Duration: October 1, 2012 – September 30, 2015

Funding level: $150, 400

Implementing Partner: Association of Civil Society Development ARGO

Activity Locations: Central Asia

Activity Goal

Main goal of the Development through Regional Cooperation (DRC) program is to strengthen civil society in Central Asia by increasing civil society organizations’ (CSOs) institutional capacity, effective dialogue with respective governments, regional networking and cooperation.

Activity Focus

Geographic focus area includes Kyzylorda Oblast of Kazakhstan, Khatlon Oblast of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; in its second  year, DRC began bridging civil society in Central Asia with CSOs in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

At the regional level we strengthen regional networking organizations, collaboration and cross-border CSO relations through grant programs, study tours, joint trainings, teleconferences, and the annual international conference, “Insights into Regional Development.”

At the national and local levels we strengthen countrywide networks and key implementing partners' organizational capacities. Our national partners build the organizational capacity of local CSOs; engage CSOs and government in dialogue and social partnerships; and oversee CSOs’ implementation of grant projects that facilitate community development and advocate for addressing the issues of vulnerable populations.

In the Kyrgyz Republic, DRC focuses on building the institutional capacity of CSOs and initiative groups in rural areas; and strengthening the connections with CSOs operating in neighboring countries.

Activity Accomplishments

• Over 1,200 representatives of Central Asian CSOs participated in regional DRC events.
• 63 CSOs received organization development services: Kazakhstan - 27, Tajikistan – 29, Kyrgyz Republic - 6, Turkmenistan - 1.
• Since the DRC launch, 90 participants from the Kyrgyz Republic have attended regional events and 72 organizations have received trainings or services from the program. Since November 2013, the Kyrgyz Republic has hosted two regional study tours and “Results Oriented Management” School for CSOs for approximately 30 delegates from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. The participants learned about the development of women’s leadership and institutional capacity building.
• 9 CSOs, including 3 CSOs from the Kyrgyz Republic, have won ARGO’s Social Partnership Prize, which awards achievements in partnership between CSOs and governments in Central Asia.