Eurasia Foundation Network partners award grants and operate programs within three broad mandate areas:
Private Enterprise Development Accelerated development and growth of private enterprise, enhancing the climate for small and medium-sized businesses, including support for tax code reform, professional associations, advanced business education and professional development
Public Administration and Policy
More effective, responsive and accountable local government, especially in the areas of anti-corruption, government accountability and citizen monitoring of government activities
Civil Society
Increased citizen participation in the political and economic decision-making process, including voter education, election monitoring, self-management of housing and community-supported schools
Within these areas, Eurasia Foundation Network partners focus much of their program work in the following areas.
Anti-Corruption
Several international monitoring organizations have reported that Armenia is backsliding in its fight against corruption. Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF) is working to increase the capacities of Armenia’s government, civil society and media to promote transparent public processes through trainings to conduct anti-corruption monitoring activities, engage in investigative journalism and make use of Armenia’s Law on Freedom of Information. Cooperation between government, civil society and the private sector is central to the program.
Community Development
Since 2004, Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA) and Philip Morris Kazakhstan have implemented a program to develop local communities in the Enbekshikazakh district of Almaty Oblast. Program objectives include developing sustainable NGOs; creating models for social responsibility and partnerships between NGOs, local government and corporate donors; and mobilizing resources for the support of local initiatives through a local community foundation.
Corporate Philanthropy
Eurasia Foundation Network helps companies define philanthropic goals and develop strategic social investment initiatives. In Ukraine, the East Europe Foundation (EEF) promotes social responsibility through a popular website and weekly e-publication targeted at businesses, NGOs and donors. In the South Caucasus, EPF is building greater awareness of the concept of social investment among local businesses.
Education
In Russia, the New Eurasia Foundation (FNE) supports a variety of education programs that work to increase regional universities competitiveness in order to compete in today’s global society; improve the quality of vocational education; and increase dialogue between parents, educators and community members in order to improve the quality of education in local secondary schools.
Independent Media
The Russian Independent Print Media Program trains editors, journalists and managers of independent newspapers to increase their credibility, efficiency and financial stability. EPF’s Media Distribution Program in Armenia grows media distribution channels by creating press offices in areas outside of Yerevan.
Labor Migration
Network programs focus on job identification, legal rights education and technical assistance to labor migrants. Both EFCA and EPF in Armenia support resource centers that help labor migrants and returnees. EFCA also works with Kazakh journalists to increase their understanding of migration issues. FNE developed a methodology for monitoring migration and migration trends, and is collaborating with the Federal Migration Service to examine Russia’s federal migration program.
Small Business Development
Eurasia Foundation Network trains entrepreneurs and helps them access capital and remove government barriers to business. EFCA helped create university and business links to train business executives and entrepreneurs as well as professors and college graduates in the region. In Ukraine, the Local Economic Partnership program matches municipal resources to articulated needs to build strong public-private partnerships.
Strengthening Local Government EPF developed a standard set of indicators to assess the performance and capacities of municipalities in Azerbaijan, in order to improve public transparency and strategic planning capacity. In Armenia, EPF works to leverage local resources across communities by linking municipalities through networks, providing opportunities for capacity development and joint service delivery in order to increase the flow of information and strengthen municipal performance.
Youth Activism
In the South Caucasus, EPF’s YouthBank program not only funds youth-created and implemented projects that benefit their local communities, but goes one step further by providing youth with networking and professional development opportunities across the region. In Russia, FNE promotes the Russian community schools movement and democratizing school education.
Through innovation, collaboration and unique evaluation mechanisms, our network partners ensure program activities respond to locally articulated needs.
