Participants of the X Civil Forum discussed the points of growth of civil initiatives
Today, within the framework of the X Civil Forum of Kazakhstan, an expert platform "How to find and be found: points of growth of civil initiatives" was held. The participants of the platform discussed topical issues of implementation and support of civic initiatives, including priority areas, modern approaches, best practices, and in addition, developed recommendations for creating favorable conditions in the context of the development of civic engagement, taking into account all stakeholders.
The discussion was moderated by the Chairman of the Board of the Center for Support of Civil Initiatives, Lima Diaz.
Opening the event, she stressed the need to identify relevant mechanisms and approaches in the development of civil society in the new realities.
"The development and support of civic engagement in Kazakhstan for 30 years has been one of the priorities in state policy. In his message to the People of Kazakhstan dated September 1, 2021, Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev notes the importance of the development of civic culture for the modernization of local self-government, including in rural areas.
Changes in the work of grant-giving organizations and the introduction of new support mechanisms are expected in the coming years. Thus, according to a survey conducted by the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) of Great Britain regarding the impact of coronavirus infection on the non-profit sector, almost all respondents, 96%, said that they had somehow restructured their activities in connection with the coronavirus pandemic by launching new grant programs, increasing and/or reducing funding, and changing the approach to selecting applicants and their projects.
Consequently, there is a need to identify relevant mechanisms and approaches in the development of civil society in the new realities," L. Diaz noted.
During the expert platform, reports of interesting speakers from among the representatives of leading organizations of the non-governmental, corporate and international sectors were heard.
The speakers were Yuri Skaskevich, Program Manager of the European Union Representative Office in Kazakhstan, Andrey Pyssin, Director of the Center for Strategic Management and Internal Audit of the Corporate Office of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives for the Promotion of New Projects (RF), Nikita Shatalov, political commentator and journalist, Aigul Kaptayeva, Technical Manager for Civil Society of the American Bar Association in Kazakhstan, Leila Aitmukhanova, Adviser on social Investments of Chevron in Kazakhstan, independent expert in the field of social entrepreneurship and social programs Zhanar Zhaksylykova, Chairman of the Black Sea Fund for the Development of Socially Significant Initiatives Yermek Mazhitov, representative of the Center for Social Analysis and Partnership Konstantin Kovtunets.
They discussed topical social issues of society and effective approaches to their solution, favorable conditions for the development of civic engagement in society, the policy of corporate social responsibility of companies, the role of NGOs in the development of the social sector in Kazakhstan.
The organizers of the platform are confident that the event will give a significant impetus to strengthening dialogue and interaction between NGOs and donor organizations, solving common problems, as well as finding ways to mobilize resources in the implementation of social initiatives to form effective approaches to support and develop the society of Kazakhstan.
It should be recalled that the jubilee X Civil Forum "30 years of partnership in the interests of sustainable development of society and the State" is being held in Almaty, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Independence.