The winners of the EU Civil Society Facility in Central Asia mini-grants programme
From climate resilience and digital skills to women’s empowerment and prevention of gender-based violence - civil society organisations across Central Asia are taking action where it matters most.
With support from the EU Civil Society Facility in Central Asia mini-grants programme, selected organisations will implement community-focused initiatives that promote inclusion, strengthen local capacities and support meaningful civic engagement across the region.
Below, you can find the list of organisations with the projects they will implement:
1. The Public Organisation “Youth Ecological Center” will implement the project “Strengthening Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Rural Communities in Tajikistan.” The project aims to strengthen the climate resilience of vulnerable rural communities in Tajikistan, with a particular focus on women’s participation in climate decision-making, community-based adaptation solutions and knowledge exchange.
2. Institution Consulting Center “ZUBR” will implement the project “Digital Public Oversight: Security, Expertise, Impact.” The project focuses on strengthening the capacity of Kazakhstan’s CSOs to use digital tools and AI ethically and effectively for public oversight.
3. The National Association of Small and Medium Business of the Republic of Tajikistan (NASMB RT) will implement the project “From Dialogue to Practice: Advancing Climate-Responsible and Ethical CSR among SMEs in Tajikistan.” The project supports small and medium enterprises in Tajikistan in adopting climate-responsible business practices, ethical corporate governance and CSR principles.
4. The National Union of People with Disabilities of Tajikistan will implement the project “Strengthening Climate Resilience and Disability Inclusion through Policy Dialogue in Tajikistan.” The project will train 42 regional disability activists in Tajikistan on climate change, disaster risks and emergency preparedness, while also supporting the creation of a coordination mechanism on disability inclusion.
5. Paperlab Public Foundation will implement the project “Fostering a policy dialogue and evidence-based advocacy by leveraging the 10-year institutional track record in Kazakhstan through conducting expert public discussions.” The project will conduct four in-person expert public discussions on youth engagement and women’s empowerment to promote policy dialogue and evidence-based advocacy in Kazakhstan.
6. The Public Association “Angel” in consortium with “Ynamly Durmush” will implement the project “Climate Youth Dialogue: Kazakhstan–Turkmenistan.” The project is a cross-border initiative aimed at empowering young people from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to participate in climate governance, especially in rural and underserved areas.
7. The Public Foundation “Child’s Rights Defenders League” will implement the project “Tirek: Strengthening Community-Based Protection Systems for Women and Girls Affected by Violence in Kyrgyzstan.” The project focuses on strengthening regional civil society networks, CSO-government dialogue and community-level advocacy for the protection of women and girls from gender-based violence across Kyrgyzstan.
8. The IT Education Association NGO will implement the project “Capacity Building in AI Literacy and Cybersecurity for Girls.” The project aims to build girls’ skills in AI literacy and cybersecurity in Uzbekistan.
9. “Ynamly Egindesh” Economy Society will implement the project “Empowering Rural Women and Girls in Turkmenistan.” The project focuses on empowering rural women and girls in Turkmenistan through legal awareness, leadership, communication skills and civic engagement support.
10. Public Association Dialogue, Trust, Right will implement the project “Strengthening existing municipal and district action plans and reinforcing the day-to-day functioning of Committees for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (CPDV).” The project aims to strengthen local domestic violence prevention mechanisms and improve the practical work of CPDVs in Kyrgyzstan.
11. Public Foundation Peshcom will implement the project “Cycling to Climate Bishkek: Youth-Led Evidence for Transport Policy.” The project will generate youth-led evidence on the climate benefits of cycling and support advocacy for more sustainable transport policy in Bishkek.
12. Khorezm Regional Women and Children Support Center “Interbilim” will implement the project “Holistic Protection and Prevention Against GBV in Khorezm Region.” The project aims to strengthen holistic protection and prevention mechanisms against gender-based violence in Khorezm Region, Uzbekistan.
13. The University of Central Asia will implement the project “Empowering Women and Youth Leaders through Digital Tools and AI in Bishkek and Naryn, Kyrgyzstan.” The project aims to strengthen the capacity of women and youth leaders, particularly female CSO representatives and women schoolteachers, by equipping them with practical digital and AI-related skills for civic engagement, education, leadership and community development in Bishkek and Naryn.
14. Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia will implement the project “Leveraging the existing EFCA’s project ‘Batys AgroHub, the Agribusiness Center (ABC).” The project aims to pilot and validate a scalable model to prepare rural SME suppliers and entrepreneurs in the oil and gas sector, as well as relevant government and private sector stakeholders in Burlin district, West Kazakhstan oblast, for the transition toward a low-carbon future. It will focus on ESG knowledge, responsible business practices, green financing, capacity building, mentoring and peer learning.
15, Public Organization Center of Sociological Research Zerkalo will implement the project “Safe Click: Developing operational standards for CSOs to combat Technology-Facilitated GBV.” The project aims to strengthen protection of women’s digital rights in Tajikistan by building an evidence base on technology-facilitated gender-based violence and developing peer-validated Standard Operating Procedures for CSOs working on this issue.