques that require minimal amounts of physical and finan- cial capital but that lead to increased incomes, higher yields, increased production, and food security.

This means that Kompanion assists households with management of their home gardens and with caring for and making decisions about their livestock. This also means that Kompanion assists communities with management of their common assets including summer and winter pastures and water resources.

Instead of tackling the immense task of providing individually tailored information to each of its clients, Kompanion targets its development approach through initiatives. Initiatives allow Kompanion to pilot ideas and approaches. Kompanion then takes these successful approaches and delivers them to the wider client base and communities in which Kompanion works.

In November 2009, the Development Department was formally established to work on initiatives targeting commu- nity needs. In 2010, Kompanion formulated the initiatives that are within the five main directions that focus on strengthening communities. I. Food Security II. Waste Management III. Soil Conservation IV. Livestock Management V. Eco-homestead I. Food Security

1. Eco-Garden Initiative

Objectives: Improve gardening skills Promote and organize home garden production and proper storage Goal : of produce To promote the improve- Increase skills and knowledge in planning and managing the household budget ment of food security Introduce and promote low external input technologies to increase through the transfer of households' income-earning potential from their home gardens knowledge and best practices of home garden Background and Progress: production based on The Eco-Garden initiative provides communities with technical assistance scientific and ethno- and training on how to manage their land in order to develop high quality ecological approaches. organic fruit from home gardens, market fruit production and increase their income source.

Key Results: In 2010, the Technical Support Unit (TSU) conducted 255 sessions for 5,944 clients and interested members of the community on agricultural topics that include: thinning of fruit trees, apple sorting and storage, preparing gardens for winter and household budgeting for increased income generation. As part of the Apple Project, the “Apple Festival” was launched in 2006. The concept is continued under the Eco - Garden initiative and every year since then the Apple Festival celebrates the efforts and achieve- ments of gardeners to become the leading producers of organic fruit in Kyrgyzstan. In October 2010, "The Fifth “Annual Apple Festival” took place in the Village of region. The event attracted 400 people from more than 40 villages of the Issyk-Kul and Naryn regions and promoted horticulture and market efficiency to strengthen the capacity of local communities to produce and sell high quality apples. With the success and demand for this initiative, Kompanion plans in 2011 to conduct the Eco-Garden training in Talas, Jalal-Abad, , , , , Naryn, and Chui regions.

I. Food Security

2. “Garden in a Box” Initiative

Objectives: Increase knowledge and skills on effective use of home gardens for

cultivation of organic production Increase of knowledge and skills on household budgeting Introduce effective and low external input technologies to enhance household income from their home gardens Promote wise use of gardens, keeping in mind a year round use of production and the economic impact on household budget

Goal: To promote and improve food security at the household level through improved nutritional prac- tices that help families to improve their nutrition and access to food all year Background and Progress: round. Nutrition and food security are the aims of the “Garden in a Box” initiative, which helps families to learn about proper nutrition and to plan necessary foods to have year round. A complete "Garden in a Box" design and mockup was developed to serve as the demo garden for the training. In the training, participants receive training on household budget and nutrition, household plot planning, soil preparation and fertilizers, training on planting seeds, irrigation, plant pests and disease control, and on harvesting, sorting, drying, and storage of food.

Key Results: In April 2010, training was provided for 57 clients, 20 loan officers and 50 households in Talas and Isfana. The participants gained knowledge on planting, harvesting, water- ing and on how to manage their small land efficiently . The Talas and Isfana offices dedicated a small plot of land at their offices for training and demonstration. The office staff successfully planted their crops and donated their harvest to local orphanages. In the “Garden in a Box” initiative, Kompanion will provide training for interested clients and participants on how to select and use locally adapted seeds of agricultural crops necessary for a balanced nutritional diet. In 2011, the “Garden in a Box” training will take place in the communities of the Talas, Kerben, Osh, Chui and Isfana regions. I. Food Security

3. Greenhouse Initiative

Objectives: Teach participants to grow greens and herbs that are necessary for balanced nutrition Provide recipes and teach participants to cook various dishes using plants grown in their greenhouses Introduce effective storage methods Goal : The goal of this initiative is Background and Progress: to demonstrate low-cost The Greenhouse Initiative is intended to raise the awareness among house- technologies for crop holds of the importance of balanced nutrition by demonstrating how certain growing that are traditionally crops that are rich in nutrients and important for a diversified diet can be grown in high elevations. not planted in the region due to climate conditions but are necessary for complete nutrition.

Key Results: The Greenhouse Initiative was piloted in April 2010, in the Sary Mogol village of Chon-Alai region. Trainings on “Strategic organization of the greenhouses” and “Planting and growing of plants” attracted 15 clients, 5 loan officers and 15 households. Follow up consultations and monitoring of progress provided by Kompanion agronomists in early August revealed great interest among the participants to organize the cultivation of vegetables in their backyards to secure crops for winter season. Based on the successful outcome of the initiative, Kompanion plans in 2011 to conduct training and to construct hoop gardens in the Kerben (Ak-Kayin, Chatkal), Osh (Sary Mogol, Chon Alai) and in Naryn (At-Bashy) regions. I. Food Security

4. Cellar Initiative

Objectives: Introduce low cost technologies in construction and repair of cellars

Increase households' knowledge and skills on proper cellar use and proper food storage.

Background and Progress: This initiative was launched Goal : in 2009, when the need Improve households’ skills arose to provide advice to and knowledge on effective clients receiving loans for and safe methods of agricul- construction and repair of tural production storage that their home cellars. The aim provides food security for of the Cellar Initiative is to families. link cellar trainings with other trainings that are provided in conjunction with other food security initia- tives, such as the Eco Garden, “Garden in the Box” and the Greenhouse. Participants receive training on how to select the right place and kind of cellar, cost estimation and cellar construction (materials, size, building process, walls, ceiling, proper ventilation and light), how to repair and maintain the proper use of a cellar and how to store food production.

Key Results: Kompanion conducted market research on cost- effective building materials for cellar construction and repair. Nine clients in the Kochkor district received loans and construction consultation. In 2011 Kompanion, plans to provide consultations on building, renovating, and remodeling cellars for loan officers and interested clients in the Darhan, Karakol, Toktogul, Osh, Uzgen, and Balykchy branches. II. Waste Management

5. Rural Waste Management Initiative

Objectives: Promote effective plastic waste management systems Goal : Mobilize new communities Strengthen the regional to introduce the plastic waste plastic waste management management system system to prevent pollution of households' main assets - Background and Progress: home gardens. Since 44% of rural household income comes from agriculture (including livestock and crops), pollution can cause irreversible deterioration of land, leading to loss of livelihood. Adequate waste management is neces- sary to ensure soil integrity and the sustainability of land which is main asset of rural Kyrgyz households.

Key Results: On 17-19 September 2010, Kompanion launched the third annual campaign entitled “Clean Issyk-Kul Action on Rural Waste Management in the Issyk-Kul and Kochkor Region”. From 186 villages around Lake Issyk-Kul, 56 villages (28 villages around the lake and 28 villages from Kochkor ) participated, an increase from 8 villages in 2008 and 35 in 2009. About 15,000 residents participated, including school children, local government representatives, and Kompanion’s employees. Before collecting plastic waste, Kompanion conducted a workshop geared toward understanding the negative effects of plastic waste on public health and the environment, especially on their home gardens. To date, 17.5 tons of waste have been collected from the Issyk- Kul region, including the 11 tons of plastic waste in 2008 and 2009. III. Soil Conservation

6. Soil Conservation Initiative

Objectives: Increase knowledge and skills for effective use and conservation Goal : of soil productivity through the use Improve soil fertility in home of agricultural techniques and the gardens' and soil conserva- use of organic fertilizers in home tion in pastures. gardens Introduce new technologies for improving soil fertility in home gardens Promote the prevention of soil degradation in pastures

Background and Progress: In 2009, soil samples were collected from 40 communities and analyzed by the Land Institute of the Kyrgyz Republic. The information was used to develop training modules to further improve home garden management practices.

Key Results: In 2010, training modules were developed by the Development Department agronomists in the following areas: soil properties, soil nutrients (nitrogen, phospho- rus and potassium), preparing and applying organic fertilizers, agro-technical measures to improve soil, crop rotation and soil degradation. In 2011, Kompanion plans to conduct trainings in 17 villages in Karakol and 18 villages in Balykchy. IV. Livestock Management

7. Livestock Management Initiative and Artificial Insemination Points

Objectives: Goal : Inform communities about the benefits of maintaining healthy livestock Promote proper care and Decrease pasture degradation and preserve the biodiversity of pastures maintenance of livestock Build capacity and knowledge of a farm economy in such as areas as such as proper feeding, supply and demand, inventory management, calculation of gross income disease prevention and and maintaining simple book-keeping to calculate revenues and expenses livestock keeping. Enhance associated with keeping livestock livestock productivity Facilitate options for qualified artificial insemination centers through methods of breed- ing to reduce number of low

livestock productivity. Background and Progress: Improving the productivity of livestock and promoting rational use of land and biodiversity conservation are main goals for Kompanion. With this ini- tiative, the aim is to help improve knowledge and skills in areas such as proper animal care, feeding, breeding and timely vaccination. Participants also are training on basic farm economy in such areas as proper record keeping of livestock movements, revenues, and expenses.

Key Results: In 2010, 280 sessions for clients and interested community members was provided in 23 communities for 5,518 interested group participants (954 Men and 4,564 female). Realizing the importance to improve breeding quality of ani- mals and to increase productivity through artificial insemination, the Development Department conducted a country wide survey to assess the operational capacity of 66 Artificial Insemination Points, and defined challenges and opportunities for support. Results show that 41 centers are currently in operation; the rest are either temporarily or fully closed. In 2011, training on livestock management will be provided in Chui, Karakol, Jalal-Abad, Talas, Osh, Batken, Balykchy, and Naryn regions. V. EcoEco----homesteadhomestead

8. Eco-Toilet Initiative

Objectives: Promote improved household Goal : sanitary conditions To promote the use of dry Improve knowledge and skills on composting toilets to con- use of organic waste for gardens serve and prevent pollu- Promote the decrease of pollu- tion of water resources, tion of water, groundwater, and soil recycle organic matter and Introduce low-cost technologies improve household sanitary to increase household savings conditions. Decrease soil and water contamination Background and Progress: from open-pit toilets and The Eco Toilet, started in 2009, assists rural communities to better preserve their land and to decrease soil and water contamination from open-pit toilets and household waste. The Eco-Toilet contains a toilet bowl that separates urine and feces, and with proper air ventilation the waste is dehydrated and decomposed. Urine can then be reused as liquid fertilizer and feces as organic fertilizer.

Key Results: In 2010, Kompanion built five toilets in offices of Karakol, Montysh, Kara-Koo, Orgochor, and Tamchy. Training and consultations were provided to branch staff and communities on the operation and use of the Eco Toilet. There is a growing interest among the communities to construct Eco-Toilets and in 2011, Kompanion plans to construct four toilets in the communities or in the branch offices of Talas-Bakai Ata, Jala Abad, Kochkor Ata, Isfana-Korgon and in Karakol - Ak Suu.

V. EcoEco----homesteadhomestead

9. Energy-Saving Stoves Initiative Goal : Due to financial constraints Objectives: many households use their Facilitate contact with certified own fuel resources, such as masters that have been trained by CAMP- dried manure, that leads to Ala-Too loss of soil fertility, or the Preserve the environment and cutting of trees for fuel conserve natural resources which promotes soil erosion Increase household fuel efficiency and the emission of carbon and decrease costs dioxide. Through this initia-

tive, Kompanion seeks to Background and Progress: In August 2010, Kompanion began preserve the environment collaborating with CAMP Ala-Too to and conserve natural re- assess community needs and devise a sources by assisting clients framework of cooperation. CAMP Ala-Too interested in the Energy provided trainings for 25 stove construc- Saving Stoves Initiative to tion specialists in the piloted communities (Chui, Issyk-Kul, Talas and Naryn connect with CAMP-Ala- regions) on constructing energy-saving stoves and efficiently insulating Too’s certified stove houses. construction specialists in the communities that are trained in building the model energy efficient stoves.

Key Results: Based on the experience of CAMP Ala-Too’s clients and Kompanion’s staff who have built the Energy-Saving Stoves in 2009, consumption of solid fuel was reduced by 40-50% compared to conventional furnaces and heat was better conserved by means of simple and effective technical solutions. In 2010, Kompanion provided 11 loans in the Issyk-Kul region for interested clients to construct the Energy-Saving Stoves. There is an increasing interest especially in the colder northern part of Issyk-Kul, but more training and awareness is needed in other regions to promote this product. In 2011, an information pamphlet will be developed to promote the Energy-Saving Stoves in the Talas, Issyk-Kul and Naryn regions.