UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN IN RUSSIA, THE HIS AND THE BALTICS

The United States Government supports a wide variety of programs for women from Russia, the NIS and the Baltics. Some of these include the following USAID, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Commerce and related programs.

This Compilation was made for the Conference on Women and Democracy at the Dawn of the New Millennium in conjunction with the Vital Voices Democracy Initiative, Reykjavik, Iceland, October 8-10, l999

US Agency for International Development Programs

    USAID Contact for Women's Programs: Dr. Valerie Estes - Gender Advisor (USAID/E&E)
    Telephone: 202-712-0705 (Washington, DC)
    Fax: 202-216-3465
    Email: vestes@usaid.gov

USAID's portfolio includes the following projects on economics, democracy and governance and health issues:

  • Opportunity International

    The U.S. Agency for International Development has awarded $1 million to Opportunity International for their Small Business Opportunities Program in Russia. The funds will build on Opportunity International's strong track record in the region supporting business incubators and microlending. Opportunity International will provide loans to more than 500 businesses and create a larger revolving fund for the future. Loans will be awarded primarily in Novgorod, Nizhniy Novgorod, Voronezh and Rostov-on-Don.

  • Center for Citizen Initiatives (CCI)

    USAID supports the Russian Initiative for Self-Employment directed by the Center for Citizen Initiatives.

  • Counterpart International, Inc.

    USAID supports the Khabarovsk and Samara Regional Microcredit Programs, which are run respectively by Counterpart and FINCA.


      Contact: Karen L. Sherman, Vice President of Programs for Counterpart International, Inc.
      Tel: 202-721-1567 (Washington, DC)
      Fax: 202-296-9679
      Website: www.counterpart.org


      Contact: Stephen MacLeod - Country Director, FINCA
      Telephone: 7-846-237-6613 (Samara, Russia)
      E-mail: macleodl@samaramail.ru
      Website: www.villagebanking.org

  • Citizens Democracy Corps

    USAID's Business Development Portfolio also supports increased participation of women in the Russian private sectors The Enterprise and Economic Development Project of Citizens Democracy Corps (CDC) delivers assistance to private enterprises and business support institutions to build local capacity, with the objective of encouraging investment and promoting business partnerships.

      Contact: Margaret Paul, Program Manager (U.S.)
      Telephone: 202-872-0933 or 1-800-394-1945 Ext. 696
      Fax: 202-872-0923
      Email: mpau1@cdc.org
      Web Site: www.circ.org

  • Women's Consortium - Russia

    USAID signed a agreement with the Women's Consortium in June 1999. The objectives of this program are to increase the capacity of women's organizations to advocate more effectively on women s issues and to provide information on gender issues to journalists.

      Contact: Elena Ershova, Director of the Russian Women's NGO Consortium
      Telephone: 7-095-290-4708
      Fax: 7-095-203-0807
      Email: wcons@com2com.ru

  • Internews Russia

    In cooperation with Internews Russia, a USAID Media Emergency Assistance grant has funded four to six 30-minute television programs on domestic violence issues to be produced for viewing in Russia. Specifically, Internews Russia implements the following activities to promote awareness of the problems and solutions related to violence against women: documentary production, radio campaigns, special reporting, and public service announcements.

      Contact: Nadezdha Khvorova, Project Director for the Media Initiative on Domestic Violence, Internews Russia
      Telephone: 7-095-956-2248 (Moscow)
      Fax: 7-095-291-2174
      Email: khvorova@internews.ru
      Website: www.internews.ru

  • International Research and Exchanges Board (IREE)

    The Program to Support Crisis Centers in Russia was launched in July 3999. Under a cooperative agreement with IREX, USAID will provide small grants to crisis centers across the Russian Federation. Three rounds of small grants, as well as consultations, will be provided by IREX.

  • AIHA

    Under the Women's Health Initiative implemented by the American International Health Alliance (AIHA), USAID supports the establishment of four Women's Wellness Centers (WWC). They provide comprehensive primary care, education, and counseling services for women and adolescents in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Dubna, and Stavropol Krai.

    The WWC in Moscow conducts training in prenatal care, childbirth preparation and newborn care for some 65 women a month. Activities will also include: (a) incorporation of the quality assurance and clinical practice guidelines into the daily work of the centers, (b) enhanced capacity to screen and prevent STDs, and (c) development of protocols for diagnosis and treatment of domestic violence (both physical and psychological).

    U.S. Department of State Programs

  • U.S. Department of State Contact for Women's Programs:
      Susie Baker, Program Officer for the Office of Professional Programs and Training, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
      Telephone: 202-619-5345
      Email: sbaker@usia.gov
      Website: http://e.usia.gov

  • Democracy Comnmission

    The Contemporary Society Small Grants Program in Russia awards grants to local non-profit organizations to support democracy-building activities. The embassy welcomes applications from conference attendees and other women's organizations.

      Contact: USIS posts in Russia
      Marina Volk in St. Petersburg: 7-812-311-8905
      Natalya Ivanova in Moscow: 7-095-956-4456
      Email: Nvimosc@usia.gov

  • Grants to Private Sector Oryanixations

    USIA/State annually awards grants to U.S, non-profit organizations to work with their partners in the NIS on a variety of topics, including women's leadership and trafficking in women. Proposals will be solicited for Russia and for regional initiatives including Russia and the Baltics.

  • Women Leadership Programs

    The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is interested in proposals and programs that encourage the growth of democratic institutions in the NIS and the Baltics. Exchanges and training programs supported by institutional grants from the Bureau should provide women and women's groups opportunities to increase their visibility and effectiveness in the political, social and democratic spheres. For more information, please visit:

    U.S. Department of Commerce Programs

  • Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States (BISNIS)

    BISNIS, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is the U.S. Government's clearinghouse for U.S. companies of all sizes doing business in the NIS. BISNIS' staff of international trace specialists are available by phone and appointment to provide information, answer questions, and assist U.S. companies in exploring business prospects in NIS markets.

      Contact: BISNIS, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce
      Telephone: 202-482-4655 (Washington, DC)
      Fax: 202-482-2293
      Email: bisnis@usita.gov
      Website: http://www.iep.doc.gov

  • Central and Eastern Europe Business Information Center (CEEBIC)

    CEEBIC offers a variety of services to the U.S. business community to facilitate trade and commercial development between the United States and Central and Eastern Europe. Serving as an information clearinghouse on U.S. Government and private sector activities in Central and Eastern Europe, CEEBIC compiles a wide selection of commercially relevant material and disseminates it free of charge to the business community.

      Contact: CEEBIC, U.S. Department of Commerce
      Address: 1401 Constitution Ave, NW
      U.S. Department of Commerce
      Ronald Reagan Building
      R-CEEBIC
      Washington, DC 20230
      Telephone: 202-482-2645
      Fax: 202-482-3898

  • Special American Business Internship Training Program (SABIT)

    SABIT places mid- to senior-level managers, scientists and engineers from the NIS in internships with small, medium and large U.S. businesses and organizations throughout the United States. The program's goal is to support economic restructuring in the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. SABIT offers two types of training programs for specialists from the NIS: 1) SABIT Grant Program and 2) Specialized Training Programs.

    The SABIT Grant Program provides training to individual English-speaking managers and scientists from the NIS at a single US company or institution for a period of 3-6 months. Specialized SABIT programs bring groups of 15-25 specialists from the NIS to the United States for 4-6 weeks of industry-specific training at a variety of companies and sites across the country.

      Contact: If you would like to be on SABIT's database, you may call the Washington, DC office at (202) 482-0073 and provide the appropriate contact information.

    Other Related Programs

  • Small Business Administration (SBA) Online Women' s Business Center

    SBA Online Women's Business Center offers an interactive website to be available in Russian.

      Contact: Sherrye Henry
      Telephone: 202-205-6673 (Washington, DC)
      Fax: 202-205-7287
      Website: www.onlinewbc.org

  • American Chamber of Commerce in Moscow

    The American Chamber of Commerce in Moscow has agreed to inform their 500 member companies about the opportunity to support conference strategies. Member companies will be asked to participate in an American Chamber of Commerce roosted job fair for women, provide opportunities for women to participate in their members' training programs and/or offer in-kind donations or other services.

      Contact: American Chamber of Commerce in Moscow
      Telephone: 7-095-929-0125
      Fax: 7-095-929-0059
      Email: cipemosc@glas.apc.org

  • American Bar Association Central and Eastern European Law
    Initiative (ABA CEELI) - Moscow

    As a part of the ABA/CEELI program, a Gender Issues Legal Specialist works with legal and non-legal professionals and institutions on a variety of gender-related issues. The program educates Russian judges, prosecutors, lawyers and medical personnel and empowers legal activists, NGOs, and the public to protect women's rights and ensure women's equal opportunity.

    Through its many workshops, trainings, roundtables, and lectures, CEELI also educates hundreds of women and men about domestic violence and discrimination. Through its publications, the program informs thousands more.

  • American Bar Association Central and Eastern European Law
    Initiative (ABA CEELI) Summer Associates Program

    The ABA CEELI Summer Associates Program is an apprenticeship program designed to give recent law school graduates/new practitioners from Russia and the Baltic States 8-12 weeks of experience working in Western law firms, especially in areas of civil and commercial law. Participants work in either the U.S. or Nordic office of a Western law firm, or in their Moscow or Baltic office. The firm would pay travel costs plus a stipend or salary.

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