U.S. Assistance to Kazakhstan – Fiscal Year 2006

The U.S. assistance program seeks to help Kazakhstan diversify its economic growth, enhance the management of the country's oil wealth, narrow regional and income disparities among the population, and solidify its role as an economic reform leader in Central Asia . A broad range of security and law enforcement programs support Kazakhstan 's partnership in the Global War on Terrorism and improve its abilities to fight narcotics trafficking and protect its borders. U.S. assistance efforts support health reform and promote primary health care, maternal and child health care, and the reduction of infectious diseases rates.

In Fiscal Year 2006, the estimated $50.43 million budgeted by all U.S. Government agencies for assistance programs in Kazakhstan is allocated roughly as follows based on information available as of the date of this fact sheet:

Democracy programs in Kazakhstan support efforts to strengthen civil society, foster human rights, improve political processes and government institutions, and encourage independent media and public advocacy. Democracy assistance also supports anti-trafficking in persons programs. U.S. Government assistance provides non-governmental media outlets with legal expertise and business management training, promotes an enabling environment for free media, and supports local advocacy efforts for freedom of speech. Legal education activities improve training for law students through moot courts and street law programs. Rule of law programs strengthen the skills of the judiciary to manage jury trials, increase transparency, and improve court recording procedures. Small grant programs provide indigenous NGOs with resources to promote civil society, human rights, youth leadership and development, local government accountability, freedom of speech, and independent media.

Training and exchange programs reach out to the next generation of Kazakhstani leaders and give them first-hand experience with the day-to-day functioning of a market-based, democratic system. Last year, the U.S. Government sent 257 Kazakhstani citizens to the United States on a wide array of academic and professional exchange and training programs. Since 1993, the U.S. Government has funded the travel of over 5,000 Kazakhstani citizens to the United States through these programs.

Social sector assistance aims to empower citizens and encourage community development in southern Kazakhstan near the Uzbekistan border. Assistance programs work to solve local issues through involvement in small-scale infrastructure projects such as school and health clinic rehabilitation. U.S. assistance is helping the Government of Kazakhstan to make fundamental changes in primary healthcare systems by improving the efficiency and quality of patient services and health care management. The U.S. Government also trains medical professionals to improve the quality of maternal and child health care. Infectious disease programs are building capacity for improved diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, and also improving surveillance systems and helping to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Market reform programs focus on Kazakhstan 's economic and trade policy reforms and diversification of the economy beyond the oil sector. Assistance spans improvements in business climate, development of small and medium enterprises, and expansion of to microfinance access for rural areas. U.S. assistance programs also support WTO accession, reform of customs procedures, trade facilitation, and business and economics education, including a Russian-language accounting certification program. Additionally, the U.S. Government funds legal assistance to farmers for land-related issues. In 2006, the U.S. and Kazakh governments announced the Program for Economic Development (PED). This new bilateral arrangement will increase Government of Kazakhstan contributions to economic growth programs.

Also in the area of market reform, the U.S. Government is facilitating the development of a transparent, competitive regional electricity market in Central Asia . This will help to increase electricity trade and support the introduction of market-based solutions for regional energy sales. This program is bolstered by the provision of partially-guaranteed loans by the Development Credit Authority Program to private firms for implementation of energy saving measures.

Shifting focus away from the earlier priority area of nuclear dismantlement activities, security assistance aims to secure civilian nuclear material, safeguard dangerous pathogens and expertise, and help Kazakhstan control its expansive borders and pipelines. The program to secure and safeguard spent fuel from Kazakhstan 's plutonium breeder reactor at Aktau is on schedule for completion in 2010. The Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) program will continue working with Kazakhstani officials to improve their ability to detect, interdict, and prevent shipments of conventional and WMD weapon components, and other illicit items. This is accomplished through provision of training and equipment to the border dervices, customs authorities, and other agencies. The U.S. Government assists Kazakhstan in securing biological pathogens and conducts peaceful joint research and disease surveillance activities employing Kazakhstani biological and chemical scientists. The U.S. Government funds various other security related programs including; Science Centers, Bio-Chem Redirect and Bio-Industry Initiative programs, and works through the multilateral International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) in Moscow to engage scientists from the former Soviet Union in transparent, sustainable, and cooperative civilian research projects. The U.S. also funds nonproliferation assistance to Kazakhstan through the Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF). The Foreign Military Financing and International Military Education & Training programs provide NATO and Coalition inter-operable equipment and training to the Ministry of Defense in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

Law enforcement programs provide assistance to combat money laundering, narcotics smuggling and trafficking in persons. The Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) supports the construction of internal inspection points for interdiction of narcotics, enhances Interior Ministry investigative skills, trains and equips border guards, and assists in the drafting and implementation of anti-money laundering legislation. INL supports projects in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to upgrade border control facilities and to train investigators, prosecutors, and judges on combating trafficking in persons.

In addition to the above mentioned sectoral activities, approximately 120 Peace Corps Volunteers work throughout Kazakhstan providing basic education and fostering NGO development.