ReliefWeb

1. Executive summary

In order to strengthen the specific Red Cross / Red Crescent contribution to development, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has been supporting the Kazakhstan Red Crescent Society’s programmes this year, addressing tuberculosis (TB) and vulnerabilities related to migration. Thus, according to the plan, TB prevention activities have been implemented in three cities: Almaty, Taldykorgan and Semey. In the area of migration the Kazakhstan Red Crescent Society was exerting activities in Astana, Almaty, Taldykorgan, Shymkent, Aktobe,
Atyrau, Semipalatinsk and Karaganda. The project is part of the regional migration project reaching migrants and potential migrants and their families through information and education centres that make the Central Asian Red Crescent Labour Migration Network. The official launch of the regional project named “Empowering Central Asian Migrants and Returnees to Improve their Living and Protect their Dignity” took place in the capital city of Astana, Kazakhstan, in May 2013.

For 2013 the IFRC has planned to support the Kazakhstan Red Crescent to grow Red Cross Red Crescent services for vulnerable people by maintaining the National Society`s institutional capacity to support community disaster risk reduction, preparedness and response as well as strengthening preparedness and response capacities of selected communities in the most disaster-prone areas.
Unfortunately, the activities had to be suspended as no funds have been received. There is, however, an opportunity to apply for DIPECHO-8 funds later in the year.

The IFRC has planned to assist the Red Crescent in building effective and transparent human resources management systems and proper and effective financial management to deepen our tradition of togetherness through joint work and accountability. However, no funds have been raised for this project so far.

Over the reporting period, the Kazakhstan Red Crescent has been provided with a required follow-up of the plan of action resulting from the self-assessment within the organizational capacity assessment and certification (OCAC) process. The National Society has already shared its capacity-building programme for 2013-2015 with a number of Movement partners. After that the American RC initiated the System for Transformation and Results (STAR) process that started from the STAR workshop in April. There is an opportunity that, based on the results of the workshop, some selected organisational development activities of the Kazakhstan National Society can be supported by the donor.

The Red Crescent Society has also joined the digital divide initiative (DDI). Based on the results of the assessment mission commissioned by the Europe Zone Office that examined the needs and local opportunities of the National Society in April 2013, a DDI proposal will be developed later this year.

With limited funding at hand for 2013 the IFRC Country Representation in Almaty continued exploring EU opportunities for fundraising. In February 2013, the IFRC and the Kazakhstan Red Crescent developed two concept notes and project proposals in response to the EU call for proposals “Kazakhstan Local Development Grants Component – Non-State Actors”. One of the proposed actions is entitled “Safer Road Traffic Environment: a Red Cross Red Crescent capacity-building initiative to improve road safety in East Kazakhstan (by working closely with the oblast authority and other civil society actors)” and is geared to improve road safety measures in Ust-Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk. Another action is entitled “Strengthening capacities of the Red Crescent Society of Kazakhstan and Civil Society Organisations to contribute to local development in Kyzylorda oblast” and aims at raising effectiveness of relationships between the civil society institutions and the Kazakh State and expanding the participation of civil society institutions in the realization of development strategies. The budget of the actions to be realized over three years is about EUR 770,100. Because this call for proposals was cancelled by the EU in April but later announced again, the IFRC will have to re-apply at the end of July 2013.