“DIALOGUE INITIATIVE” PROGRAM (DI)

Announces a call for applications with regard to Grant program

for coalitions of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) implementing advocacy projects in the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK)

BRIEF PROGRAM OUTLINE

In April 2007 Counterpart International started implementing a 3-year “Dialogue Initiative” Program in Kazakhstan, designed to construct a dialogue between the state structures and organizations of the Civil Society in the field of implementation of democratic reforms in the RK. Counterpart International works on this program together with the following Kazakhstani and international partners: Association of Civil Society Development (ARGO), Internews Kazakhstan and Urban Institute.

Program implies implementation of the 3 main objectives:

  • To increase access of the citizens to information and host public discussions with regard to democratization of the RK.
  • To expand cooperation between public institutes and civil society/NGO.
  • To support of implementation of the activity designed to protect and promote interests of the RK citizens. For more information please visit our site: Counterpart International, ARGO, Internews Kazakhstan and Urban Institute are the partners for this program.

Main activities of the Program:

  • Creation of Advisory Council on issues of democratic development.
  • Organization of the national and oblast level public discussions.
  • Training seminars for journalists, NGO and the state officers.
  • Publication of informational and analytical brochures.
  • Conduction of a research on issues of democracy development.
  • Development of indicators with regard to democratic reforms.
  • Arrangement of trainings for NGO representatives, local authorities and state structures in Eastern-European countries.
  • Capacity building of analytical centers and organizations.
  • Support of interactive web-site dedicated to democratic reforms in the RK.
  • Grant programs for NGOs and Mass Media, which are aimed at conducting research, informing community and Advocacy.

Grant program for conducting Advocacy campaign on a national level

This Grant program is intended to support activities of coalitions of NGOs, which possess potential and interest in implementation of Advocacy campaigns on a national level. The projected Advocacy campaign should touch upon issues which are important for community on a level of a republic and it should be implemented by organizations having an expanded circle of stakeholders. At the same time they need to demonstrate how this campaign may help to increase the number of members through expansion of the circle of stakeholders.

Within the framework of this program, projects in the following fields of activity shall be supported:

  • Rule of law.
  • Local authority development.
  • Improvement of legislation on NGOs.
  • Freedom of speech.
  • Prevention of corruption.
  • Other topics, which contribute to democracy development in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Each application must satisfy the following criteria:

  • Application must be presented by the main organization on behalf of a coalition of NGOs interested in democratic development of Kazakhstan.The winners of the competition shall be the grant recipients.
  • Issue of Advocacy campaign must be aimed at facilitation of democratic reforms.
  • Application must include a detailed strategy on involvement of state bodies in Advocacy activity.
  • Topic of the contemplated Advocacy campaign must have grounds in a form of preliminary research, assessment of the fact of the presence of a problem and the key aspectsthereof.
  • Application should contain professional communication and media plans with regard to Advocacy Campaign.
  • Successful candidates should make a minimal obligatory input and/or arrange co-financing from other sources at the rate of40% of the requested amount to cover the project expenses in the form of money, materialor labor recourses.

Criteria set for applying organizations:

  1. Applying organization should have official juridical registration within the territory of the RK.
  2. Mission and the goals of this organization should facilitate advocacy and protect the rights of the target groups.
  3. Coalitions and applications should possess corresponding potential in the field of realization of activities regarding Advocacy.

Terms of the contest:

1. Contest shall be conducted in 2 stages. These stages each shall be finalized by the Grant Committee, consisting of independent experts.

  • In the course of the first stage Letters of Interest shall be considered (deadline for submission November 15, 2007)
  • Organizations which have successfully overcome the first stage shall present an application form with the full package of documents (deadline for submission November 30, 2007)
  1. Documents shall be filled out either in Russian or Kazakh language.Forms of the Letter of Interest and Application are enclosed.
  2. Project duration – not more than 12 months.
  3. Maximal amount of grants – 20 000 US dollars.

Filled Application forms marked “For Dialogue Initiative Program”should be sent either by:

  1. Address: 050057, Almaty, Jandossov St., 36
  2. Fax:7-727-250-19-49
  3. E-mail:

Please make sure that Application documentation has been properly received and issued a registration number via the following phone number: 7-727-250-19-50 ext. 225.

 Coalition is a temporary association of independent organizationsor entities, which have a common goal and combine their efforts, time, human, material resources among others in order to influence organizations or structures. Having said this, all of the coalition members preserve their autonomy.