Annual Program Statement

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PAS invites proposals for programs that strengthen cultural, educational, and professional ties between the United States and Kazakhstan and support a priority program area in order to highlight shared values, best practices, and promote bilateral cooperation. All proposed programs must include a substantial American element, or connection with American expert/s, organization/s, or institution/s in order to promote increased understanding of U.S. policy and perspectives. Competitive proposals will identify well-defined audiences and justify how they are key to achieving the project goals, and competitive proposals will promote continued/sustainable cooperation between the people of the United States and Kazakhstan even after the project concludes. Examples of programs could include, but are not limited to: · Professional and academic exchanges, trainings, and programs; · Academic and professional lectures, seminars, and speaker programs; · Artistic and cultural workshops, joint performances, and exhibitions; and ·        Cultural heritage conservation and preservation programs. Priority Program Areas : 1. Support public resiliency to disinformation Kazakhstan has a growing and diversifying media market and a demand for objective, professional journalism; at the same time, online consumption of news, stories, and information sharing is higher than ever, including through messaging apps. The United States supports a sovereign and independent Kazakhstan, which includes support for a well-informed, discerning public who can inoculate itself against disinformation and better understand how to access, use, and share objective, editorially diverse information sources. The U.S. Embassy is interested in supporting projects that share American best practices, experience, and expertise to advance any of the following important issues: ·        Increase Kazakhstani information professionals’ (journalists, librarians, teachers, professors) usage of objective, editorially diverse information sources with their audiences. ·        Support civil society, opinion leaders, influencers, and emerging leaders to address and counter common threads of disinformation, including COVID-19 and health disinformation. ·        Promote the use of authentic and objective sources of English-language information with English-speaking Kazakhstani audiences. 2. Support Democratic Institutions and Human Rights: The U.S. Government believes that strong democracies support key values, such as respect for civil and human rights, respect for the rule of law and social justice, and the promotion of grassroots problem solving. The U.S. Embassy is interested in supporting projects that innovatively promote human rights through education and the arts, or share American best practices, experience, and expertise with Kazakhstanis or Kazakhstani organizations also promoting these mutual values, in any of the following areas: ·        Support journalist rights and access to independent and free media. ·        Support civil society’s capacity and ability to advocate for the needs of and assist particular social groups with access to legal, health, social, and other services. ·        Increase support for gender equality to address economic and political inequalities among women and other marginalized communities. ·        Increase awareness of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and support for initiatives that combat domestic violence. 3. Support inclusive, diversified economic growth based on an equitable, climate-focused, and resilient energy future: The Government of Kazakhstan has announced goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including a target of carbon neutrality by 2060. However, greenhouse gas emissions exceeded 1990 levels by 4.1% in 2018 and are on track to exceed by 33% the 2030 goals Kazakhstan set as part of its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. Significant portions of the economy and government budgets are reliant on hydrocarbon extraction and utilization. Climate change could destabilize Kazakhstan, and addressing it is a priority of the U.S. Government. The U.S. Embassy is also interested in supporting initiatives to increase the level of women’s participation in the economy, with an emphasis on private sector leadership positions. The U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan would like to support proposals which would share American innovation, best practices or expertise in following areas: ·        Raise awareness of and support for climate-conscious policies, programs, and technologies, and its integration in business processes. ·        Promote affordable renewable energy sources and energy efficiency, including for industrial organizations. ·        Increase entrepreneurship opportunities and skills needed to develop small- and medium-sized enterprises in diversified, underdeveloped industries. ·        Support increased participation and leadership of women in entrepreneurship and business endeavors.

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