Latest country strategy dialogue

9 December, Almaty, Kazakhstan

In a consultation meeting, Michael Weinstein, Director for Kazakhstan and head of Almaty RO, discussed the new draft country strategy for Kazakhstan with representatives of Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, Crude Accountability Kazakhstan, Asian American Partnership, Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia and Public Policy Research Centre. Civil society participants expressed their views on a number of issues, including political environment and human rights, development of the corporate and financial sector, legal reforms and the Bank’s engagement with local CSOs.

12 November, Skopje,  FYR Macedonia

Accompanied by Elena Urumovska, Head of Skopje Resident Office (RO), the EBRD Board of Directors met the representatives of the NGO Eco-Sense, Transparency Macedonia, Macedonian Centre for Energy Efficiency, Macedonian Centre for International Relations, Centre for Research and Policy Making and Centre for Economic Analyses. FYR Macedonian CSOs and the Directors discussed a number of issues, including the inter-ethnic relations and EU accession, the role of the local financial community in implementing energy efficiency initiatives, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and local community development.

10 November, Istanbul, Turkey

A delegation of Board of Directors, together with Mike Davey, Director for Turkey and head of Istanbul RO and Sevki Acuner, Deputy Director for Turkey, met for the first time with the representatives of the local NGOs and think-tanks. Representatives of the local brunches of WWF, Regional Environmental Centre and Transparency International, as well as Women Entrepreneurs Association of Turkey (KAGİDER) and Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) took part in the meeting. Civil society representatives shared their views on the socio-economic and political development of Turkey, human rights and transparency issues, as well as the expected role of the EBRD in the country.

9 November, Tirana, Albania

The EBRD Board of Directors and Dan Berg, Head of Tirana Resident Office met representatives of the Environmental group EDEN, Eco-movement Ekolevizja, Organic Agriculture Association, Transparency Albania, Albanian Ecological Club and the Albanian Professional and Businesswomen Association. CSO representatives shared their views on the environmental and social issues in Albania, organic agriculture and the Bank’s role in promoting renewable and energy efficiency investments.

4-5 November, Minsk and Vitebsk, Belarus 

In a series of consultation meetings with local civil society organisations (CSOs), Valdas Vatskaus, Head of Minsk RO and Biljana Radonjic Ker-Lindsay, Head of the Civil Society Engagement Unit, met representatives of the local CSOs to discuss the new draft country strategy for Belarus. Meetings were attended by the representatives of the Business Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers named after Kunyavskiy, New Eurasia Foundation, Belarus Institute for Strategic Study, National Public Human Rights Association, Belarusian Helsinki Committee, and Vitebsk Business Centre for Entrepreneurship Support. CSOs expressed their support for the main priorities identified in the new draft country strategy and urged the Bank to continue its commitment to Article 1 principles. The issues discussed ranged from socio-political and human rights issues to the support of SMEs and potential investments in the transport and municipal and environmental infrastructure (MEI) sector. CSOs were also interested in policy requirements with regards to the public participation in the Bank’s projects in Belarus.

13 October, Moscow, Russia

The EBRD Board of Directors visited Russia from 12 to 16 October. On 13 October in Moscow together with Alexander Orlov, Director for Government Relations and Biljana Radonjic Ker-Lindsay, Head of Civil Society Engagement Unit, the Directors met with the representatives of the following NGOs: Human Rights Watch, Transparency International, WWF, Greenpeace and the Ecological Defence of Moscow and the (Moscow) Region.

The participants shared their views with the Board on the overall socio-political situation in Russia, including protection of migrant worker’s rights and the implementation of recent legislations to tackle corruption. Environmental NGOs expressed their opinions on the national Energy Strategy, energy efficiency issues and the environmental impact assessment requirements in Russia. The Bank’s involvement in large public private partnerships in Russia was also discussed. NGOs expressed concerns regarding several aspects of the Moscow-St. Petersburg Highway project currently under consideration by the Bank.

18 September, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic

On 18 September together with Masaru Honma, Director for Central Asia, and Kenji Nakazawa, Head of EBRD’s Bishkek RO, the Directors met with the representatives of the following Kyrgyz NGOs: the Kyrgyz Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of Law, Independent Ecological Expertise, Public Association Karek, Kyrgyz Congress of Women, International Business Council, and Research Centre Sedep. The participants shared their views with the Board on the forthcoming country strategy of the EBRD for the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as environmental and social issues, the economic and political situation, small business development, and women’s entrepreneurship in the country.

16 September, Almaty, Kazakhstan 

On 16 September in Almaty the Board of Directors, together with the RO Head, Michael Weinstein, met with representatives of the Sange Research Center, Public Policy Research Centre, International Institute for Modern Policy, Soros Foundation Kazakhstan, Counterpart International Dialogue Initiative, Eurasia Foundation and Kazakhstan International Bureau of Human Rights and Rule of Law.The main focus of the discussion was on the overall socio-economic and political situation in Kazakhstan, the social impact of the current economic crises, including the gender aspect. Issues of transparency and corruption in the extractive industries were also discussed.

11 September, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

The new Head of Ulaanbaatar RO, Philip ter Woort, was given an introduction to Mongolian civil society through a consultation workshop on the new draft Country Strategy (CS). Representatives of Mongolian Nature and Environment Consortium (MNEC), Mongolian National Mining Association, Monfemnet, Global International Mongolia, Sant Maral Foundation, Transparency International Mongolia, Open Society Forum, Mongolian Development Gateway engaged in the discussions on 11 September at the RO. The issues discussed ranged from transparency and anti-corruption programmes to support of small business and ecotourism. Civil society participants also emphasised the need to support energy sector reforms in the country.

28 July, St Petersburg, Russia

In a consultation workshop, Marina Petrov, head of St Petersburg RO, and Bruno Balvanera, Head of Regional Development in Russia, discussed the new draft Russia country strategy (CS) with representatives of local civil society, including environmental and women’s NGOs and microfinance organisations. The representatives of the Leontieff Centre, ECOM Centre, Save Yuntolovo, STP Fund for SME development and Citizens’ Watch took place in the event, which was held on 28 July at the St Petersburg RO. During a frank and lively discussion, civil society participants expressed their views on a number of issues ranging from the development of microfinance and small businesses to energy efficiency and human rights.

12 June 2009, Lviv, Ukraine

The EBRD Board of Directors met a group of local NGOs from the west of the country who provided a regional perspective. The civil society representatives included Lviv oblast association of employers, Civil union of entrepreneurs Krok, Lviv region committee of employers, “Female perspectives” – female civil organization, “I am Lvivyanyn” civil union, Dinasty Club, Unity Club, Legal and Political Research Center “SIM”, Environment - People – Law and International Institute - Association of Regional Ecological Problems (IIAREP). The main issues identified by civil society were gender and corporate social responsibility. The meeting was facilitated by the European Business Association.

10 June 2009, Kiev, Ukraine

A delegation of the Board of Directors of the EBRD visited Ukraine from 9 to 12 June. As a part of their visit the Directors met the representatives of a think tank the International Centre for Policy Studies, East Europe Foundation and NGOs Public Committee for National Security of Ukraine and National Ecological Centre of Ukraine. The Directors learned the civil society perspective on the current socio-political and economic situation in the country and the role of the EBRD and our projects in Ukraine.

9 June 2009, Minsk, Belarus

The EBRD Board of Directors visited Belarus from 7 to 9 June. Together with Valdas Vitkauskas, Head of EBRD’s Minsk RO, and Biljana Radonjic Ker-Lindsay, NGO Relations Manager, the Directors met with the representatives of the following NGOs: the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and Belarusian Association of Journalists, The New Eurasia Foundation and think tanks Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies and Mises Center. The participants shared their views with the Board on the forthcoming country strategy of the EBRD for Belarus as well as political, human rights and economic developments in the country.