Kazakhstan
SNAPSHOT
Date of independence: 1991
Capital: Astana
Population: 15.1 million
GDP per person: $9,000
USAID IN KAZAKHSTAN
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
USAID Branch Office - Astana
U.S. Embassy
Ak Bulak 4, Str. 23-22, Building #3
Astana, Kyrgyzstan 010010
Tel: 7-3172-70-21-00
Bob Wallin
Central Asia Team Leader
Tel: 202-712-0141
Email: bowallin@usaid.gov
For Inessa Kuanova, a judge in the North-Kazakhstan Oblast, the USAID judicial mentorship program is a far cry from her memories of the repressive, Soviet-era "apprenticeship" system. Rather than establishing rigid, subservient relationships between senior judges and their new colleagues, the USAID program emphasizes collegial information sharing in preparing mentors to help those just starting out on the bench.
"I returned to work full of new ideas and started to promote this program to our newly appointed and experienced judges," says Kuanova, who recently became a mentor herself.
Overview
Kazakhstan is a strategic U.S. partner in Central Asia and an ally in the Global War on Terrorism. Kazakhstan has worked with the U.S. to confront the terrorist threat in the region and in Iraq, where its military engineers have worked to restore stability for the past four years. Since President Nazarbayev's 1991 decision to give up the nuclear arsenal inherited from the USSR, Kazakhstan and the U.S. have worked together to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by securing nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. As Kazakhstan's oil production increases and its economy grows and stabilizes as the result of sound economic reforms, the country is becoming increasingly influential in the region and on the world stage.
The USAID program in Kazakhstan supports development of a stable economy, energy resources, primary health care system improvements, and further democratic political reform.
Programs
Strengthening Kazakhstan's Economy
USAID's work in the economic growth sector is co-funded by the Government of Kazakhstan under the joint Program for Economic Development. USAID's economic policy program helps strengthen the budget and public sector audit processes by improving monetary and competition policies. The Regional Trade Liberalization and Investment project supports Kazakhstan's accession to the World Trade Organization; works on reducing trade barriers relating to transport, transit, border crossing, and customs clearance; and, ensures increased the access of businesses to market information within and beyond the Central Asian region.
The Regional Energy Market Assistance Program works to establish a transparent, competitive energy market; increase electricity trade; and, introduce market-based solutions for current disputes on hydroelectricity facilities and reservoirs. The Business Environment Improvement project helps to reduce regulatory and administrative constraints for small and medium enterprise (SMEs) through informative and effective dialog between the Government and the private sector. The regional Central Asia Microfinance Alliance helps expand access to credit and strengthen microfinance institutions by transferring international best practices in microfinance. To increase access to business information, knowledge, and skills in the country, USAID also facilitates the development of high school-level business and economics education, and a sustainable accounting examination and certification program based on the International Financial Reporting Standards, as well as incorporation of these standards into university curricula.
Promoting Good Governance
USAID's programs help build a democratic culture through support for civil society, independent media, the development of political parties, and the protection of human rights. An anti-trafficking program works on prevention activities and provides for the protection of victims. USAID also delivers technical assistance and training to improve judicial capacity and provides practical training opportunities in the U.S. for Kazakhstan's business and professional organization leaders through its Community Connections program. In cooperation with the Eurasia Foundation, USAID provides small grants to NGOs to strengthen private enterprise, civil society, public administration, and education.
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