I. 

BROAD SECTOR SUPPORT: COUNTERPART INTERNATIONAL  

A. PROJECT PURPOSE 

The purpose of the Counterpart project component is: 

Increase informed citizen participation in political and economic decision making. 

B. PROJECT IMPACTS 

Kazakhstan 

Sustainable Civil Society Organizations  

You Can Teach Old Dogs New Tricks! 

Founded over 30 years ago, the public organization East Kazakhstan Oblast Society of Environment 

Preservation is one of the oldest NGOs in the region. However, political changes and external reforms 

resulted in an ineffective management system that could no longer attract funds or retain members. 

The CSSC ZUBR, in coordination with the Society conducted a needs assessment and provided the 

necessary training in Human Resource Management, Fundraising, and the Art of Entrepreneurship. 

Consequently, the NGO restructured its management and has identified opportunities for financial 

sustainability, such as: opening a mini market called The Nature and providing services on a for fee 

basis to the Bee Center. These revenue generating activities have allowed the Society to expand its 

service by launching a series of ecological education programs for residents in Oskemen.   

The CSSC ZUBR Contributes to Sustainable Development of Youth Organization 

Youth, particularly rural youth, have been disenfranchised as a result of the harsh economic transition 

in Kazakhstan. CSSC ZUBR  provided technical and consulting assistance as well as a series of 

trainings in skills such as NGO & Community, Project Design, Personnel Management, Strategic 

Planning, Mass Media Outreach to a local youth initiative group allowing them to register as the 

Association of Youth & Children Organizations. The Association implements and contributes to state 

youth policy in East Kazakhstan region and has developed a project proposal to Establish a Service 

Center to foster regular information exchange and create a social adaptation among rural youth. This 

proposal won a state wide tender with a grant of $29,000 from the Ministry of Culture, Information & 

Public Accord of the Republic of Kazakhstan. One expected outcome of the project is that 20 newly 

trained experts of the Association's will provide over 400 young locals with complex consulting and 

educational services, thereby creating favorable economic conditions for youth.  

The NGO's Newly Developed Skills Contributes To Drug Prevention In Astana 

Astana teenagers, unaware of the myriad of dangers associated with habitual drug use, are 

increasingly becoming addicted to drug usage. The CSSC ASTRa has provided training and technical 

assistance to the NGO Private Fund Nachni Novuyu Zhuzn ( Let The New Life Begin ), one of the 

key players in the field of drug and HIV/AIDS prevention. Using materials provided by the CSSC, the 

Fund developed educational modules adapted for teenagers, their parents and teachers to raise the 

level of awareness of the risks associated with drug use. Over the last four months 28 trained 

volunteers of the Fund have conducted 24 trainings on HIV/AIDS prevention targeting 364 local teens 

and their parents and teachers. As a result of the increased awareness, three Drug Prevention Centers 

were established in city schools to continue promoting a healthy lifestyle among Astana youth. 

1