Community-driven initiatives benefit a spectrum of residents
Traditionally, women in Kazakhstan do not play a prominent role in public decision-making. Aisulu Duisbayeva was motivated to break this tradition and become involved in community affairs by the Dostyk village first aid station, which lacked the capacity to provide for even its current roll of patients. Aisulu sought better service for the 2,500 beneficiaries of the health center and began working with USAID to rehabilitate the building, supply basic medical equipment, and install a new heating system. More...
Office of Democracy and Governance
USAID
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Tel: 202-712-1892
CIVIL SOCIETY ENABLING LEGAL ENVIRONMENT: The Division offers a global mechanism to protect and promote civic space through the legal and regulatory frameworks governing NGOs and CSOs. The NGO Legal Enabling Environment Program (LEEP) provides technical assistance in order to assess the legal environment, conduct legal analysis and make constructive recommendations in response to potentially restrictive legislation and to opportunities for favorable legal and regulatory reform. In addition, a research fellowship component and a field-based research component seek to strengthen local capacity in this important area.
GLOBAL CIVIL SOCIETY STRENGTHENING (GCSS): The Division manages the GCSS LWA to strengthen civic engagement, advocacy, and public dialogue between government and citizens, and includes technical leadership activities aimed at enhancing the capacity of USAID and identified stakeholders to promote civil society worldwide.
CIVIC EDUCATION: The Division manages the Civic Education Partnership Initiative (CEPI) in partnership with MEPI and the USAID Office of Education. CEPI brings together proponents of civic education in the Middle East and the U.S. to develop civic education modules for schools, teacher training colleges and universities. One product is a web-based civic education resource inventory accessible worldwide.
LABOR: The Division manages a global labor union and NGO strengthening program that is active in 21 countries. In coordination with the State Department/DRL, the Division is sponsoring analytical work to develop a suite of technical tools to better understand and address issues in the labor sector, and promotes the adoption and implementation of core labor standards in developing countries through labor unions and trade agreements, and in supporting anti-sweatshop initiatives through civil society training, monitoring and advocacy.
MEDIA SUSTAINABILITY INDEX: With support from the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), the Division has spearheaded the expansion of the Media Sustainability Index (MSI) to measure the media environment in the Middle East and North Africa region. By May 2008, the MSI will become available for a combined total of 78 national or territorial media systems including 39 newly-added countries in Africa.
NEW MEDIA: The Division is maintaining a technical capacity for providing rapid customized assistance in the use of new media tools to media and civil society organizations. The assistance will enable organizations to advance their communication and/or coordination objectives. The Division is also developing a public-private partnership focused on using new media and ICT technology to strengthen youth’s civic and life skills.
NGO SUSTAINABILITY INDEX FOR AFRICA: The Division is leading the expansion of USAID’s “NGO Sustainability Index for Central & Eastern Europe & Eurasia” to other regions. In 2010, the Division, in partnership with the Africa Bureau, launched an Index for 15 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and formed of an alliance that further expands the Index in Africa and Asia. The first publication of the Index for Africa will be produced in summer 2010.
