Democracy, Governance and Social Transition
See a list of DGST Programs
Democracy
Ambassador Beyrle Meets with Youth Activists in Vladivostok
On November 18, 2008, Ambassador John Beyrle and Consul General Thomas Armbruster visited a USAID-funded youth leadership workshop in Vladivostok... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
USAID Launches Year-Long Knowledge Sharing Program for Municipalities
The USAID Civil Society Project (CSP) hosted a Knowledge Management & Sharing workshop on December 6, 2008 in Azerbaijan’s northwest city of Piral... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
TV Production Offers Visibility for Local Heroes, Training for Journalists
An estimated 980,000 Azerbaijanis have tuned in to watch “Heroes of Azerbaijan,” a half-hour, bi-weekly program supported by USAID which focuses on people and organizations working to make a difference within their communities... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
AGROPRESS Announces the Year of Women in Agribusiness
At its fourth anniversary celebration, the Association of Agricultural Journalists (AGROPRESS) continued its tradition of recognizing the two best journalists covering the agricultural sector and selecting one new honorary member... Read More ...
Related Items: Serbia, Democracy
Exchange Alumna Embraces Alternative Media as Tool for Democratization
A USAID-sponsored visit to Ohio inspired freelance journalist Zenfira Alibayova to write about her experience in a series of articles on recent trends in American media... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
USAID Partners in Russia Discuss Women in Politics
In collaboration with the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section’s Speaker Program, USAID brought together an impressive group of its implementing partners to participate in a session on “Women in Politics” that was led by Ann Stone... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Menarchik Reviews USAID Efforts in Crimea
From September 14-16, 2008, USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia Dr. Douglas Menarchik traveled to the cities of Simferopol and Sevastopol to observe USAID programming in Crimea... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Health, Democracy
Survey Finds 70% Satisfied with Macedonia Court Services
A recent public opinion survey, conducted with the help of USAID’s Judicial Reform Implementation Project (JRIP), revealed that 70 percent of customers are satisfied with court services in Macedonia... Read More ...
Related Items: Macedonia, Democracy
118 Russian Radio Stations Compete at Together Radio Festival
More than 250 radio professionals from 118 radio stations in 67 cities across Russia competed for recognition at Together Radio, the sixth annual festival for regional radio stations... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Milestone Survey Reveals Azerbaijan’s Health Gains, Challenges
Azerbaijan’s State Statistical Committee presented findings from its first-ever Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) at a national conference in Baku on June 24, 2008... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Serbian Newspaper Earns “Freedom of the Press” Award
On World Press Freedom Day 2008 (May 3), Serbian daily Danas was awarded the prestigious Concordia award in Vienna... Read More ...
Related Items: Serbia, Democracy
“Na Chisto” Celebrates Five Years of Investigative Journalism
The USAID-supported weekly TV investigative program “Na Chisto” (Clean Slate) celebrated its fifth anniversary at a ceremony in Sofia in May 2008... Read More ...
Related Items: Bulgaria, Democracy
Washington State, Russian Far East Cities To Build Partnerships
The U.S.-Russian Far East Municipal Partnership Program, implemented by the Foundation for Russian American Economic Cooperation (FRAEC) and funded by USAID, announced the creation in April of four new partnerships... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
“Democracy That Delivers” Highlights Transitions in Bulgaria, Western Balkans
USAID/Bulgaria and the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) organized an international conference in Sofia on May 21, 2008 entitled “Democracy That Delivers: Unlocking the Potential of Transition”... Read More ...
Related Items: Bulgaria, Democracy
USAID, Russia Collaborate on Development Aid
On May 27-28, 2008, USAID participated in an international workshop organized jointly by the
Russian Ministry of Finance and the World Bank, in coordination with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Local Leaders Pledge to Sustain Valaam Island Development Success
On April 11-13, 2008 the final conference of the Valaam–Our Common Home Project implemented by the Fund for Sustainable Development under the USAID-funded Community Development Support Project... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Northwest Azerbaijan Leaders Awarded for Community Action
On April 2, 2008 in Gakh, USAID’s Community Development Activity (CDA) hosted an awards ceremony for CDA program participants in northwest Azerbaijan... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
USAID Partner Empowers Elected Local Officials
During the week of March 17, 2008, more than 20 deputies of local legislative and representative bodies from the North Caucasus’ republics and Southern Russia participated in a training conducted by USAID partner Southern Regional Resource Center... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Democracy Review Delegation Meets with Russian NGOs
Staff from USAID/Washington and the State Department visited Krasnodar, Russia on March 30-31, 2008 to meet with a variety of NGOs, human rights activists, journalists, and judicial officials... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
USAID, Partner Present Macedonia’s Civil Society Media Awards
A free and open society is characterized by independent and responsible media on one hand, and a vibrant and active civil society on the other... Read More ...
Related Items: Macedonia, Democracy
Ukrainian City Wields E-Scissors for Cutting Red Tape
The idea of implementing individual E-government elements in Vinnytsya had already been in the air for some time when USAID’s Local Economic Development project proposed to include it into the city's Economic Development Strategic Plan... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Democracy
USAID Project to Monitor Defamation Cases
With the support of USAID and its principal implementing partner, the Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF), Media Rights Institute (MRI)—a subgrantee organization—recently completed the “Monitoring of the Legal Cases on Defamation” project... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Legislators, Auditors Unite for BiH Budgeting Efficiency
It is a frustrating fact that in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH), publicizing inefficiency or even corruption doesn’t always lead to change. Reports are written, people are informed, but no action is necessarily taken... Read More ...
Related Items: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Democracy
Film Documents Community Action Success in Serbia
“To Be Continued . . .”, an original, 30-minute documentary produced by local NGO VOF Productions offers a unique look into USAID/Serbia’s recently completed, six-year, $200+ million Community Revitalization through Democratic Action (CRDA) program... Read More ...
Related Items: Serbia, Democracy
Nurturing Voting Culture in Armenia
Promoting public diplomacy, fostering public-private partnerships across sectors, and encouraging efficient networking and collaboration among Armenian regions to advance the country’s economic reform... Read More ...
Related Items: Armenia, Democracy
BiH Investigative Stories Get World’s Attention
Contaminated food. Shady dealings by politicians. Law enforcement officials breaking the very laws they are paid to enforce... Read More ...
Related Items: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Democracy
USAID’s Parliamentary Program Links Members of Parliament
The development of active and dynamic relationships between constituencies and elected representatives is critical to the enhancement of civil society and democratic institutions in any country... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
USAID/Armenia Mobilizes Action Against Corruption
To help develop a comprehensive approach to counter corruption in Armenia, USAID’s Mobilizing Action Against Corruption (MAAC) project... Read More ...
Related Items: Armenia, Democracy
USAID Supports Kosovo Election “Firsts”
Kosovo’s historic November 2007 elections marked the first time that Kosovars elected their parliamentary representatives through open list voting and the first time that mayoral, municipal, and parliamentary elections took place on the same day... Read More ...
Related Items: Kosovo, Democracy
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan Share Economic Management Experience
In October 2007, USAID’s Public Investment Policy (PIP) Project facilitated an educational study tour for a group of six high-level officials from Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economic Development (MOED) to Astana, Kazakhstan... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Democracy
Villagers Take Action to Improve Rural Municipal Services
In the rural village of Oshtimë, Albania, water is a precious commodity. For 17 years, the 129 families that live in this village relied on two water tanks, filled once a day to water crops, wash dishes, or clean their homes... Read More ...
Related Items: Albania, Democracy
Community Action Revives Health Care in Armenian Village
Voskepar is a small community of 1,200 inhabitants in Armenia’s Tavush marz region. Local lore says that what Voskepar lacks in size, it more than makes up for with determination... Read More ...
Related Items: Armenia, Democracy
Tajikistan’s First Local Governance Survey
In July and August 2007, the USAID Local Governance and Civic Participation project partnered with Tajik government officials to conduct the first broad-scale study of local government practices in Tajikistan... Read More ...
Related Items: Tajikistan, Democracy
Armenia’s Regional Print Media Bolstered
A competitive media sector not only helps to ensure public awareness, but can also spur the growth of democracy by increasing civic participation and responsiveness... Read More ...
Related Items: Armenia, Democracy
USAID Initiates First Workshop for Azerbaijan’s Parliamentary Aides
On September 20, 2007, the first of a series of training-seminars for the newly employed assistants of members of Milli Mejlis was conducted in the Republic of Azerbaijan Milli Mejlis’ deputies building... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Moldova’s Threshold Country Program Announces Implementation Phase
On October 9, 2007, the Threshold Country Program (TCP) held an official ceremony to launch its implementation phase in Moldova. The TCP is a $24.7 million dollar program, funded by the U.S. Government... Read More ...
Related Items: Moldova, Democracy
Building Serbia’s Capacity to Plan, Explain Reforms
Since the shift to a democratic government and a market economy in 2000, Serbia has experienced strong economic growth, low inflation, higher wages, and other positive developments–though not without some ups and downs... Read More ...
Related Items: Serbia, Democracy
Investigative Reporters Expose Corruption in Bulgaria
“Na Chisto” can be translated as “to come clean,” an apt title for a USAID-funded Bulgarian television program that since 2003 has been investigating allegations of corruption in the public sector... Read More ...
Related Items: Bulgaria, Democracy
USAID Helps Political Parties Create Websites and Databases
Throughout June 2007, 30 representatives from five of Azerbaijan’s main political parties created eight websites after completing a USAID-supported web design course conducted at the IATP center in Baku... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Russian Election Commission Modernizes Voting Process
In 2006, the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) decided to go electronic. In a country as geographically vast as Russia, with 140 million citizens stretched across seven time zones and 90,000 electoral districts... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Participatory Planning Improves Community Quality of Life
For the first time in 15 years, the citizens of Poti, the third largest city in Georgia, can look forward to having a reliable supply of water—the end result of a participatory planning process that began five years ago... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Democracy
Azerbaijani Women’s Participation Exceeds Expectations
Increased efforts to ensure women’s engagement in community activities are credited with the recent turnout for Community Development Council (CDC) elections in the Davudoba community, Guba district, in northern Azerbaijan... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
U.S. Host Delegation Pays Reciprocal Visit to Georgia
The cross-cultural ties that USAID’s Community Connections (CC) program creates were demonstrated in late June when a delegation from the Center for International Understanding (CIU) paid a visit to Georgia... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Democracy
First Parliamentarian Town Hall Meeting Gets Resounding Approval
In the first meeting of its kind in Jalilabad, community members recently had a chance to voice their concerns about development priorities to their parliamentary representative in an open and public town hall gathering... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
New Generation of Kosovo’s Young Politicians Graduate
Thirty-four young politicians from 18 political parties were recently honored at a ceremony which marked the completion of the USAID-supported Party Training Academy in Kosovo... Read More ...
Related Items: Kosovo, Democracy
Cross-Border Cooperation in Balkans Gains Momentum
While some in Serbia still treat cross-border exchanges with suspicion, many others see them as they are—efforts by local governments to reform and improve their work... Read More ...
Related Items: Serbia, Democracy
U.S., Russia Sign 10-Year MOU on International Cooperation
On June 26, Ambassador Nicholas Burns and First Deputy Minister Ruslan Khadzhismelovich Tsalikov of the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) signed a new, 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Municipal Official Learns the Value of Transparent Government
Few people enjoy paying taxes, particularly if they don’t know where their money is going. Like many municipalities in Azerbaijan, municipal councilors in Piral had little experience in sharing official information, such as budget plans, with local citizens... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Government of Azerbaijan Interested in Turkish Experience
USAID’s Public Investment Policy project, in close collaboration with World Learning Incorporation and support from Turkish International Cooperation Agency, brought a delegation of 16 practitioners... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Transparency in Moldovan Governance Builds from Local Level Up
When the 120 mayors participating in USAID’s Local Government Reform Project (LGRP) assembled for a quarterly meeting, it was always a spirited occasion peppered with numerous simultaneous debates and discussions... Read More ...
Related Items: Moldova, Democracy
USAID Assistant Administrator Inaugurates One-Stop Shop
During his visit to Kosovo, USAID Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia Dr. Douglas Menarchik officially inaugurated a Citizens Service Center, also known as one-stop shop, in Suhareka/Suvareka... Read More ...
Related Items: Kosovo, Democracy
Elected Official’s Self-Advocacy Earns Her Contested Post
USAID’s Community Development Activity (CDA), implemented by CHF International, seeks to increase citizen participation in local governance through training, practical implementation of community-identified projects... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Kyrgyzstan Green-Lights USAID Decentralization Reform Effort
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and USAID signed in April 2007 allowed for the continuation of USAID’s Decentralization and Local Government Program in the Kyrgyz Republic... Read More ...
Related Items: Kyrgyzstan, Democracy
New Institution to Improve Court-Media Relations in Kazakhstan
The USAID Kazakhstan Judicial Assistance Project recently helped to create the “Bench-Media Forum of Kazakhstan” to facilitate continued dialogue between the members of the judiciary and the media... Read More ...
Related Items: Kazakhstan, Democracy
NGO Coalitions Announce Plans to Engage Citizens and Government
Six coalitions of NGOs and businesses announced plans to engage citizens and government through campaigns to improve socioeconomic conditions in Azerbaijan at a May 7 Public Dialogue and Advocacy Conference organized by USAID’s Civil Society Project... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Azerbaijan Government Unveils National Strategy to Combat Corruption
USAID, the Anti-Corruption Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the US Embassy, the US Department of Justice, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe, and the NGO Anti-Corruption Network... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Mollaburhan Proves Quick Study in Community Development
On February 5, the community of Mollaburhan, Azerbaijan had much to celebrate: the first anniversary of its participation in the USAID Community Development Activity (CDA) program, the successful completion of four community development projects... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
CDA Community Lobbies for Development Assistance
Tuleguvan, in Azerbaijan’s Astara region, joined the Community Development Activity (CDA) Program in January 2007 at the encouragement of neighboring CDA villages of Ojakeran and Tese-Kend... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
USAID Study Tour Featured on Bulgarian Television
On March 8, the USAID Commercial Law Reform Program (CLRP) organized an advance public viewing of Bulgarian National Television’s “The Law and Us” program, which featured a recent USAID study tour to the Netherlands... Read More ...
Related Items: Bulgaria, Democracy
Building Distribution Helps to Advance Media Sector in Azerbaijan
In late 2004, Khanhuseyn Aliyev came to the attention of USAID’s Media Advancement project, which was seeking a way to build Azerbaijan’s newspaper industry by improving distribution... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
US, International Partners Aid Azerbaijan with Election Reforms
Under its USAID-supported Election Administration Assistance Program, IFES works with the Azerbaijani authorities and international and local partners—including the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe (COE)... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Aid Helps Residents Improve Life in Remote Mountain Community
On March 3, representatives from USAID and the Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) visited the Agulskiy District in Dagestan, Russia to lay the groundwork for a new community development project... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
DemocraticYouth.net Lauded as Best International Website
DemocraticYouth.net, the first online community dedicated to building the capacity of young political leaders to advance democracy in Eastern European and Eurasian countries, received the American Association of Political Consultants’ (AAPC) Gold Pollie award for Best International Website... Read More ...
Related Items: Democracy, DemocraticYouth.net
Citizens Empowered Through Community Development Success
In the village of Yengiyan, Sheki, the winds of change are blowing. The village's Community Development Council (CDC) is promoting the welfare of its citizens while recruiting two nearby villages into the USAID Community Development Activity (CDA) program... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Citizens Improve Communities While Protecting Their Heritage
Valentyna Opilat, a pensioner from Sadivniche district on Khortytsya Island, a nature reserve located in the center of Zaporizhia, recently installed gas heating in her home... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Democracy
Competition Draws Media Attention to Social Issues
More than 96 journalists representing 61 regional TV companies from 46 cities across western Russia gathered in Cheboksary, the capital of the Chuvash Republic, for the third regional round of the All-Russia TV competition, “Time to Act”... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
USAID Partner Holds First Samara Oblast Forum on Philanthropy
On January 30, USAID partner Povolzje hosted the first-ever conference on charity development in Russia’s Samara Oblast. The event, widely attended by government officials, corporate donors, NGOs and the media... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Media Tour Highlights U.S. Foreign Assistance
On December 13, a group of journalists took part in a media tour organized by USAID and the U.S. Embassy to improve media and public awareness about assistance provided to Kyrgyzstan by the American people... Read More ...
Related Items: Kyrgyzstan, Democracy
Following the Road to Success
The Tekle village is located in the Masally region of Southern Azerbaijan. As is typical in the post-Soviet collapse, basic infrastructure services such as road and water supply were in desperate need of repair... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Regional Newspaper Goes National
In 2003, daily Nezavisne Novine was an up-and-coming independent regional paper seeking to expand circulation from its home base in the Republika Srpska to the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina... Read More ...
Related Items: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Democracy
Investigative Reporting Exposes Corruption
A casual reader might have missed it, but as the news editor for START, a popular biweekly magazine, Eldin Karić is no casual reader. Early in 2005, a tiny news item about irregularities in audits of government agencies... Read More ...
Related Items: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Democracy
Another One-Stop Shop Opens in Kosovo
In an effort to bring its services closer to the people, Shtrpce/Sterpce municipality marked the official opening of the Citizen's Service Center (CSC). Also known as a "one-stop shop" for citizens... Read More ...
Related Items: Kosovo, Democracy
Azerbaijani Citizen Participation in Decision Making
In January 2005, a landslide in Baku brought public concerns over the safety of construction to the forefront of Azerbaijani politics. At the heart of the issue were the difficulties average citizens face in having a voice in city planning processes that directly affect them... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Robust Public Policy Dialogue a First in Azerbaijan
As Azerbaijan enters its second decade of transition, the government, private sector, and non-governmental organizations continue to explore approaches to fostering active participation in setting and implementing policies... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Voters, Not Politicians, Set Agenda
Turnout for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national elections in October 2006 was expected to be low. Voters were tired of hearing the same partisan rhetoric from candidates accustomed to exploiting ethnic and political divisions... Read More ...
Related Items: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Democracy
Ukraine Signs On to MCC Threshold Program to Control Corruption
Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych marked his first U.S. visit by entering into a landmark agreement aimed at reducing corruption. On December 4, Prime Minister Yanukovych and U.S. Ambassador John Danilovich... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Democracy
Political Parties Hold First Voter Surveys
On December 13-14, sixty activists from two political parties in Azerbaijan conducted pilot surveys among some 200 people in Imishli city in southern Azerbaijan to learn about voters’ views on local issues and political parties... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Activist Community Celebrates Success in Municipal Elections
The community of Hesenly in southern Azerbaijan was well-known during the Soviet times for writing complaint letters to central Moscow. Its residents were called “truth-tellers” or “complaint-writers” and there is an anecdote saying... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Citizens Group Holds Parties To Campaign Commitments
With the frenzy of the election campaigns are over, many politicians may think it’s time to relax. That wouldn’t be a good idea in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) this year... Read More ...
Related Items: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Democracy
Young Leaders Launch DemocraticYouth.Net
At a September 28 press conference in Chisinau, Moldova, a group of young political leaders from 17 Eastern European and Eurasian countries announced the launch of an online community created to attract and engage youth in furthering democracy across the region... Read More ...
Related Items: Democracy
Kyrgyz Advocacy Association Awarded for Honest Elections Campaign
The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) recognized the USAID-supported Association of Civil Society Support Centers for Advocacy with its “Associations Make a Better World” Award... Read More ...
Related Items: Kyrgyzstan, Democracy
USAID Partner Briefs World Leaders on State of NGOs
At the invitation of the White House, the International Center for Non-Profit Law (ICNL) participated in a technical session on global civil society issues at the United Nations moderated by President Bush on September 19... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Young Leaders Issue Declaration, Launch Web Community
In late September, more than 60 representatives, averaging 24 years of age, traveled from 17 southeastern European and Eurasian countries and provinces to Chisinau, Moldova for the 2006 Young Political Leaders Seminar... Read More ...
Related Items: Moldova, Democracy
Getting Out the Vote in Georgia
The government of Georgia announced that local elections, originally expected for November, would be held on October 5. Two Eurasia Foundation grantees are quickly responding to assist in making the election as smoothly as possible... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Democracy
USAID-Trained Leaders Win Local “Gengeshi” Council Seats
According to the latest reports, 17 community leaders who have participated in USAID programs won their elections and will become members of the new local governing bodies in Turkmenistan... Read More ...
Related Items: Turkmenistan, Democracy
Kyrgyz Local Governments Share Best Practices
In September, USAID’s Local Government Initiative project, implemented by the Urban Institute, summarized the results of a competition that facilitated an exchange of ideas and practices among Kyrgyz local governments... Read More ...
Related Items: Kyrgyzstan, Democracy
Primorskiy Kray Funds Anti-Trafficking Event
As a follow-up to NGO/local government collaboration this summer in Nakhodka, NGO and local officials participated in an anti-trafficking conference in Vladivostok on August 30... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Community Fund Opens Playground
Children in the town of Radnevo have a new playground, thanks to their parents’ volunteer work and the Happy Childhood Project of the local grassroots organization “Iniziativa Za” (“Initiative For”)... Read More ...
Related Items: Bulgaria, Democracy
Youth Energizes Georgian Parliament
For the past ten months, eleven young Georgians and the Parliament of Georgia have become inseparable. These young people are interns in the Georgian Parliament... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Democracy
Ukrainian Kindergartens Receive New Chairs
A town does not always need hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix a problem. The first step in finding a solution, however, is to identify the problem... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Democracy
City Council Partners with Civil Society Organizations to Address Urgent Needs
Hilfe is a non-profit CSO that fights poverty and has been helping Chernivtsi’s needy residents for 15 years. Every year it has received 25 tons of humanitarian aid from a German charity organization... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Democracy
Community-Based Approach Brings Consistency to Local Development
Municipal governments come and go, and plans, programs and strategies elaborated by predecessors also often disappear with the wind of elections... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Democracy
Citizens Help to Reform Communal Services
Many city residents in Ukraine still do not realize that it is ultimately they who own and are responsible for communal service enterprises (CSEs)—water, wastewater and heat enterprises... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Democracy
Moldovan Mayors Urged to Press for Continued Reforms
Moldovan mayors participating in the USAID Local Government Reform Project (LGRP) were recently commended by Brock D. Bierman, Chief of Staff... Read More ...
Related Items: Moldova, Democracy
USAID Facilitates Constitutional Debate in the Kyrgyz Republic
USAID’s implementing partners have been actively supporting the on-going public debate in preparation for a national referendum on the Kyrgyz Constitution... Read More ...
Related Items: Kyrgyzstan, Democracy
USAID Promotes International Religious Freedom Standards and
Dialogue on Religion and Government in Kyrgyzstan
In June, USAID funded a series of trainings and workshops to promote understanding of religious freedom and address the most pressing religious issues in the Kyrgyz Republic... Read More ...
Related Items: Kyrgyzstan, Democracy
Kazakhstani Youth Take a First-Hand Look at Local Government
More than 300 students worked with 270 local government officials in 26 Akimats (councils) during the Student Local Government Days to learn how their government works... Read More ...
Related Items: Kazakhstan, Democracy
Public Council Created to Promote Local Cooperation in Tajikistan
To promote cooperation between urban and rural communities and to resolve local problems through inter-sectoral discussion and joint decision-making... Read More ...
Related Items: Tajikistan, Democracy
Golos Marks Duma Anniversary with Civic Action
On May 18-19, 2006, the USAID-supported Golos Association conducted activities intended to increase citizens’ awareness of the electoral amendments made last year and to stimulate interest in elections... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Festival Explores the Role of Journalists in Russian Society
From May 23-25, 2006, USAID-supported Internews Russia, the National Association of Tele-Broadcasters, and the Alliance of Regional Media Executives hosted “Time to Act”, a festival of regional journalism in Moscow... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Training for Rural Council Members Enhances Local Governance
USAID’s Collaborative Development Initiative (CDI) Project has recently commenced a series of trainings for rural elected officials in southern Kyrgyzstan... Read More ...
Related Items: Kyrgyzstan, Democracy
Media as a Link Between Government and Citizens
Results of focus groups that the International Republican Institute conducted last fall determined that many Ukrainians were either unaware or misinformed about reforms... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Democracy
Journalists Train to Enhance Economic Reporting in Kosovo
Reading and understanding a treasury report was the topic of a May 10th briefing for journalists in Pristina... Read More ...
Related Items: Kosovo, Democracy
NGO Newspaper Safeguards Ukrainians’ Rights
At the top of the front page of the newspaper Vgoru (Upward), one finds the ambitious motto “high journalism.”... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Democracy
Three Macedonian Mayors Join Forces, Conserve Resources
July 1, 2005 came and went. For Georgi Manushev, the Mayor of Bosilovo, this date represented both an opportunity and one of the biggest challenges he’d ever faced... Read More ...
Related Items: Macedonia, Democracy
In Macedonia, Democracy Heralds An End to the “Dark Ages”
“The afternoon classes were the most troublesome,” says Aleksandra Chortanoska. “We struggled to see what was written on the blackboard, especially those of us sitting in the back of the class... Read More ...
Related Items: Macedonia, Democracy
Independent Media Projects Support Watchdogs of Democracy
Since 2001, the Web-based media outlet Telekritika has reported on current Ukrainian media trends and provided in-depth analysis and critical assessment of Ukrainian TV and radio program content... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Democracy
Outstanding Russian Journalism on Local Governance Celebrated
On March 4, 2006, the USAID-supported Foundation for Information Policy Development held a high-profile awards ceremony at the Federation Council to recognize the winners of its third annual “Vlast’ Narodnaya” (Power of the People) Contest... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Independent Tajikistani TV Stations Achieve Another Milestone
Eight independent regional TV stations have recently assumed production of a Tajik-language weekly news program. Since 2001, the news program, based on information and inputs from independent TV stations... Read More ...
Related Items: Tajikistan, Democracy
USAID Provides Support to Non-Governmental Media Outlets in Kyrgyz
Republic
Six regional media outlets increased their revenues from advertising by up to 400%, sales of issues by 8% to 20%, and staff salaries by 5% to 50% as a result of a one-year USAID project... Read More ...
Related Items: Kyrgyzstan, Democracy
Leading Moldovan Woman Leaders Visit the United States
Ten women parliamentarians and one political leader from the Republic of Moldova, representing each of that nation’s major political parties, visited the United States in January for high-level U.S. government meetings and discussions... Read More ...
Related Items: Moldova, Democracy
Networking Grants Awarded to Seven Kosovar Organizations
Seven projects designed by Kosovar organizations to benefit the general public were awarded
grants for building business opportunities, helping solve local disputes... Read More ...
Related Items: Kosovo, Democracy
Youth Council Takes Part in Odesa City Policymaking
Young people in Odesa are much like their counterparts elsewhere: they study, work, play sports, and hang out with their friends... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Democracy
Regional Leaders from Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey Sign Partnership Pact
Cooperation among municipal neighbors is a critical element for sound local governance. When neighbors are separated by national borders, cooperation becomes more complex and still very critical... Read More ...
Related Items: Democracy
Regional Police Chief Receives Tolerance Award
For the second year in a row, the Mediation Center in Dupnitsa, established through USAID’s Ethnic Integration project, bestowed a prize for “The Tolerant Person of the Year”... Read More ...
Related Items: Bulgaria, Democracy
Serbian Local Government Reform Program Helps Officials Connect With Citizens
While public budget hearings began in smaller Serbian communities two years ago, implementing the same mechanism among the residents of Belgrade's 12 municipalities... Read More ...
Related Items: Serbia, Democracy
Local Governance Training Program Started in the North Caucasus
On December 9, USAID-funded think tank, Institute for Urban Economics, completed the first of three USAID-funded training workshops for local government officials from the North Caucasus.... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Democracy
Bishkek City Council Holds its First Public Budget Hearing
The Bishkek City Council held its first public budget hearing on December 9, 2005, organized with support from the USAID Local Government and Decentralization Project... Read More ...
Related Items: Kyrgyzstan, Democracy
Domestic Monitoring of Moscow Elections Underway
In early November, the Golos Association began monitoring election campaigns for the December 4th Moscow City Duma elections... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Groundbreaking Democracy Seminar Draws Young Leaders from 17 Countries
"Young politicians should ignore boundaries," says Jay Footlik, a senior U.S. Democratic political advisor. Footlik and senior Republican political advisor Judy Black spent the week of October 23rd in Macedonia... Read More ...
Related Items: Macedonia, Democracy
CPP Conference Celebrates Accomplishments and Looks to the Future
The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation’s Community Partnerships Project (CPP) celebrated its accomplishments and looked to the future of the project and of Ukraine at its recent U.S. conference... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Democracy
Czech Republic Launching Transition Assistance Program
On September 26, 2005, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia (E&E) Thomas Fleetwood Mefford met with Gabriela Dlouha, Director of the Office of Transition Promotion in the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs... Read More ...
Related Items: Czech Republic, Democracy
Montenegrin NGO Wins Grant for Institute Excellence
Montenegrin Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) won a 2005 Templeton Freedom Award Grant for Institute Excellence in recognition of its achievements... Read More ...
Related Items: Montenegro, Democracy, Rule of Law
Bulgaria Appoints Roma Minister
The new government of Bulgaria, under Prime Minister Stanishev recently appointed Mr. Yavor Dimitrov, 41, as Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy... Read More ...
Related Items: Bulgaria, Democracy
Cultural Cooperation in the Dayton Triangle
The Igman Initiative, a network of 140 NGOs from Serbia and Montenegro (SaM), Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), led by the Novi Sad-based Center for Regionalism... Read More ...
Related Items: Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Democracy, Rule of Law
First-Ever Presidential Election Delivers Victory for Student Action Committee in Baku
The Student Action Committee (SAC) at School 177 in Baku, Azerbaijan organized it’s first-ever Student Action Committee presidential election in March 2005... Read More ...
Related Items: Azerbaijan, Democracy
Citizenship Opens New World for Macedonia’s Roma
After decades, many Roma are now able to claim their basic rights through citizenship by taking advantage of a temporary legal window of opportunity... Read More ...
Related Items: Macedonia, Democracy
USAID Partner Golos Provides Expertise to Moscow Oblast Election Observers
Recently, the USAID-supported Golos Association provided training for 300 volunteer observers who monitored community-level elections in the Moscow Oblast on Sunday, September 4... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Moscow School Hosts Seminar To Build Interest in Democracy
On July 24-31, 2005 the USAID-supported Moscow School of Political Studies held its second annual seminar “Law, Politics, Economics and Mass Media.”... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Independent Russian Newspapers Accuse Authorities of Discrimination
The editors-in-chief of three independent newspapers in Sverdlovsk Oblast have published an “open letter” addressed to authorities at all levels... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
BiH Welcomes USAID Administrator
On June 15-16, USAID/Bosnia-Herzegovina was pleased to host Administrator Andrew Natsios on his first visit to BiH since just after the war. Accompanying him on the trip was E&E Bureau Chief Kent Hill... Read More ...
Related Items: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Democracy
Albanian Elections Demonstrate Democratic Development
USAID and the U.S. Government provided unprecedented electoral process support to the July 3 parliamentary elections in Albania. The results of these efforts were visible in every corner of the country at every step of the process... Read More ...
Related Items: Albania, Democracy
Report Links Revolution to Media Progress in Post-Soviet Countries
A marked regional gap persists in terms of the sustainability of independent media among countries of the former Eastern Bloc... Read More ...
Related Items: Democracy
Kosovo Campaign Educates Public on U.N. Standards
Avoko, a coalition of NGOs supported by USAID's Kosovo NGO Advocacy Project (KNAP), completed the public education campaign on the United Nations standards for Kosovo... Read More ...
Related Items: Kosovo, Democracy
Russian Political Parties Join Forces to Promote Women Leaders
Approximately 100 participants from more than 20 different regions and representing different Russian political parties gathered in Moscow on June 3 for a two-day conference... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Local Government Initiative Invests in Kosovo's Youth
May 11-14, USAID/Kosovo's Local Government Initiative (LGI) Project conducted a three-day workshop to assist representatives of the youth community... Read More ...
Related Items: Kosovo, Democracy
Independent Think Tanks Receive Grants for New Studies on Reform
On April 23, the program board of USAID/Russia’s Strengthening Economic Think Tanks (SETT) activity awarded 12 grants to independent Russian think tanks totaling $500,000... Read More ...
Related Items: Russia, Democracy
Public Discussion of Decentralization Moves Forward in Kosovo
On April 8, 2005 the USAID-supported Advocacy Training and Resource Center (ATRC) held a public discussion addressing "Decentralization and the Pilot Projects in Kosovo..." Read More ...
Related Items: Kosovo, Democracy
Reform of Municipal Communal Services Enterprises in Ukraine
Before the Ukrainian city of Kalush finally received assistance to modernize its outdated water supply system, a school child would often not be able to obtain a drink of water between classes at any one of the city’s schools... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Democracy
Journalists Take the Lead to Improve Court Reporting in Kosovo
In an effort to improve journalistic skills on court reporting, the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) organized a one-day training for court journalists... Read More ...
Related Items: Kosovo, Democracy
E&E Hosts Historic Roundtable with Moldova’s Political Leaders
Six members of the Moldovan Parliament representing the leadership of each of that nation’s major political parties, were the featured guests for a roundtable luncheon... Read More ...
Related Items: Moldova, Democracy
Working Toward a Green Light for Kosovo’s Disabled Drivers
A proposed regulation to require municipalities to designate a driving school with modified vehicles for disabled driving students was recently debated at a roundtable discussion organized by Jeto Jetën... Read More ...
Related Items: Kosovo, Democracy
Moldova’s Elections Observed By Washington Delegates
Representatives from USAID/Washington, accompanied by White House Associate Political Director Paul Dyck, participated in the OSCE election observation mission to Moldova earlier this month... Read More ...
Related Items: Moldova, Democracy
Congressional Staffers Gain New Perspective on Kosovo’s Progress
Eleven U.S. Congressional staff members visited Kosovo February 24-25, 2005 as part of a study tour organized by the Balkans Trust for Democracy/German Marshall Fund... Read More ...
Related Items: Kosovo, Democracy
Kamenice NGOs Offer Citizens’ Perspective
Eleven representatives of youth, women's and ethnic NGOs gathered on January 19 to meet with USAID/Kosovo Chief of Mission Phil Goldberg during his visit to the Kamenice/Kamenica municipality... Read More ...
Related Items: Kosovo, Democracy
USAID Hosts Overseas Delegation of Young Politicians for Democracy Panel
On Friday, October 29, 2004, USAID hosted more than 70 young leaders from 23 countries who were in Washington to participate in a bipartisan program to study the U.S. election process... Read More ...
Related Items: Democracy
Bierman Tells Conference Participants International Development is Integral to Domestic Security
On Friday, November 12, 2004, hundreds of students and faculty at Virginia State University in Richmond, VA gathered to hear an expert panel composed of American international policymakers... Read More ...
Related Items: Democracy
Volunteerism Central Message of US-Ukraine Foundation Address
In his keynote speech to over 250 members of the Sister Cities International U.S.-Ukraine Forum, USAID Bureau for Europe and Eurasia Chief of Staff Brock Bierman spoke about the importance of international volunteerism ... Read More ...
Related Items: Ukraine, Democracy
Breast Cancer Survivors Fight for Rights
Prevention doesn’t exist: only early detection! For most women, breast cancer is an emotionally devastating diagnosis. But in Sarajevo, 150 breast cancer survivors... Read More ...
Related Items: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Democracy
U.S. Government Supports Regional Workshop on Fiscal Equalization
On November 19 and 20, the Fiscal Decentralization Initiative, in cooperation with the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, will hold a two-day regional policy workshop on local government finance reform and fiscal equalization... Read More ...
Related Items: Serbia, Democracy
AGB Nielsen Media Research to Invest $600,000 into Georgia’s TV Ratings System
The major U.S. provider of television marketing and consumer information recently committed to invest $600,000 to upgrade the television ratings system in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia... Read More ...
Related Items: Georgia, Democracy
The Citizen’s Advocacy Office and Transparency International Join Forces to Fight Corruption
The Citizens Advocacy Office (CAO) and Transparency International (TI) signed a partnership agreement. The CAO is part of the USAID-funded Albanian Coalition Against Corruption (ACAC) and is the leading anti-corruption watchdog and advocacy organization in Albania... Read More ...
Related Items: Albania, Democracy
Local Governments Empowered
Pogradec, Kavaje and Kuçove municipalities are part of the USAID/Albania Local Government Assistance and Decentralization program. For three years USAID, with the Urban Institute (UI)... Read More ...
Related Items: Albania, Democracy
Back to Top ^ |