municipal Maslikhat, Head of Coordination Council for Economic and Social development of the city 

of Kostanai), Galym Zhukupbayev (Zhalghas Program Coordinator) and Nurlan Zhumabekov 

(Community Outreach Coordinator) represented the country during the training. Representatives of 

state bodies provided the training participants with valuable recommendations on effective partnership 

with government structures. 

Organizational Development 

The Kazakhstan office launched a consulting action to facilitate the process of localization. Regional 

OD specialists Elizabeth Comolli and Janna Rysakova compiled data by conducting meetings and 

distributing a questionnaire survey among the staff and constituency members. Currently, the key 

points of the strategic plan are under consideration. A preliminary audit was performed for managers' 

team, and questionnaires were filled out under consultations provided by Counterpart's regional, 

financial and OD staff.  

A Senior Management Team was formed to bring effective interaction and coordination of the 

country's program departments. It has scheduled meetings on Mondays while general staff meetings 

will be conducted on every third Monday. The team consists of Marat Aitmagambetov (Country 

Manager), Jamila Asanova (Senior Program Officer), Julia Anishchenko (Financial Manager) and 

Alibi Jangildin (Zhalghas Director).  

M&E groups were formed and the Eurasia Foundation because of its familiarity with the projects to 

be assessed during the scheduled summer practicum. The M&E seminar's financial report has been 

compiled and submitted to Zhalghas' Accountant Department. Also, managing staff developed the 

program database, including correspondence, documents, contracts and other related work files. 

Counterpart Kazakhstan also undertook the following steps to build CSSC capacity: 

Training of Trainers (TOT) for CSSC members and regional young trainers; 

Fundraising seminar for CSSC members; 

Quarterly meeting with CSSC members; 

Two pilot trainings in Ust Kamenogorsk and Semipalatinsk in the framework of educational 

program for farmers.  

Community Outreach 

Skills Strengthening for M&E of Community Projects  

The CSSC capacity to consult its community projects was one of major issues during the reporting 

period. To improve, the Hub Center focused on:  

Comments on project proposals submitted by the communities, 

Examination of supplementary papers.  

Due to the improved communication with the Support Centers of Almaty, Astana, Ust Kamenogorsk, 

Karaghandy and Kostanai, the Hub Center was able coordinate the formulation of issues, as well as 

the definition of beneficiaries. In late April, three CSSCs (Astana, Ust Kamenogorsk and 

Karaghandy) proposed constructive concepts to increase stakeholders' contributions, expand service 

programs, and improved all projects' financial sustainability. On the March 20, the regular Grant 

Committee approved six projects out of 14 examined proposals. The approved project proposals 

corresponded to the program of Community Outreach as they were organized to solve the problems in 

water supply, land reclamation, unemployment and social development in rural areas in Almaty, 

Akmola, East Kazakhstan and Kostanai regions of Kazakhstan (see attachment #1 for a complete list). 

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