Country needs assessment of CSOs working on rehabilitation and reintegration of people returning from Syria and Iraq to Kyrgyzstan

The Global Community Engagement and Resilience Facility (GCERF) is the first global organization to support community-based initiatives to build resilience to violent extremism. In Kyrgyzstan, support contributes to the state strategy to prevent and counter violent extremism by facilitating the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-combatants returning from Iraq and Syria to prevent others from leaving. These activities will create a supportive environment for returnees and other community members, providing them with better alternatives than leaving to join violent extremist groups. 

In this context, additional information was required to explore specific areas for GCERF support. Evidence Central Asia was therefore commissioned to conduct a country needs assessment in Kyrgyzstan to better understand the drivers, actors, resources, requirements and risks associated with funding programs aimed at preventing violent extremism. This focused on the challenges of working in the proposed geographical regions on this topic, as well as on issues such as rehabilitation, re-socialization and reintegration of family members of former ISIL members who have been returned (mainly women and children) by creating conditions for community integration.

This research project was conducted from August through October 2023 using a multi-method approach with simultaneous use of multiple methods, focusing on qualitative data within a single method. This scheme allowed for a high level of cross-validation and triangulation of results. 

The qualitative component, conducted nationwide, included 75 in-depth and semi-structured interviews and 25 focus groups. This component was conducted with women who returned from combat conflict zones, guardians of repatriate children from Iraq, teachers who worked with children from Iraq, government officials, social workers, experts, psychologists, theologians, CSO representatives, and the general population. Each of these categories represented a broad cross-section of the population, and the respondents interviewed varied in age, socioeconomic status, and gender. The quantitative component of the project was a population survey: a total of 200 people were interviewed to determine their attitudes towards repatriates. Further, a detailed analytical report with recommendations was prepared and presented to the project team and stakeholders in English and Russian. 

The main methodological limitation here was the sensitivity of the topic and the thoroughness of reading, interpreting and summarizing the findings. The research team therefore structured data collection in a way that maximized input from all stakeholders, paying particular attention to the sensitivity of the conflict and adherence to the principle of “Do No Harm.”