Category: Impact Stories

Bringing Innovation to Social Procurement in Kyrgyzstan

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Representatives of the Kyrgyz Government, international and civil society organizations attended the “Social Procurement: International and Kyrgyzstan Experience” conference.

On October 23, 2013, EWMI’s Kyrgyzstan Collaborative Governance Program (KCGP) organized a conference entitled “Social Procurement: International and Kyrgyzstan Experience” in partnership with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) and UNICEF. Representatives of Kyrgyzstan’s government, including the Minister of Social Development and senior officials from other ministries, along with local authorities, civil society organizations and representatives from several international organizations were among the conference’s 70 participants. The conference featured four key experts in social procurement from Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and the United States as speakers.  

Both Kyrgyz and international participants shared their experiences in developing and implementing social procurement in order to provide a broader context for enhancing the legislative and procedural framework for social procurement in Kyrgyzstan. Aside from exchanging vital information and experience, the Conference was also a forum to begin the process of establishing a working group of representatives from these various stakeholder organizations to provide critical input to improve the mechanisms and process of procurement of social services in Kyrgyzstan.

According to a report cited by Irina Lukashova, a consultant for EWMI CGP, the number of non-profit organizations applying for social service delivery projects in Kyrgyzstan has tripled over the last three years, from only about 42 applicant organizations in 2009, to 132 organizations in 2012. These funding requests were to support a variety of social projects, such as preventing child abandonment, neglect and child labor, or improving the social integration of children with special needs.  

State funding allocated for social procurement has also jumped substantially. In 2009, the allocated budget was just over 4 million KGS, or about $82 thousand USD. As of this year, fund allocation has reached nearly 14 million KGS, according to Kudaibergen Bazarbaev, Minister of Social Development. Minister Bazarbaev openly expressed his support for social procurement as a mechanism through which the government can successfully engage NGOs in social service delivery, and he hopes that the momentum gained by his ministry will attract other material and financial resources and be replicated by other ministries. He noted that a growing social service sector will increase competition, thereby improving the quality of social services provided. He also supports development of an improved legal mechanism to better ensure fair and efficient provision of social services. Djoldosheva Nuriyla, Head of the Department of Social Development in Kyrgyzstan, contributed to the discussion, adding that the success of other countries in providing social service delivery through NGOs confirms that social procurement is beneficial for everyone, including the state.  It allows the state to provide services in more locations, with better overall quality and typically at a cheaper price, while simultaneous improving the professionalism and sustainability of the NGO sector.

Overall, conference participants were supportive of the need for social procurement reforms. Participants were pleased to support further development of social procurement mechanisms in order to contribute to the improvement of social services, services which are a lifeline for many citizens throughout Kyrgyzstan.

Tipping the Scales of Gender Equality in Georgian Courts

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In July 2012, the gender distribution in the Georgian Judicial Administration was 63% male. Several high positions within the court lacked female representation and were entirely made up of male jurists.

To address this issue of gender disparity in the courts, in April 2013, the Deputy Chief of Mission Bridget Brink, Supreme Court Chairman Konstantine Kublashvili, and the Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani joined to host a conference, organized by EWMI’s Judicial Independence and Legal Empowerment Project (JILEP), entitled “Gender in the Court: Working Toward a More Inclusive Court System.” The conference aimed to foster the development of a court system that encourages women to play a greater role in the running of courts and the development of the justice system. 

A few months after the conference, noticeable improvements could already be seen. As of July 2013, female jurists moved into court positions which were previously without female representation. The number of female HCOJ Members rose from zero to three, while the makeup of the Disciplinary Committee also shifted to include a female jurist and two female non-judge members. Although the shift towards a more even distribution of gender in the courts is exciting, several positions, including the Disciplinary Chamber and the Judge chairs of the Chambers of the courts, remain entirely male.  EWMI will continue to support initiatives aimed at balancing the scales and encourage further progress.

Encouraging Socio-Economic Development in Azerbaijan

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Volunteers from Beylagan YESDPU help the elderly people in their communities with day-to-day domestic activities.

EWMI’s Socio-Economic Development Activity (SEDA) in Azerbaijan includes a grants program that supports organizations that engage in advocacy on socio-economic development at local and regional levels. Poverty reduction, participatory water management, environmental protection, improved social services, and efficient seed registration procedures are among the initiatives that civil society organizations (CSOs) have launched with grants from EWMI SEDA.

On August 10, 2012, EWMI awarded more than $85,000 to six CSOs in the Aran region for their innovative projects. Internally displaced persons, farmers, youth, the elderly and people with limited physical abilities are among the more than 30,300 citizens who have benefitted already from the implementation of these projects from September 2012 to June 2013.

“SEDA-supported projects address real problems in our village,” said Malik Azimov, Chief of Shahverdili municipality in Imishli rayon. His village was among 30 communities where 300 citizens were surveyed about local environmental issues. Dalga Ecology and Nature Protection Public Union, a EWMI SEDA grantee, is collaborating with citizens, local authorities, and schools to identify solutions for the environmental issues concerning the Araz and Kura rivers. “We believe that this project will result in better waste management systems in Shahverdili community,” Azimov said.

“The grant we received from EWMI SEDA is supporting our advocacy initiative for the simplification of seed variety registration that will directly benefit 93 members of our association and the people that work with them,” said Farid Firidunov, Director of AKTIVTA. “This will result in decreased seed prices for all community members.”

Other EWMI grantees have initiated equally important efforts within their communities. Aran Humanitarian Regional Development Organization from Barda rayon has brought together citizens, Limited Liability Companies, and local officials to improve water management systems. The Youth Enlightenment and Social Development Public Union from Beylagan rayon has involved the elderly to identify their needs and supported them to get access to social support benefits. The Society for Human Research and Regional Cooperation and the Community Development Center in Goychay rayon have collaborated to improve access for people with disabilities to social services. Progress Social Research Public Union from Imishli rayon is supporting local authorities to implement the UN Millennium Development Goals for Azerbaijan. Over the next four years, EWMI will provide $500,000 to support these and other trade, professional, and farmers associations in furthering socio-economic development at the community and regional level in Azerbaijan.

Open Development Cambodia to Become an Official NGO

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The new ODC board comprises seven members with a vast range of knowledge and experiences in Cambodia’s development, particularly in the IT field.

Open Development Cambodia (ODC) is soon to become an official Cambodian NGO. On July 10, ODC’s governing board was installed and by-laws promulgated in a brief ceremony at the EWMI office, shared by ODC. The board, comprised of seven members with a vast range of knowledge and experiences in Cambodia’s development, particularly in IT field, were announced to more than 20 supporters on hand to witness the event.  The ceremony was followed by a reception. Thy Try, one of the original members of ODC’s advisory group, was announced as the interim board chair. He will serve in that role for three months before exiting it to become ODC’s director in October 2013. This was a critical milestone in the localization of ODC, which expects to make application to the Ministry of Interior to register as a local NGO before the end of next week.  

Open Development Cambodia has had a very successful year so far. On a monthly basis, ODC posts hundreds of news items, receives thousands of visitors, and has nearly 3,000 “Likes” on Facebook. The ODC was featured on the tech website, Geeks in Cambodia, and Loy 9, a BBC Media Action TV show, shared ODC’s press release on its Face Book page. 

On June 28th, 2013, ODC launched the much anticipated Election Page for the Cambodian election held at the end of July 2013, which features maps, briefings, documents, news, videos and past ballots. The page is in Khmer. The team is now working on a simpler parallel page containing basic information about Cambodian elections in English. The ODC staff has completed building a Phnom Penh Polling Station map and is uploading it into the site. After a few days of testing, a press release about the launch of the new page was sent out to various media outlets, aid agencies, universities, professional networks, and NGOs on July 4.

Cambodia (2003-2014): Program on Rights and Justice (PRAJ) I and II
Mekong Region (2011-Present): Open Development Initiative (ODI)

Backlog Reduction Initiative in Serbia Shows Promising Results

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Six courts in Serbia have reduced their case backlogs from 23,000 to 12,000 old cases.

According to  the most recent statistics available (from late 2012), six courts in Serbia, working with EWMI’s Separation of Powers Program (SPP) funded by USAID, have reduced their case backlogs by 49%, from 23,000 to 12,000 old cases. The task ahead is to extend this success to other jurisdictions around the country.

The reduction of backlogged cases is important to Serbia’s hopes for EU integration, explains SPP project consultant Pim Albers, PhD, Advisor to the Dutch Ministry of Justice. Throughout the country, there are over 190,000 cases that have been pending for more than ten years in basic courts, and over 540,000 cases that have been pending for five to ten years. These backlogs violate the principle of a right to trial within a reasonable time, and must be reduced to bring Serbia up to European standards. 

These preliminary successes resulted from the courts’ adoption of reduction and prevention techniques outlined in SPP’s “Backlog Reduction and Prevention Best Practices Guide.” Building on the successes of SPP partner courts shown in the Guide, in July 2013, SPP presented a National Plan for Backlog Reduction that would reduce the number of backlogged cases by 80% over the next five years. The National Plan proposes that each court form a team that would organize and identify backlogged cases, investigate the cause of delay, and sort the cases accordingly, explains SPP Deputy Manager Milan Nikolić. Additional strategies are to reorganize the work in the court registry offices, engage employees more efficiently, and distribute a more equitable workload to all of the judges within a court. By implementing the National Strategy, Serbia will be able to reduce backlogs throughout the country, improve citizen trust and confidence in the judiciary, and facilitate Serbia’s entry into the EU. 

Enhancing Access to Social Services for the Elderly in Azerbaijan

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Ms.Nabat Aliyeva from Alinazarli village of Beylaqan recently registered to receive social services.

For almost 10 years, Nabat Aliyeva has lived alone in her home in Alinazarli village in Beylagan rayon. She has an oncological disease. Remarkably, Nabat was not aware that social services are available for elderly people living alone in her area. 

“Recently I heard from our community leader that an organization held a meeting about social services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), the elderly and people living alone in Beylagan,” Nabat Aliyeva said. 

The community leader informed her about a roundtable meeting on “The Community’s Role in Providing Social Services to the Elderly and IDPs,” organized by the Youths’ Enlightenment and Social Development Public Union in Beylagan. The discussion was organized as part of their efforts to enhance public and social services for the elderly and IDPs. The meeting was made possible by a grant awarded by EWMI’s Socio-Economic Development Activity (SEDA) in Azerbaijan, which is co-financed by USAID and the Government of Azerbaijan. 

During the roundtable, Faik Mehdiyev, a leader of Aliyetmezli community, informed participants about an elderly woman in his village who was in dire need of social services. Participants from the Center of Social Protection of the Population carefully took notes. They agreed that social workers from the Center would visit Alinazarli village, talk to the elderly woman and try to offer assistance with her domestic issues. 

The next day, a representative from Youths’ Enlightenment and Social Development Public Union visited Nabat Aliyeva. They explained her social rights and services available to her. After the meeting, representatives from the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population registered Nabat Aliyeva for receipt of social services. 

“Currently, a social worker visits me once a week,” said Nabat Aliyeva. “I gradually have begun to forget that I am alone. Previously, I gave up thinking about treating my disease, but a few days ago I changed my mind. I visited a doctor, and I am now receiving proper treatment. This was possible thanks to the psychological support provided by the social worker who motivated me to live a full life. I am grateful to the people and organizations who work to identify lonely people and enlighten them about their rights in society.” 

Nabat is among 37 elderly persons in Beylagan rayon who have registered to receive social services thanks to the Youth Enlightenment and Social Development Public Union’s awareness-raising and close collaboration with the Center of Social Protection of the Population. 

With support from EWMI’s SEDA program, the Union has identified social problems faced by the elderly and IDP youth, made these issues public and advocated for municipalities and communities to resolve these issues. They continue to assist women like Nabat in realizing their rights, while involving local businesses, institutions, municipalities and government in resolving such issues faced by citizens.

Sixteen Georgian Think Tanks Sign an Ethical and Quality Standards Document

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New Ethical and Quality Standards document establishes principles to ensure that Georgian think tanks meet the highest possible professional standards.

On May 21, 16 Georgian Think Tanks signed an Ethical and Quality Standards Document. The document presents comprehensive standards to guide the work of Georgian think tanks and establishes principles to ensure that the think tanks meet the highest possible professional standards. The ethical code covers organizational themes such as transparency, accountability and governance, while the quality standards focus on research, analysis, and advocacy processes.

At the signing ceremony, EWMI presented new standards to an auditorium filled with CSOs, the media, and International Organizations. Following the presentation, Georgian think tanks publicly signed the document.

EWMI’s Policy, Advocacy, and Civil Society Development Project in Georgia (G-PAC) assisted Georgian think tanks in developing these standards, using similar documents from the US and Central and Eastern Europe as guidelines. Policy research experts from Arizona State University in the US reviewed the draft standards and provided feedback. Over months of discussion, and with great attention from the Georgian policy research environment, the Georgian think tanks developed, finalized, and adopted these standards.

By signing up to follow those standards, the Georgian Think Tanks have self-imposed principles of excellence and have taken responsibility for following the highest possible standards to guide them through their work. The standards will ultimately raise the profile of Georgian think tanks among the public, as well as enhance the credibility and quality of the policy research.

The following organizations signed the document:

EWMI Grantee Facilitates Greater Collaboration on Sustainable Energy Issues

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Residents of the Kazbegi region protest the construction of the Dariali HPP at the Ministry of Energy in Tbilisi.

Hydro-power will be an important component to developing a sustainable domestic energy supply in Georgia. However, several hydro-power plant (HPP) construction contracts were signed without the input of the communities those HPPs would affect or an assessment of their environmental impacts. To ensure a more participatory process that accounts for community and environmental concerns, EWMI Policy, Advocacy, and Civil Society Development Project in Georgia (G-PAC) grantee, Green Alternative, successfully facilitated greater collaboration between the government, CSOs, the private sector, and the public on the issue.  

Green Alternative focused its efforts on the Imereti, Racha-Lechkhumi, and Svaneti regions, which would be affected by several new HPPs. Green Alternative began by meeting with community members to raise public awareness about the potential impact of HPP construction on local ecosystems, geography, and livelihoods. 

At the same time, Green Alternative facilitated communication between these communities and relevant investors and government decision makers. Green Alternative formed two working groups within the Ministry of Energy to address public concerns. The organization also researched the terms of HPP construction contracts and recommended amendments that would promote greater sustainability and economic benefits for Georgia. These recommendations were presented to all stakeholders.

Green Alternative also formed partnerships with local CSOs working on similar issues throughout the country, including some outside of the regions originally envisioned by the project. Stepantsminda, from the Kazbegi region, was one such organization. With assistance from Green Alternative Executive Director Ketevan Gujaraidze arranged through EWMI G-PAC’s Mentoring Program, Stepantsminda helped citizens in its community express their concerns about HPP construction in the Dariali Ravine to policy makers.

Thanks to Green Alternative and their coalition partners like Stepantsminda, three HPP projects (in Dariali, Khudoni, and Namakvani) have been put on hold until concerns about them can be adequately addressed. The Ministry of Energy is now working on a sustainable energy strategy that will account for the concerns Green Alternative’s coalition has raised.

EWMI funded Green Alternative’s project with a G-PAC Partnership for Change (PfC) grant.

Court Monitoring Programs Highlight Shortcomings in Criminal and Administrative Court Proceedings

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GYLA and TI Georgia Court Monitoring Reports

EWMI Judicial Independence and Legal Empowerment Project (JILEP) grantees, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) and Transparency International Georgia (TI) presented the findings of their most recent court monitoring efforts on April 2, 2013.  In GYLA’s case, their findings covered the period July to December 2012; TI’s reporting covered the period June to October 2012. While GYLA and TI found that the courts generally followed the procedures prescribed by law, they noted that the courts continued to show a clear preference for the prosecution in criminal cases and for the state party in administrative cases.

They found this preference was especially evident in cases where political interests were involved. While the groups reported a slightly positive trend towards objectivity and professionalism by the courts, the results were not substantially different than what the groups reported six months ago. The only truly significant change observed in the behavior of the courts, was in cases involving former government officials charged with crimes by the new government. In these cases, the courts were substantially more lenient toward the defendants in terms of imposing bail and pretrial detention than they had been with any other category of defendant in the past. Judicial representatives attended the April 2nd event and provided their views of the reports’ findings. They expressed their general support for the monitoring efforts but suggested that the reports did not provide a complete picture of what was happening in the courts.

Mam Sonando Release Reflects Coordinated Effort by EWMI Partners

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EWMI’s CSO partners in Cambodia coordinated their advocacy efforts to fight for the release of imprisoned broadcaster and democracy activist Mam Sonando [photo: LICADHO]

The dismissal on appeal of the most serious charges against broadcaster and democracy activist Mam Sonando and his subsequent release in March were in no small part the result of efforts made by both human rights and legal aid partners of EWMI’s Program on Rights and Justice II (PRAJ II).

During January and February, EWMI partners continued their advocacy efforts to draw attention to the case of imprisoned broadcaster and democracy activist Mam Sonando and fight for his release. On October 1, 2012, he had been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for alleged involvement in an alleged secessionist movement in Kratie. On January 15, CCHR launched the Mam Sonando Justice Calendar Campaign marking the six months since the broadcaster’s arrest. An accompanying campaign allowed individuals to enter design ideas for a postcard related to his case. In February, CCHR distributed 10,000 copies of the winning entry and people were encouraged to write messages of support and return them to the pick-up points. The messages were read during CCHR’s weekly radio broadcasts and the postcards delivered to the democracy activist in Prey Sar prison.

On the international front, Amnesty International issued a call to action on February 21 urging people to call on Prime Minister Hun Sen and other government officials to release Sonando ahead of his retrial in March. Calling Sonando a “prisoner of conscience,” the appeal also urged people to call on the authorities to “protect, respect and promote the right to freedom of expression in Cambodia.” Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan dismissed the effort, reiterating a long-held position that Cambodia is a sovereign state and would not bow to international pressure. This campaign was significantly influenced by EWMI partners, especially LICADHO, ADHOC, and CCHR, which gave Amnesty International information and strategy advice. 

In preparation for Sonando’s Appeals Court trial, EWMI staff spent significant time supporting the creation of a legal team that could effectively manage the intricacies of this case, involving multiple complex charges founded on a theory of secondary liability similar in nature to conspiracy and the (often conflicting) testimony of numerous witnesses, including fellow accused that had provided testimony in support of the prosecution, apparently for favorable treatment. 

EWMI recruited law graduates (who had previously participated in EWMI legal education programs) from the Royal University of Law and Economics to prepare a database of testimony, evidence and legal conclusions identified in the court judgment supporting the October 1, 2012 conviction, which was used by lawyers to develop a strong legal memorandum in favor of acquittal.  EWMI also engaged Vishnu Law Group lawyers (under its USAID-funded grant) in the preparation of witness requests, direct and cross-examination questions for witnesses, and a legal memo identifying contradictions in evidence and errors in law contributing to Sonando’s conviction.  As a result of actions taken by EWMI partners and others who supported the Sonando defense, his defense team was well prepared for trial and there was a wellspring of public support for his release.

On March 5, the appeal got underway to review the verdicts against Mam Sonando and two co-defendants, Touch Ream and Kan Sovann. There was standing-room only during proceedings, with around 55 people packing the courtroom including numerous international observers. Before the trial began, Sonando’s lawyers had requested the court postpone the proceedings due to the absence of key witnesses. The request was denied. 

Outside the building, around 600 members of the Association of Democrats, which Mam Sonando heads, as well as other activists, gathered to demand his release.  Their shouts were heard inside the courtroom. Numerous national and international representatives observed, inside and outside the courtroom. Monitors included staff from LICADHO, ADHOC, CHRAC, and CCHR. Demonstrators included members of PRAJ-supported CSOs, including IDEA and their affiliates CCFC and CYN, and CPN affiliates from Boeung Kak and Borei Keila.

On March 6, the prosecutor unexpectedly asked that two of the charges against Sonando, inciting insurrection and a charge relating to use of arms against officials, be dropped, but that an additional, less-serious, charge be added of illegally clearing state-owned land. (ADHOC described this new charge as supremely ironic, given Sonando’s work to educate Cambodians about their land rights – and it may have been intended to discredit him in this respect.) The prosecution asked that the remaining charges be upheld. On March 14, the Appeals Court reached its verdict, which tracked with the prosecutor’s recommendations, dismissing the most serious offenses and finding Sonando guilty of remaining minor offenses, as well as illegally clearing forest. The court reduced his sentence from twenty to five years. As four years and four months of the sentence were suspended, Sonando was released from prison. 

A wide array of local NGOs and CSOs, including EWMI partners LICADHO, IDEA, and CCHR, were quick to issue statements welcoming his release and that of Touch Ream and Kan Sovann. Some pointed out that the release came in the wake of intense international and domestic pressure on the authorities for Sonando’s release, including statements by US President Barack Obama, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault. (It was also noted in the press that, the week before, France had signed off on a multi-million dollar package of aid to Cambodia.)  The pleasure at seeing Sonando released was tempered by the awareness that unwarranted convictions still stand against the three men and that Mam Sonando will remain under judicial supervision for the next three years.  Nonetheless, the case stands as an example where EWMI human rights partners and a legal aid grantee worked together to obtain freedom, if not full justice, for a democracy activist who had obviously been imprisoned for expressing his thoughts, and encouraging others to think freely.