Eurasia Partnership Foundation:

A Strategic Partner in the

South CaucasusStockholm, 2010

To empower people to effect change through hands-on programs, helping them to improve their communities and their lives.

EPF’s Mission

EPF: History

1992 Eurasia Foundation (EF) is founded and incorporated in Washington, D.C.

1993 First grants from Washington, DC office benefiting local organizations.

1995 Offices in Armenia and Georgia begin operations.

1997 Azerbaijan office opens.

1998 South Caucasus Cooperation Program SCCP is established to increase cooperation between Armenia, Azerbaijan and

Georgia.

2002 With funding from Carnegie Corporation of New York, EF establishes the Caucasus Research Resource Centers (CRRC)

2007 Eurasia Partnership Foundation EPF is launched

EPF in Georgia becomes a strategic partner to Sida

Proven CapacityFrom the time of its establishment until the

registration of EPF as local foundation in 2007,

EF invested nearly $80 million in the South Caucasus

Since 1993, Eurasia Foundation and the network invested $365 million

Armenia: GIND Printing House 1997 A profitable company responsible for 50 percent of

the newspapers circulated in Armenia. It has effectively

introduced competition to the newspaper printing

market in the country

EF purchased a four-color printing press

By 2005, GIND repaid its $350,000 loan

Cafesjian Family Foundation donated additional

pre press equipment and software, and a computer-

to-plate system through EF to Gind

EPF’s 2010 Programs

Youth Leadership Development Freedom of Expression, Media and

Democracy in Armenia Transparency in Municipal Service Delivery

in Azerbaijan Cross- border cooperation Caucasus Research Resource Centers Europe’s Eastern Partnership Program

Relevance: EPF’s Objectives

Like Sida, EPF promotes:Freedom of ExpressionEuropean and Democratic ValuesTransparency and AccountabilityCivil Society DevelopmentCross-Border Cooperation

Systems for Guiding and Control Governance structure: local expertise,

international Board of Trustees Unique regional joint strategy

development Over 15 years of experience in Grant-

making Increasing number of Operating Programs

Governance Structure

Governance: International Board of TrusteesHorton Beebe-Center Eurasia Foundation Director

Dieter Boden OSCE Ambassador

Andrew Coxshall KPMG Tbilisi

Sabine Freizer International Crisis Group Europe Director

David Lawrence Lee MagtiCom Tbilisi

Danielle del Marmolle Belgian Ambassador, ret.

Daniel Matthews Baker and McKenzie Baku

Margaret Richardson IRS Commissioner, ret.

Mary Sheehan International Organization for Migration

Roy Southworth World Bank Tbilisi, ret.

Jonathan Stark Cascade Capital Holdings, Yerevan

Daniel Tarschys Council of Europe President, ret.

Kenneth Yalowitz US Ambassador, ret.

Dr. Daniel Tarschys

Strategy Development

The only South Caucasus entity with a united strategy jointly developed by offices in Yerevan, Tbilisi and

Baku

Flexible

Evidence-based

Innovative

Standards of excellence

Transparent

Attuned to local needs

Operating Programs

EPF directly manages project activities Increasing focus on operating programs EPF as a convener Larger-scale, sustained interventions Leverage small achievements for long term,

sustainable impact

Grants Management

EPF is a regional leader in grants management

Building local capacity Proven systems for grant awards,

monitoring Usually $5,000 to $35,000, with

occasional grants up to $50,000

Open Door Grants

Flexible and demand-driven Unsolicited proposals reviewed on a

rolling basis New and innovative pilot projects Daring, experimental ideas

Grant Review Process

2-page inquiry Full proposal Due diligence Independent Advisory

Committee review Pre-award site visit Grants Management Seminar Ongoing monitoring and reporting

Cross-Border Strategies

Build linkages across borders Citizens and professionals with common

interests: from journalists to seismologists EPF operating programs build ties Organizations submit joint proposals

Today’s Challenges: Azerbaijan Declining donor support Democracy backsliding Increasing control over Civil Society:

NGO law Freedom of Expression routinely curbed,

journalists attacked Corruption and lack of transparency

Low Trust toward NGOs: Azerbaijan

Little Trust in Media: Armenia and Azerbaijan

Demonstrated Capacity: What Have we Achieved in 15 years in Azerbaijan? Support for Freedom of Expression &

Access to Information Transparency of Local Governments Youth Engagement – Next Generation for

Democracy

Azerbaijan: Access to Information 20 municipalities

now involve citizens in public hearings

Meetings with constituencies

Budget-related information shared

Public Hearing

Azerbaijan: Transparency in Municipal Service Delivery

Over 100 “municipal indicators” that measure the performance of local governments

Improving citizen participation

Small grants for meetings with constituents, sharing budget information and research

Strategic plans that include input from local citizens Training in Barda

Youth Leadership

Decision-makers from disadvantaged

Communities:

Address community

problems themselves Accountable, transparent

small grants programs Become active citizens Express themselves Become leaders

Today’s Challenges: Armenia Civil Society under-

developed and not trusted

Deteriorating human rights

Limitations on Freedom of Expression

Conflict as an excuse for the lack of democracy and transparency

LowTrust Towards NGOs: Armenia

Demonstrated Capacity: What Have we Achieved in 15 years in Armenia?

Transparency and Accountability Freedom of Expression Youth Engagement

Armenia Anti-corruption 2008 Series of talk shows on

corruption

Weekly reports on municipal

transparency

Freedom of Information requests: overwhelming municipalities and state agencies with information requests

Drivers’ licensing reform, transparent walls

of the test room

Armenian Regional Print Media 2007

25 regional newspapers

Improvedmanagement,

design, editing, photo-

journalism.

3 newspaper websites

created and sustained

Europe Program: 2009 What is EU? Manuals on Europe How to assure that civil society is

taking part in EU-Armenia relations?

How to reform one University in light of the Bologna process?

2010 • Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement • Visa Facilitation• Food security and standards

Freedom of Expression Article 27 Talk Show 2009:

Checking and challenging the boundaries of

what is ‘acceptable’ to be discussed on TV

Giving a chance to ‘opposition’ film-makers to

express themselves

Targeting the issues of corruption; tradition;

democratic values; government’s irresponsibility

Service to the Government: Armenia is not as

closed a society as it may seem

Making people learn how to be protagonists

and entrepreneurs of FoE

2010 Increase opportunities for public discussion of FoE and FoI issues outside the capital Regional TV stations network provides more pluralistic information The entire country will  learn about the FoE and FoI issues in the regions Some issues will be addressed and solved.

Youth Bank: Examples 49 committee members work with 500 young people; 9 regions; 64 micro

projects; 30 000 USD in 2 years Sports club making USD380 AMD monthly Food Bank charity action in 2 towns helped 49 families with food at Easter holidays,

42 volunteers Exhibition sales generated USD250 to support needy students in Armavir Support local tourism promotion by installing drinking water pipeline in the area of

old chapel An exhibition-sales of young craftsmen’s work was organized for Yeghegnadzor

community

Human Rights 2010

New generation of HR activists inthe regions

How to fill in the cases for European Court Of Human Rights

Demonstrated Capacity: What Have we Achieved in

15 years?

Cross-Border Cooperation!

Armenia-Azerbaijan Media Bias Reduction CLICHÉS AND STEREOTYPES

In Armenian mass media

Armenia does not regard the issues of territorial integrity and inviolability of borders, included in the protocols, in any reference to the problem of NK.

The statements made by Turkish leaders in regard to considering the interests of Azerbaijan during the signing of the protocols, have the aim of ‘comforting the junior brother’ and are addressed exceptionally to the audience of that country.

In Azerbaijani mass media

Improvement of Armenian -Turkish relations impairs the process of the settlement of Karabakh conflict.

Turkish-Armenian protocols will not come in effect before the Karabakh conflict is settled.

Armenian-Turkish Initiatives 95% of all the illegal Armenian

workers in Turkey are women workers;

Schoolchildren with Armenian citizenship cannot go to school.

When a child of an illegal Armenian couple is born in Turkey, the parents can’t apply for the citizenship

for their child They were full of mistrust to Turks

before they came to Turkey. Their

attitudes drastically change shortly after they arrive.

Media Bias: Viewpoints

In Turkish Press 28% of the articles have

one viewpoint

28 % of the articles have two viewpoints

17 % of the articles have three viewpoints

In Armenian Press 50.3% of the articles

have one viewpoint

9.6% of the articles have two viewpoints

9.4% of the articles have three & more viewpoints

Youth Bank 2010: Armenia-Azerbaijan Youth meet in Tbilisi 2-3 times in 2010 to take a conflict

transformation course, identify issues of common interest and design joint projects

Youth Banks become a way to build trust between youth groups across the conflict divide

Why EPF?

A unique and lasting regional institution

Combination of local knowledge and international expertise

Strong systems and governance Proven capacity Shared vision & objectives

Why a Strategic Partnership? Bolster connections between the three

countries of the South Caucasus Balance and focus Sida’s commitment to

the South Caucasus region Expand Sida’s strategic partnership with

EPF-Georgia