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USAID Information:
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Turkmenistan
SNAPSHOT
Date of independence: 1991
Capital: Ashgabat
Population: 4.9 million (2006)
Income Per Person: $8,500 (PPP)
Source: World Bank Development Indicators 2007
USAID IN TURKMENISTAN
http://centralasia.usaid.gov
CONTACTS
Regional Mission Director
William Frej
USAID/Central Asia
41 Kazibek bi St,
Almaty, Kazakhstan 050010
Tel: 7-327-250-79-12
Ashley Moretz
Country Program Officer
USAID
Business Center, A Block
1 Yunis Emre St, "Mir 2/1"
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 744017
Tel: 993-12-456-130
Bob Wallin
Central Asia Team Leader
Tel: 202-712-0141
Email: bowallin@usaid.gov
 At first, Aysoltan Halitova, a family physician from Mary Province, was skeptical about the practices she learned through USAID's Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) training. The program aims to reduce the most common causes of death among young children by providing doctors with evidence-based tools to assess and manage childhood illness. When Halitova's young son fell ill with pneumonia, she put her training to work. His quick recovery convinced the doctor to use IMCI-recommended methods for all her young patients. More than 800 Turkmen physicians have been trained on IMCI since 2002.
Overview
Turkmenistan is a strategically important state that can play a key role in promoting the South-Central Asia integration initiative. Turkmenistan shares borders with countries of interest to the United States, such as Afghanistan and Iran, and its large hydrocarbon reserves make it a pivotal potential supplier for regional and world markets. Recently, Turkmenistan has become more active in economic, health care, and education reforms and has expressed interest in adopting more international practices. Nevertheless, the country’s civic enfranchisement and engagement are in their initial stages, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) still face difficult registration rules, and firm control keeps civil society advocates in check. The USAID program in Turkmenistan supports private sector (primarily agriculture), civil society, education, and health reforms.
Programs
Economic Growth: Private Sector Development
USAID works to establish the capacity and infrastructure to support sustainable economic development and growth through programs that enhance agribusiness and both secondary and professional education. A USAID-supported project improves the agriculture sector by building competitiveness and strengthening the value chain for domestic, regional, and international markets. To improve rural incomes, this one-year project is helping to link farmers and agribusinesses with agricultural markets, produce better products, and deliver consistent quality products to local and regional markets. USAID also supports the Russian-language Certified International Professional Accountant program, which seeks to build local capacity to meet the technical and professional standards of the accounting profession. The program has trained over 1,300 Turkmens in international accounting standards since its inception. USAID funds an economic education program for secondary school students, which provides teacher training, develops teaching materials, and organizes youth events to promote entrepreneurship. In 2007, this program benefited over 3,000 students. Exchanges within the region and to the United States foster greater understanding of private sector development, macrofinance, and business education.
Investing in People: Health Care and Education
USAID works to establish and institutionalize health reform in Turkmenistan, with a focus on quality maternal and child health services. Through the summer of 2008, more than 500 obstetricians, pediatricians, family doctors, and administrators in maternity facilities have received training on safer pregnancy and effective perinatal care. To improve the management of childhood illnesses, USAID has trained nearly 3,000 doctors and nurses in the integrated management of childhood diseases, neonatal and antenatal care, and other skills. USAID has reached over 300,000 mothers and small children with community health education across the country. USAID programs support the World Health Organization–recommended strategy for tuberculosis (TB) control, including improvements in laboratory quality assurance and advanced laboratory techniques. With USAID assistance, new TB control and treatment methods are now available to 90 percent of the population. Additionally, USAID helps improve blood screening to reduce the transmission of HIV and other blood-borne diseases and assists the Ministry of Health with its national HIV/AIDS strategy. USAID also supports the Government of Turkmenistan’s efforts to combat avian influenza.
Governing Justly and Democratically: Active Citizenry
USAID supports the development of civil society at the community level through training, technical assistance, and access to legal information. This includes co-funding for small-scale community projects to meet local economic development needs, as well as assistance to strengthen relations between communities and their local governments. In 2007, 50 communities strengthened their organization skills and interaction with local authorities on solving issues of local importance. USAID also works with local organizations to expand legal advice to NGOs, the media, and other organizations. Through hotlines, a referral network, a mobile legal clinic, and professional skills development, USAID expanded access to legal advice for more than 1,800 people in 2007 alone. Through support to 11 public access Internet sites, USAID enabled over 9,000 people across the country to access information through the Internet. Additionally, USAID offers home stay–based exchange opportunities in the United States for Turkmenistan’s business, community, and local government leaders to build lasting linkages.
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