This book explores the conceptions of genealogy, kinship and ‘tribalism’ in the intertwined construction of personhood and national identity in the Kyrgyz Republic. It makes an important contribution to several theoretical and regional debates. First, it engages with broader anthropological literature. Genealogy, a central theme of the work, is explored not only as an analysis of relationships, but also as a methodological tool through which to examine society. Second, the book contributes to theories of kinship and the state. Research provides detailed accounts of Soviet and post-Soviet transformations, and their influence on people’s everyday lives. Third, the book fills a gap in Central/Inner Asian literature by focusing on social relations during a period of political upheaval.

The Kyrgyz Republic has overcome some complex challenges to now have one of the most open economies in Central Asia. The country has improved its per capita income and living standards and is on the threshold of becoming a lower-middle-income economy. Looking ahead, the main challenge for the Kyrgyz Republic is to build on these successes to stimulate stronger, more broad-based economic growth. This book identifies the economic and governance reforms needed within key sectors to drive this growth. It provides policy suggestions to enhance the country’s trade, agriculture, tourism, finance, information and communications technology, energy, transport and logistics, and human capital.

The paper describes recent macroeconomic and financial developments and highlights a number of important medium- and longer-term policy issues. Empirical estimates of potential output growth for the Kyrgyz economy based on a number of different methodologies are presented. Competitiveness and trade policy, social policy issues, namely poverty alleviation and pension reform, are also taken up for discussion. Developments in the banking system since 1998 are described. Fiscal issues are discussed and also statistical data on economic indices are presented.

This open access book is a collection of 12 case studies capturing decades of experience improving health care and outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Each case study is written by healthcare managers and providers who have implemented health improvement projects using quality improvement methodology, with analysis from global health experts on the practical application of improvement methods. The book shows how frontline providers in health and social services can identify gaps in care, propose changes to address those gaps, and test the effectiveness of their changes in order to improve health processes and outcomes. The chapters feature cases that provide real-life examples of the challenges, solutions, and benefits of improving healthcare quality and clearly demonstrate for readers what quality improvement looks like in practice:Addressing Behavior Change in Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health with Quality Improvement and Collaborative Learning Methods in GuatemalaHaiti’s National HIV Quality Management Program and the Implementation of an Electronic Medical Record to Drive Improvement in Patient CareScaling Up a Quality Improvement Initiative: Lessons from Chamba District, IndiaPromoting Rational Use of Antibiotics in the Kyrgyz RepublicStrengthening Services for Most Vulnerable Children through Quality Improvement Approaches in a Community Setting: The Case of Bagamoyo District, TanzaniaImproving HIV Counselling and Testing in Tuberculosis Service Delivery in Ukraine: Profile of a Pilot Quality Improvement Team and Its Scale‐Up JourneyImproving Health Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Case Book will find an engaged audience among healthcare providers and administrators implementing and managing improvement projects at Ministries of Health in low- to middle-income countries. The book also aims to be a useful reference for government donor agencies, their implementing partners, and other high-level decision makers, and can be used as a course text in schools of public health, public policy, medicine, and development. ACKNOWLEDGMENT:This work was conducted under the USAID Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project, USAID Award No. AID-OAA-A-12-00101, which is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). DISCLAIMER:The contents of this book are the sole responsibility of the Editor(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. div=""^

This book aims to identify the impact of tourism on social and economic development in the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan, and to predict the development of the tourism industry and identify any limiting factors for the development of the tourism industry in the Republic as a whole. The impacts of tourism on the region have been poorly understood since the country gained independence in 1991, and so improved methods for identifying and increasing the contribution of the tourism industry to the economic and social development of the region are needed. The book assesses the impact of tourism on the socio-economic situation in the Issyk-Kul region is assessed on the basis of statistical modelling and GIS mapping, provides a comparative analysis of the categories and types of tourism in the regions of the Republic, in particular in the Issyk-Kul region, and identifies factors that have a negative impact on the country’s tourism potential, as well as the shortcomings and prospects for future development. The book's primary audience will be scholars and researchers whose research focuses on the socio-economic impacts of tourism, as well as students and planners. It is expected that it will become a source of information and inspiration for all readers who feel responsible for initiating sustainable development and sustainable use of tourism resources in Kyrgyzstan and other countries.

This paper focuses on the Kyrgyz Republic’s Fifth Review Under the Three-Year Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility, and Request for Modification of Performance Criteria. Growth was strong over the first nine months of 2013, and inflation has declined steadily. Intensive public investment programs and the decline in gold prices are putting temporary pressures on the current account. The medium-term outlook is broadly favorable, despite the slowdown in the region. System-wide financial stability indicators have been broadly sound. The IMF staff recommends completion of the fifth review and approval of the request for modification of the performance criteria for end-December 2013.

"After the break-up of the Soviet Union, the economic contraction in the Kyrgyz Republic was among the worst experienced in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Their output declined by 50% between the years 1991 and 1995. The fiscal costs to the country were nothing short of disastrous. Just as the Kyrgyz Republic was about to decisively restore growth and macroeconomic stability, a series of natural disasters and a regional crisis caused another fiscal setback. This report details a set of measures which, if implemented, will restore fiscal stability to the country. It focuses on reforming public utilities and the tax system, citing these as in the most need of reform."