How digital tools are increasing transparency and civic participation in Kyrgyzstan

As technology reshapes our world, it offers powerful solutions to some of society’s most pressing challenges, including corruption. Technologies like artificial intelligence, mobile applications, blockchain and social media can transform how citizens interact with their governments, making information more accessible and encouraging civic participation.

In Kyrgyzstan, where bureaucratic inefficiency, citizen apathy and corruption persist, these technologies can be powerful tools to increase transparency and civic participation. The Kyrgyz government has made progress in digitalising public services through e-government portals and public procurement systems. However, issues like infrastructure gaps, digital skills shortages and socio-economic disparities often hold these efforts back.

Recognising these challenges, Transparency International Kyrgyzstan prioritises using digital technologies to empower citizens to participate in governance and hold public officials accountable.

In 2023, with the support of the European Union’s delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic, Transparency International Kyrgyzstan organised four hackathons. Over 400 university students from Bishkek city came together to brainstorm and develop digital solutions for pressing issues like access to state services, legislative initiatives and public procurement. After the hackathons, 17 participants were hired as interns to develop fully functional platforms.

In December 2023, four brand-new platforms were launched:

1. Bilem.kg improves access to state services and breaks down administrative barriers. It guides users in finding and completing forms for medical and tax procedures, and provides details on government organisations' hours, locations, and contacts. Users can report experiences of corruption in state institutions through direct appeals or by participating in the “Forum” section. When corruption-related issues are reported, Transparency International Kyrgyzstan follows up and offers advice.
   
2. Jol.kg monitors road construction and repairs using an interactive map that displays roads repaired in the last two years. Users can report road defects by marking sections, describing their condition and attaching photos. They can also vote on repair priorities and give feedback on reports made by other users. The platform’s goal is to ensure citizen reports reach authorities. When repairs are completed based on a report, Transparency International Kyrgyzstan moderators update the status to “repaired” and provide details, such as (the organisation responsible for the repair, the repair timeline and costs).
3. Jmd.kg promotes legislative initiatives in Kyrgyzstan, allowing users to propose or vote on initiatives. To reach parliament, an initiative needs 10,000 votes, but with 3,000 votes, the Transparency International Kyrgyzstan team will support it in getting there. The platform uses facial recognition for registration, and moderators thoroughly verify new users to prevent bots and trolls. Initiatives are also reviewed before being published.
4. Tsa.kg helps citizens understand public procurement procedures, one of the areas most susceptible to corruption in Kyrgyzstan. The platform aims to improve procurement quality, increase budget efficiency and support anti-corruption efforts. Every day, it retrieves tenders from the official public procurement website, allowing users to study and analyse them. It offers instructions on how to navigate the tenders, understand participation requirements, file complaints and track winners and monitor budget spending. Moderators also identify and flag potential violations.

These digital platforms are a big step towards a more transparent and accountable government in Kyrgyzstan. They give citizens the power to track public services, report corruption and take part in important decisions. But for these platforms to succeed, everyone must participate. As more Kyrgyzstanis interact with state institutions through these tools, they will hold the government accountable and contribute to a culture of transparency.

By empowering citizens with the knowledge and resources to demand better governance, these platforms have the potential to drive real change, fostering a more accountable and transparent future for the country.