KAZAKHSTAN: S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSALS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ASTANA 000248 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAO KWMN KTIP KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: S/GWI PROJECT PROPOSALS REF: A) 09 STATE 132094 B) STATE 12531 ASTANA 00000248 001.2 OF 005 ¶1. (SBU) Post nominates three projects, in order of priority, for funding consideration under the small grants initiative of the Office of Global Women's Issues. A brief summary and budget for each project follows below. PROJECT 1: GENDER ISSUES IN THE SPREAD OF HIV/AIDS A) NGO: Central Asia Association of People Living with HIV B) Proposal summary: The sexual transmission of HIV has grown from 1% at the beginning of the epidemic to 30% in 2009. HIV is growing among wives of drug users and among sex workers. Last year, the Central Asia Association of People Living with HIV (PLWH) initiated focus group discussions on gender issues of HIV/AIDS epidemic, with funding from the Eastern European and Central Asian Network of PLWH. These focus groups tried to identify the role of gender aspects of the epidemic and identified the need for other assessment to do more in-depth analysis of role of gender in the growing transmission of HIV among women. An S/GWI grant to the Central Asia Association of People Living with HIV will help identify specifics and particularities of gender related issues of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country and in Central Asia that are related to the region's socio-cultural environment. This will help identify the role of gender stereotypes in the transmission of HIV and will help develop programs that address these stereotypes to prevent the spread of the epidemic. The findings of this analysis will help develop materials that international projects and partners will use to focus HIV prevention programs on women that are vulnerable to HIV. C) Specific activities: Under this grant, the Central Asia Association of PLWH will: -- Conduct series of seminars to improve the capacity of representatives from AIDS service organizations and organizations of PLWH in using methodologies for gender studies in HIV/AIDS. The organization will conduct two 3-day seminars in Shymkent and Ust-Kamenogorsk in Kazakhstan, one in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and one in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for approximately 15 to 20 participants from each region. -- A cross-cultural assessment on gender will be conducted by two experts from the All-Ukrainian Association of PLWH and one expert from Kazakhstan, who will travel to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan to meet with NGOs, governmental organizations and religious leaders to interview them about their opinion on gender inequality and how it affects the HIV epidemic (including the role of violence against women in the spread of HIV). Findings of the assessment will be used for future programming of educational and training materials for AIDS service organizations. D) Performance indicators: -- Number of people trained in gender and HIV -- Results of the cross-cultural study disseminated to main stakeholders E) Detailed budget: ¶1. Two 3-day training sessions on methodologies for gender studies and gender issues of HIV/AIDS in Kazakhstan $18,000 each ($36,000) ¶2. Round trip of two consultants from Ukraine ($1,000) ¶3. Travel of the two Ukrainian consultants and one Kazakhstani consultant to Shymkent, Ust-Kamenogors, Aktobe and Kzyl-Orda ($5,000) ¶4. Honoraria and per diem for consultants ($17,000) ¶5. Round trip to Dushanbe and to Bishkek for three consultants ($1,500) ¶6. 3-day training in Dushanbe ($10,000) ¶7. 3-day training in Bishkek ($10,000) ¶8. Data analysis in Kiev by the consultant on-line with Kazakhstani consultant ($1,000) ¶9. Round trip by two consultants to present results and conduct consultative meetings in Almaty, Bishkek and Dushanbe ($8,000) ¶10. Costs of three round tables to present results ($3,000) ¶11. Printing of report and miscellaneous costs ($5,000) Total ($100,000) ASTANA 00000248 002.2 OF 005 F) Project length: 12 months G) USAID Mission in Almaty will administer this project. PROPOSAL 2: VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE A) The INL section would manage the following project, which would be implemented by the Association of NGOs Against Trafficking in Persons in Central Asia (AATIPCA) and provide vocational training and reintegration for victims of trafficking-in-persons (TIP). This project supplements current INL programs to encourage government funding for TIP shelters and train shelter employees. Project duration: 18 months (Phase I - 2 months, Phase II - 16 months) Estimated start date: September 2010 Project coverage: Kazakhstan (with impact on Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan and other CIS countries through assistance to citizens of those countries trafficked into Kazakhstan) Total budget: $100,000 (Phase I - $2,000; Phase II - $98,000) B) Problem Identification and Project Summary: Since the mid-1990s, Kazakhstan has come a long way in preventing human trafficking, protecting victims, and prosecuting traffickers. Trafficking in persons (TIP) is criminalized and the definition of TIP provided in the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children is used in national legislation. Kazakhstan also provides for direct or indirect protection for victims of trafficking within the law. Victims trafficked to Kazakhstan and Kazakhstanis trafficked abroad require a variety of services to be successfully reintegrated and protected from re-victimization and stigmatization. To date, the vast majority of services available for TIP victims in Kazakhstan have been provided by NGOs. Along with the basic needs of accommodation, food, clothing, and medical assistance, victims need support to learn sustainable life skills. In addition to professional skills learned in vocational training, victims will need psychological counseling and long-term support and protection. Stigmatization of victims put them at a high risk of re-victimization and deviant behavior. In order to protect the victims and to gradually change the public attitudes towards them, advocacy activities are needed. This project will provide assistance to victims of trafficking to master sustainable employment and life skills through vocational training courses and help them to find employment. The project would also advocate for the fair treatment of victims of trafficking and other violent crimes in Kazakhstan. Project Description The project will consist of four activities to be implemented in two phases. - During phase one (first and second month) activity one will be conducted. - During phase two (third through eighteenth month) activities two and three will be conducted. Specific Project Activities Activity 1 - Development of Guidelines AATIPCA will develop guidelines for providing vocational training to TIP victims. The guidelines will be country and region specific and can serve as a handbook for any NGO rendering assistance to TIP victims. The treatment of foreign victims in Kazakhstan will be included. ASTANA 00000248 003.2 OF 005 Activity 2 - Vocational Training and Related Support Vocational training has rarely been a priority in assistance programs for victims of trafficking. Food and lodging in permanent or temporary shelters, medical treatment, psychological counseling, and legal services have all been more common in the past. However, NGOs have found that vocational training is a powerful tool for preventing re-victimization. Within the proposed project, AATIPCA will assist victims to select and take vocational training courses, and, when possible, assist them in finding employment. Vocational training will be provided by specialized companies selected by NGOs. Training will include but won't be limited to accounting, cooking and restaurant services, computer skills, carpentry, sewing, hairdressing, manicuring, and training in how to find employment and run a business. As necessary, AATIPCA will provide victims with temporary lodging and food during training, pay for transportation, and supply clothing, as many victims have no clothing when they escape. AATIPCA will also cover the costs of necessary medical treatment. The majority of vocational courses require textbooks, instruments, and special uniforms and certain courses require medical examinations before training. AATIPCA will cover the costs for all such items related to training. Activity 3 - Victim Advocacy In order to strengthen victim protection mechanisms, AATIPCA will analyze victims' cases and advocate for necessary amendments in national legislation. This activity will be in cooperation with NGOs in Kazakhstan and in neighboring countries from which victims originate, e.g. Uzbekistan. C) Performance measures To measure the performance, AATIPCA will track the number of victims assisted by the project and the percentage receiving employment. When possible, AATIPCA will collect feedback information from victims. AATIPCA expects that, during the project lifetime, not less than 45 victims will successfully pass vocational training at each of the 9 locations where the NGO members operate. This estimate is based on similar projects conducted by individual NGOs. D) Recipient organization and its capacity The Association of NGOs Against Trafficking in Persons in Central Asia (AATIPCA) was formed in 2008 as a network of NGOs members and partners in Kazakhstan and neighboring countries which coordinate anti-TIP and related activities and develop assistance, advocacy, training and research standards. Currently, AATIPCA is made up of 11 members and 7 partners. The member NGOs have been working to prevent TIP and assist victims since 2001. AATIPCA members are experienced in direct assistance to victims of trafficking and other violent crimes (sexual assaults, kidnapping, etc.),including the provision of shelters, psychological counseling, and medical assistance. Two operate permanent shelters for victims of trafficking and another operates temporary shelters on an as-needed basis and depending on availability of funds. NGO members have experience supporting victims. AATIPCA coordinates the activities of its members and partners, maintains cooperation with governmental agencies and Parliament, provides counseling and assistance, and holds awareness raising and analytical workshops and other events. Since May 2009, AATIPCA has provided assistance funded by the Almaty International Women's Club. Food, medicines, and medical treatment are provided. This project will be completed in April 2010, but AATIPCA is raising funds for further support of the basic needs of victims. ASTANA 00000248 004.2 OF 005 E) Detailed budget - Development & printing of assistance guidelines $2,000 - Coordination of assistance activities & reporting $3,600 - Administrative costs $2,130 - Training courses $13,500 - Textbooks and supplies $4,500 - Support for victims (includes housing, food, clothing, medical)$64,370 - Administrative costs for individual NGOs $9,900 PROPOSAL 3: ASSISTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A) NGO: Union of Crisis Centers B) Proposal summary: Domestic violence remains a serious problem in Kazakhstan. The police registered over 40,000 cases of domestic violence in 2009, and the Union of Crisis Centers received over 20,000 calls on its crisis hot-line. In December 2009, the government adopted a new law on prevention of domestic violence. The new legislation introduces new concepts and mechanisms for the prevention of domestic violence that the Kazakhstani authorities will be implementing for the first time. With the grant from S/GWI, the Union of Crisis Centers proposes to pursue three objectives: A) develop a training module and conduct 16 trainings on the domestic-violence law for experts from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor, and NGOs; B) organize a wide-reaching information campaign aimed at law enforcement officials across the country to raise their awareness of the problem of domestic violence; and C) provide legal and psychological assistance to 18,000 domestic violence victims and establish shelters in 8 existing crisis centers. The Union of Crisis Centers is a well-established federation of NGOs working on domestic violence issues. C) Specific Activities: -- Develop a training module and conduct 16 trainings on the domestic-violence law for experts from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labor, and NGOs; -- Organize a wide-reaching information campaign aimed at law enforcement officials across the country to raise their awareness of the problem of domestic violence and their responsibilities under the new domestic-violence law; -- provide legal and psychological assistance to 18,000 domestic violence victims and establish shelters in 8 existing crisis centers. D) Indicators: -- Number of trainings conducted -- Number of victims assisted -- Number of people reached through information campaign E) Detailed budget: -- Coordinator's salary, book-keeper, taxes ($7,461) -- Hotline costs ($4,500) -- 16 trainings in regions, 25 trainees each ($53,200) -- Information campaign supplies (booklets, billboards, video clips in Russian and Kazakh) ($11,130) -- Organization of information campaign ($3,800) -- Support of activities of 8 crisis centers ($29,000) -- Round-table ($5,310) and supporting activities ($2,250) -- Subtotal ($151,001) -- Contribution from Union of Crisis Centers ($34,050) -- Contribution from the Ministry of Interior ($17,000) -- Total requested ($99,951) F) Project duration: 12 months E) Embassy Astana will administer this grant. ASTANA 00000248 005.2 OF 005 HOAGLAND