The European Union plans to co-finance a range of projects in Central Asian countries related to migration issues and economic development "with a focus on human rights, gender equality, and support for vulnerable groups," RT reports.
Brussels is prepared to spend over €21 million on these goals, making it one of the most significant sums ever spent on non-commercial purposes in this region.
The grant for the projects is provided by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), an organization sponsored by the European Union.
The tender description states that the "Assistance Program for Border Management in Central Asia" is a "long-term initiative," as reported by RT.
The project aims to finance NGOs in five countries in the region: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Among the specified tasks are providing assistance to civil society organizations operating in border regions and fostering public discussions on migration and border territories.
The tender documentation also notes that priority will be given to organizations that closely cooperate with the relevant local authorities in the Central Asian states when granting the grant.
Another important condition for the implementation of projects within the EU program should be their so-called visibility, which means increasing public attention to project topics and social resonance. The common deadline for grant applications within the program is set for November 19.
The EU actively finances NGOs and civil society in the region's countries. For example, in February 2023, Brussels allocated €5.4 million to support civil society in Kazakhstan, and in 2022, it financed "democracy promotion" projects in Tajikistan with €500,000.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
November 1, 2023