Connection with Donors Is Enlarging 

Financial sustainability is one of the most important issues for NGOs and initiative groups of the 

Akhal velayt and Ashgabat city. One of the basic sources of NGO financing is grant pools. In 

Turkmenistan the number of donor organizations is limited, and the Ashgabat CSSC takes great care 

to assist NGOs and initiative groups in their search for potential donors by: updating their database of 

donor organizations; publishing monthly digests; hosting regular Informational Club meetings; 

facilitating meetings with donor organizations to familiarize NGOs with new grant programs and 

fundraising opportunities; and providing NGOs with consultations on projects design and proposal 

writing. In January the World Bank presented its small grants program and contest for innovative 

ideas with the assistance from the Ashgabat CSSC. Representatives of 42 NGOs were present and 

expressed great interest in the new program. Twenty organizations developed project proposals with 

consultative help from the Ashgabat CSSC, and five projects were supported by the Word Bank Grant 

Committee. Similar activities are carried out by the Ashgabat CSSC to assist the NGOs in project 

design and proposal writing for submission to the Democracy Fund of US Embassy, the British 

Embassy, the Fund of the Netherlands, Eurasia Foundation, and the Women's Global Fund.  

Volunteerism 

New Opportunities  

The Lebap CSSC, seeking to improve volunteer involvement in NGO activities, recruited a team of 47 

volunteers. The system of effective volunteer management developed by the CSSC is a process that 

includes volunteer recruitment, orientation, and creating incentives. Some of the incentives include: 

free English Language Courses; computer training; free access to the Internet; and rewards for 

excellent volunteers. The activities of volunteers vary tremendously and the idea of volunteerism has 

become widely adopted.. In one case, a team of 9 volunteers has been actively involved in Lebap 

NGOs activities by organizing activities such as a Contest for Turkmenabat Best Embroider; two 

sports competitions for disabled children, a crafts fair to support a local orphanage, a Novruz Bayram 

holiday celebration for Aged People Center, a seminar on conflict resolution, and a film about NGO 

activities. Additionally the Lebap CSSC volunteers help clients to use e mail, Internet resources, 

computers and other office equipment, search for information, and translate materials. Having 

originally started as just CSSC's helpmates, the volunteers are now capable of working independently 

developing and implementing new creative ideas and initiatives. To increase the effectiveness of the 

job being done, the volunteers work out the rules and procedures for them to distribute responsibilities 

and manage the process.  

Social Partnership 

Strengthen of the relations  

The potential for social partnership is weakened by dissociation and the lack of information about 

NGO work and achievements. In the summer 2002 Counterpart supported 10 CAG projects on 

infrastructures problem solving with community involvement and partnership development in Akhal 

velayt. The Ashgabat CSSC held a roundtable discussion in May on the  Integration of efforts of 

governmental and public organizations for local initiative development  where 22 representatives 

from local authorities, NGOs, initiative groups and communities participated. The results and 

experience from these 10 CAGs were shared and led to a productive discussion resulting in the 

creation of a Coordination Group on Social Partnership of Akhal velayt. This group, formed by 

representatives from NGOs and governmental structures, developed guidelines and a workplan. The 

first activity of the Coordination Group was to conduct a needs assessment in the four etraps of Akhal 

velayt. Next the Coordination Group began looking for a resources to solve identified problems. In 

addition to working together to address community needs, NGOs and government are now working 

together as equals.  

With care for a health  

In the recent past NGO activities have not been taken into consideration by governmental departments 

and NGOs were not recognized as a viable resource or partner. Members of Uchgun participated in 

Counterpart trainings in Social Partnership, Facilitation Skills Development, and TOT and received 

consultations on project design and proposal writing from the Dashoguz CSSC. With these skills 

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