Foreign Operations Appropriated Assistance*
Fiscal Year (FY) 2007: $67.24 Million (M) ($58.39M FSA, $8.85M Other)
Estimate FY 2008: $78.04M ($71.64M FSA, $6.40M Other)**
Assistance Goals: It is in the United States’ interest that Russia becomes a more democratic, vibrant, and stable geopolitical partner that increasingly moves towards a free-market, democratic system built on checks and balances. U.S. assistance aims to help build capacity of government and civil society in Russia as strong and effective partners in areas of common interest, fully integrated into the international community.
Areas of Focus (Foreign Operations Appropriated Assistance):
Governing Justly and Democratically (GJD): FY 2007: $34.17M; Est. FY 2008: $40.65M
- Increase public access to independent regional media, think tanks and NGOs;
- Bolster the rule of law by building up an independent judiciary and increasing access to legal defense and legal education services;
- Bolster NGOs to increase civic participation and respect for human rights;
- Promote public oversight and policy involvement in local government.
Peace and Security (PS): FY 2007: $4.66M; Est. FY 2008: $11.2 8M
- Prevent and prosecute trafficking in persons crimes and protect victims through legislative initiatives and improved victims’ services;
- In the North Caucasus: Assist Internally Displaced Persons, promote tolerance and job creation, provide psychosocial assistance to traumatized families;
- Prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and strengthen cooperation between Russian, American and international experts;
- Increase the Russian military’s ability to work with U.S. and NATO forces.
Investing in People (IIP): FY 2007: $24.01M: Est. FY 2008: $26.12M
- Create model programs to help Russia improve child and maternal health, address the spread of infectious diseases, and strengthen health systems;
- Increase HIV prevention and care programs; Support an enhanced Bratislava Initiative, which promotes U.S.-Russian cooperation to combat HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases in third countries;
- Improve welfare systems to reduce child abandonment and institutionalization.
Economic Growth (EG): FY 2007: $3.22M; Est. FY 2008: 0
- Promote better business practices and support bilateral partnerships.
Recent Successes:
- Helped NGOs meet new federal registration requirements;
- USG programs and exchanges facilitated new judicial ethics codes and improved models for case management and transparent court administration;
- Led to the formation of Golos, an independent Russian NGO network with 40 affiliate offices that monitors elections;
- USG-sponsored programs involved over 140 independent newspapers from 54 regions to improve journalistic standards and help form regional networks;
- Increased the capability of local governments to respond to public input, administer social services and delegate responsibility to NGOs;
- U.S.-Russian law enforcement cooperation has increased in the areas of prosecuting trafficking in persons, child pornography and financial fraud;
- New National HIV medical curriculum based on USG-supported HIV/AIDS model curriculum was introduced in St. Petersburg.
*Division J of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Act: Department of State Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008, including FSA, CSH, NADR, IMET and Foreign Military Financing (FMF).
**Estimate from FY 2009 Congressional Budget Justification; Website: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/101440.pdf.
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Russia: Est. FY 2008 USD Thousands
|
Total For. Ops. Accounts** |
$78,042 |
FREEDOM Support Act:
|
$71,640 |
Child Survival and Health (CSH): |
$4,296 |
Non-proliferation, Anti-terrorism, De-mining and Related Programs (NADR):
|
$1,500 |
International Military Education and Training (IMET):
|
$606 |
|