NGOs & Civil Society

The growth of civil society has been one of the most significant trends in international development. Partnerships amongst governments, businesses and civil society organizations (CSOs) are increasingly seen as one of the most effective ways to raise standards of living and achieve sustainable development. The World Bank in Tajikistan is trying to engage in a more effective dialogue with CSOs during preparation of Country Partnership Strategies and on other major development issues, including fiscal policies, economic reform, private sector development, governance, etc. It organizes regular presentations and consultations with CSOs to make its program more transparent and inclusive. In addition, the World Bank runs annual Grant Program under the Civil Society Fund (previously known as the "Small Grants Program"), which serves as a complementary instrument to its regular operations, targeted at development of the civil society in its client countries.

CIVIL SOCIETY FUND PROGRAM  (formerly known as Small Grants Program) 

The World Bank's Civil Society Fund Program (CSFP) was created to promote dialogue and disseminate information on  development, and to enhance partnerships with the civil society. The CSFP aims to empower marginalized and vulnerable groups to give them a voice in development processes.

The World Bank Office in Tajikistan has been allocating grants to civil society organizations under the  Civil Society Fund Program (CSFP) since 2002, when this global program was first launched in Tajikistan.  To date, the local NGOs and civil society organizations had received more than USD 220 throusand in grants for a broad range of activities aimed at civic engagement of the most marginalized and vulnerable groups. In total, 55 projects have been funded.

Projects funded under the Civil Society Fund Program in Tajikistan range from those supporting farmers through dissemination of information on land use rights, piloting student self-governance in secondary schools, dissemination of legal information on labor migration to projects promoting integration of disabled children into the society,  broadening access of the target groups to up-to-date global information through use of Internet technologies, and others.

The application and selection process for this year's round of the Civil Society Fund Program is by now closed. Please read our press release on its results.  

Brief description of projects that were funded under the Program in 2009 is available here.

The guidelines and application form of the Civil Society Fund Program 2009 are posted here:

CSFP Guidelines for Civil Society Organizations- doc. 147 KB

CSFP Application Form - doc. 66 KB

We also recommend to get familiar with this Short Course to get more information on effective proposal writing.

YOUTH INITIATIVES

In August 2006, the World Bank, jointly with other donors, supported the  Central Asia Regional Youth Summer Camp “Youth Participation in Country and Regional Development” held in “Tau Samal” mountain health resort near Almaty, Kazakhstan. More than 120 representatives of youth organizations from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan took part in the Camp, as well as representatives of government agencies from five Central Asia countries, and guests from Russia, Turkey, and Macedonia.  The Youth Summer Camp has been organized by the “Association of Young Leaders of Kazakhstan” with support from the World Bank, Eurasia Foundation in Kazakhstan, Soros Foundation in Tajikistan, UNDP and UNICEF in Uzbekistan, and USAID in Turkmenistan.

The goal of this Camp was to provide forum for young people to exchange ideas and discuss ways and mechanisms for youth participation in the development and decision-making processes for reaching Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Central Asia countries. Youth in Central Asia countries comprise more than 40% of the total population and undoubtedly represent the future of their countries and the region.

Please read the full story  here.