On April 10 the Community Outreach Coordinator participated in a videoconference organized by 

the Almaty regional office of the World Bank. The meeting sought to exchange expertise in 

assessment of innovative projects. He subsequently participated in the World Bank's Grant 

Committee meeting on April 15 to examine semi final proposals for innovative projects. Based on 

his solid input at this country level meeting, he was invited by the World Bank to participate in 

the Regional Grant Committee Meeting held in Bishkek from May 20 23. 25 of 50 projects 

proposed by Central Asian NGOs were granted with financial support from the World Bank. In 

addition to the committee meeting, the Community Outreach Coordinator participated in the 

conference Country Innovation Day and workshop Approaches to Community Development. 

The Community Outreach Coordinator served as a respondent during the interview process for the 

organizational assessment conducted by Alexey Kuz'min from the CSSC ECOCENTER. 

Eric Boyle, Country Advisor of the Urban Institute and the Country Director discussed their 

respective programs.  

Working with Counterpart Washington, program staff and Zhalghas Counterpart developed the 

project proposals Managing Ethnic Diversity in Kazakhstan and submitted it to the State 

Department. 

The Country Director met with the AED Deputy Regional Director, Mr. Dennis Lee and Country 

Director, Ms. Dinara Adil, to discuss changes in the AED training program, including new 

requirements and criteria, and recommend a list of suggested trainings for the next year.  

On May 16 the Senior Program Officer participated in the grant committee meeting of the Urban 

Institute (UI). There were six themes/components covered by the UI/Almaty Grants Program: 1) 

media competition; 2) local partnership projects; 3) public policy development; 4) evaluation of 

community based economic development councils; 5) new training modules development by 

Regional Training Centers; and 6) best practices by Consumers Cooperatives. 

In the end of May, the Senior Program Officer participated in meetings between the US 

Ambassador Larry Napper and local NGOs to discuss human rights.  

On May 30 the Community Outreach Coordinator met with Ms. Jamankulova of INTRAC to 

discuss the potential for partnership and collaboration for community development and its 

research. 

On May 27 the Senior Program Officer met with representatives and volunteers of the US Peace 

Corps and presented Counterpart's new program on Civil Society Support Initiative in Central 

Asia. On May 30, the Senior Program Officer met with Nikolai Slabzhanin, Coordinator of UN 

Volunteers to discuss cooperation with their regional centers and the status of volunteerism in 

Kazakhstan. 

From June 2 6 the Country Director visited Atyrau to collect data about local NGOs and their 

activities and assess the potential for opening a new CSSC in or near Atyrau.  

On June 3, the Project/Report Designer participated in Eurasia Foundation's Ten Years 

Anniversary Conference Central Asia & Civil Society, 1993   2003: A Cross Roots Perspectives. 

On June 6 the OD Coordinator and Zhalghas Director participated in a donor roundtable on Social 

Partnership organized by INTRAC. Among the participants were also representatives of the 

Support Centers of Oskemen and Qostanai.  

The Country Director traveled to Aqtobe and met with 15 local NGOs and CBOs to discuss the 

CSSC's role in civil society development in the region.  

The Country Director met with representatives of the University of Michigan to develop 

implementation plans for their joint project.  

The Country Director attended a roundtable organized by the UN Drug & Crime Control office 

and Almaty City Akimat and presented Counterpart's new program for the support of healthy 

lifestyles.  

On June 16, the Community Outreach Coordinator participated in a meeting of NGOs organized 

by the Volunteer House of Soros Foundation and the UN Volunteer Service to develop an action 

plan on Volunteerism Development. This action plan will be discussed further at the Civil Forum 

of Kazakhstan to be held in September 2003. 

75