U.S. EMBASSY IN KAZAKHSTAN


Alumni Grants Program

Kazakhstan - FY 2016

Country, City / Kazakhstan, Oskemen
Organization / Individual Name / John Martin, IVLP 2008 alumnus
Alumni Information(please list name and dates of theUSG sponsored program you’ve participated) / IVLP 2008
$ Amount Requested
(please fill out the budget details form below) / Ddd
$2,000.00 (funds will be disbursed in two tranches of $1,000.00 each. Second tranche will be transferred after six months).
Project Dates / September 30 , 2016 – September 30, 2017
Executive Summary(Brief outline of your project. 2-3 sentences) / The project empowers USG-sponsored program alumni to serve as the Regional Alumni Coordinators in remote towns of Kazakhstan where no major events are occurring with a purpose of creating supportive environment forUSG alumni, engaging them in various activities, and ensuring they are informed about U.S. Mission upcoming events, small grant opportunities, and projects. Throughout the year, the Grantee will conduct at least one activity every quarter and after each event willprovide Alumni Coordinator with report and list of attendees’ contacts.
Background of Individual / Organization
(in addition, please separately enclose your resume) / •Developed and conducted courses for students on Reforms Development (Licensing/Permissive System, Inspections, Investment Climate, Monitoring and Evaluation of Reforming Programs) in Ural State University (Yekaterinburg, Russia)
•Analyzed the data on current situation and possible trends and supported a local team’s work in Kosovo.
•Designed and conducted evaluation of over 50 potential project partners both from private and public sectors.
•Trained local staff of Business Environment Enhancing Program funded by USAID in Sweden on analysis of administrative burdens and on drafting of public administration reforms,
•Experienced in methodology development, particularly Constraints Reducing Methodology used in other Central Asia countries (Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan)
Project Description
and Goals / USG alumni will serve as the Regional Alumni Coordinator and organize at least one event per quarter for all USG program alumniresiding in a town throughout one year. The project covers remote towns where no big visits or cultural events are taking place so to ensure that USG program alumni are networking and supportingone another’s initiatives. Regional Alumni Coordinator needs to reach out to USG program alumni through social media platforms, emails and telephone numbers, and update contact database for each event by including full name, USG program title and years of participation, telephones, and email. Further, the Grantee has to organize various events considering what will be interesting for USG alumni. Upon completion of each event, Regional Alumni Coordinator will send Alumni Coordinator report on event and updated contact database of attendees. At least one of the events should be conducted at the American Corner located in Oskemen.
Project Goals:
-Enable USG program alumni residing in a remote town as well as adjacent places to get to know each other;
-Encourage alumni to be active by taking part in organized events and reunions;
-Keep them informed about upcoming events of the U.S. Mission and program opportunities;
-Discuss latest news received from Alumni Coordinator;
-Create updated contact database of USG program alumni.
Justification
(Specify importance of your project and expected results) / Most of the towns in Kazakhstan are located far from one another and alumni representative in these remote towns would considerably help to cover areas that Alumni Coordinator cannot reach out due to location particularities. USG alumnilocated in the region do not know well each other, unlikely to read emails sent to all by Alumni Coordinator, and feel forgotten because no major events or visits are taking place in their places. Regional Alumni Coordinator through planned events will help alumni to network with each other, express support to their initiatives and encourage them to be active in pursuing their goals.
Previous USG Grants Received / 2010 г. US Embassy DemCom, SKZ100-12GR119, Trainer
2014 г. FECA/USAID, А15-0074, Trainer
Applicant’s contact information
(e-mail, cell phone, work/home phone, address): / John Martin,

+7 777 000 0000
+7 701 222 2222
Kazakhstan, 070018 Oskemencity, KordaiStreet, Apartment 99