epf presentation for sida
TRANSCRIPT
Eurasia Partnership Foundation:
A Strategic Partner in the
South CaucasusStockholm, 2010
To empower people to effect change through hands-on programs, helping them to improve their communities and their lives.
EPF’s Mission
EPF: History
1992 Eurasia Foundation (EF) is founded and incorporated in Washington, D.C.
1993 First grants from Washington, DC office benefiting local organizations.
1995 Offices in Armenia and Georgia begin operations.
1997 Azerbaijan office opens.
1998 South Caucasus Cooperation Program SCCP is established to increase cooperation between Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia.
2002 With funding from Carnegie Corporation of New York, EF establishes the Caucasus Research Resource Centers (CRRC)
2007 Eurasia Partnership Foundation EPF is launched
EPF in Georgia becomes a strategic partner to Sida
Proven CapacityFrom the time of its establishment until the
registration of EPF as local foundation in 2007,
EF invested nearly $80 million in the South Caucasus
Since 1993, Eurasia Foundation and the network invested $365 million
Armenia: GIND Printing House 1997 A profitable company responsible for 50 percent of
the newspapers circulated in Armenia. It has effectively
introduced competition to the newspaper printing
market in the country
EF purchased a four-color printing press
By 2005, GIND repaid its $350,000 loan
Cafesjian Family Foundation donated additional
pre press equipment and software, and a computer-
to-plate system through EF to Gind
EPF’s 2010 Programs
Youth Leadership Development Freedom of Expression, Media and
Democracy in Armenia Transparency in Municipal Service Delivery
in Azerbaijan Cross- border cooperation Caucasus Research Resource Centers Europe’s Eastern Partnership Program
Relevance: EPF’s Objectives
Like Sida, EPF promotes:Freedom of ExpressionEuropean and Democratic ValuesTransparency and AccountabilityCivil Society DevelopmentCross-Border Cooperation
Systems for Guiding and Control Governance structure: local expertise,
international Board of Trustees Unique regional joint strategy
development Over 15 years of experience in Grant-
making Increasing number of Operating Programs
Governance Structure
Governance: International Board of TrusteesHorton Beebe-Center Eurasia Foundation Director
Dieter Boden OSCE Ambassador
Andrew Coxshall KPMG Tbilisi
Sabine Freizer International Crisis Group Europe Director
David Lawrence Lee MagtiCom Tbilisi
Danielle del Marmolle Belgian Ambassador, ret.
Daniel Matthews Baker and McKenzie Baku
Margaret Richardson IRS Commissioner, ret.
Mary Sheehan International Organization for Migration
Roy Southworth World Bank Tbilisi, ret.
Jonathan Stark Cascade Capital Holdings, Yerevan
Daniel Tarschys Council of Europe President, ret.
Kenneth Yalowitz US Ambassador, ret.
Dr. Daniel Tarschys
Strategy Development
The only South Caucasus entity with a united strategy jointly developed by offices in Yerevan, Tbilisi and
Baku
Flexible
Evidence-based
Innovative
Standards of excellence
Transparent
Attuned to local needs
Operating Programs
EPF directly manages project activities Increasing focus on operating programs EPF as a convener Larger-scale, sustained interventions Leverage small achievements for long term,
sustainable impact
Grants Management
EPF is a regional leader in grants management
Building local capacity Proven systems for grant awards,
monitoring Usually $5,000 to $35,000, with
occasional grants up to $50,000
Open Door Grants
Flexible and demand-driven Unsolicited proposals reviewed on a
rolling basis New and innovative pilot projects Daring, experimental ideas
Grant Review Process
2-page inquiry Full proposal Due diligence Independent Advisory
Committee review Pre-award site visit Grants Management Seminar Ongoing monitoring and reporting
Cross-Border Strategies
Build linkages across borders Citizens and professionals with common
interests: from journalists to seismologists EPF operating programs build ties Organizations submit joint proposals
Today’s Challenges: Azerbaijan Declining donor support Democracy backsliding Increasing control over Civil Society:
NGO law Freedom of Expression routinely curbed,
journalists attacked Corruption and lack of transparency
Low Trust toward NGOs: Azerbaijan
Little Trust in Media: Armenia and Azerbaijan
Demonstrated Capacity: What Have we Achieved in 15 years in Azerbaijan? Support for Freedom of Expression &
Access to Information Transparency of Local Governments Youth Engagement – Next Generation for
Democracy
Azerbaijan: Access to Information 20 municipalities
now involve citizens in public hearings
Meetings with constituencies
Budget-related information shared
Public Hearing
Azerbaijan: Transparency in Municipal Service Delivery
Over 100 “municipal indicators” that measure the performance of local governments
Improving citizen participation
Small grants for meetings with constituents, sharing budget information and research
Strategic plans that include input from local citizens Training in Barda
Youth Leadership
Decision-makers from disadvantaged
Communities:
Address community
problems themselves Accountable, transparent
small grants programs Become active citizens Express themselves Become leaders
Today’s Challenges: Armenia Civil Society under-
developed and not trusted
Deteriorating human rights
Limitations on Freedom of Expression
Conflict as an excuse for the lack of democracy and transparency
LowTrust Towards NGOs: Armenia
Demonstrated Capacity: What Have we Achieved in 15 years in Armenia?
Transparency and Accountability Freedom of Expression Youth Engagement
Armenia Anti-corruption 2008 Series of talk shows on
corruption
Weekly reports on municipal
transparency
Freedom of Information requests: overwhelming municipalities and state agencies with information requests
Drivers’ licensing reform, transparent walls
of the test room
Armenian Regional Print Media 2007
25 regional newspapers
Improvedmanagement,
design, editing, photo-
journalism.
3 newspaper websites
created and sustained
Europe Program: 2009 What is EU? Manuals on Europe How to assure that civil society is
taking part in EU-Armenia relations?
How to reform one University in light of the Bologna process?
2010 • Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement • Visa Facilitation• Food security and standards
Freedom of Expression Article 27 Talk Show 2009:
Checking and challenging the boundaries of
what is ‘acceptable’ to be discussed on TV
Giving a chance to ‘opposition’ film-makers to
express themselves
Targeting the issues of corruption; tradition;
democratic values; government’s irresponsibility
Service to the Government: Armenia is not as
closed a society as it may seem
Making people learn how to be protagonists
and entrepreneurs of FoE
2010 Increase opportunities for public discussion of FoE and FoI issues outside the capital Regional TV stations network provides more pluralistic information The entire country will learn about the FoE and FoI issues in the regions Some issues will be addressed and solved.
Youth Bank: Examples 49 committee members work with 500 young people; 9 regions; 64 micro
projects; 30 000 USD in 2 years Sports club making USD380 AMD monthly Food Bank charity action in 2 towns helped 49 families with food at Easter holidays,
42 volunteers Exhibition sales generated USD250 to support needy students in Armavir Support local tourism promotion by installing drinking water pipeline in the area of
old chapel An exhibition-sales of young craftsmen’s work was organized for Yeghegnadzor
community
Human Rights 2010
New generation of HR activists inthe regions
How to fill in the cases for European Court Of Human Rights
Demonstrated Capacity: What Have we Achieved in
15 years?
Cross-Border Cooperation!
Armenia-Azerbaijan Media Bias Reduction CLICHÉS AND STEREOTYPES
In Armenian mass media
Armenia does not regard the issues of territorial integrity and inviolability of borders, included in the protocols, in any reference to the problem of NK.
The statements made by Turkish leaders in regard to considering the interests of Azerbaijan during the signing of the protocols, have the aim of ‘comforting the junior brother’ and are addressed exceptionally to the audience of that country.
In Azerbaijani mass media
Improvement of Armenian -Turkish relations impairs the process of the settlement of Karabakh conflict.
Turkish-Armenian protocols will not come in effect before the Karabakh conflict is settled.
Armenian-Turkish Initiatives 95% of all the illegal Armenian
workers in Turkey are women workers;
Schoolchildren with Armenian citizenship cannot go to school.
When a child of an illegal Armenian couple is born in Turkey, the parents can’t apply for the citizenship
for their child They were full of mistrust to Turks
before they came to Turkey. Their
attitudes drastically change shortly after they arrive.
Media Bias: Viewpoints
In Turkish Press 28% of the articles have
one viewpoint
28 % of the articles have two viewpoints
17 % of the articles have three viewpoints
In Armenian Press 50.3% of the articles
have one viewpoint
9.6% of the articles have two viewpoints
9.4% of the articles have three & more viewpoints
Youth Bank 2010: Armenia-Azerbaijan Youth meet in Tbilisi 2-3 times in 2010 to take a conflict
transformation course, identify issues of common interest and design joint projects
Youth Banks become a way to build trust between youth groups across the conflict divide
Why EPF?
A unique and lasting regional institution
Combination of local knowledge and international expertise
Strong systems and governance Proven capacity Shared vision & objectives
Why a Strategic Partnership? Bolster connections between the three
countries of the South Caucasus Balance and focus Sida’s commitment to
the South Caucasus region Expand Sida’s strategic partnership with
EPF-Georgia